HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON wins top award at Venice’s Giornate degli Autori

THROUGH THE NIGHT by Academy-award nominated Delphine Girard wins the Audience award

The Giornate degli Autori, a prominent sidebar section of the revered Venice International Film Festival, has concluded with a resounding applause for two exceptional films.

Giornate degli Autori Award

HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON
(VAMPIRE HUMANISTE CHERCHE SUICIDAIRE CONSENTANT) 
by Ariane Louis-Seize (Canada)

The coveted Giornate degli Autori Award, presented by the Official Jury of Giornate degli Autori, presided over by a distinguished filmmaker and composed of participants from the renowned program "27 Times Cinema" of the European Parliament, has been bestowed upon the captivating  Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person. This film, directed by Ariane Louis-Seize, has not only captured the hearts of the jury but also a cash prize of €20,000. This monetary accolade will be equally divided between the exceptionally talented filmmaker Ariane Louis-Seize and the film's international distributor, who has pledged to use the sum to promote this groundbreaking work internationally.

Sasha, the young vampire with a dilemma too sensitive to kill, and her unlikely savior, Paul, a lonely teenager grappling with suicidal tendencies, have taken audiences on an extraordinary journey.

In the words of director Ariane Louis-Seize, "Death is also anchored in the character of Paul, a teenager with chronic depressive behaviors who does not find his place in a world he can’t decipher and that is hostile to him. The inner dramas of Sasha and Paul are certainly tragic, but I wanted light and hope to emerge from their encounter. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person navigates between genre film, coming-of-age story, and dark comedy."

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People's Choice Award

THROUGH THE NIGHT 
(QUITTER LA NUIT)
by Delphine Girard (Belgium, Canada, France)

The Giornate degli Autori also celebrated the film Through the Night, directed by Delphine Girard. This poignant film, which explores the aftermath of a traumatic event and the lives of those involved, resonated deeply with audiences, earning it the prestigious People's Choice Award.

Through the Night is a masterful creation by Delphine Girard, who had previously earned an Oscar nomination for her short film A Sister. The film weaves a gripping narrative around a woman in danger who makes a fateful call to the police, setting into motion a series of events that will leave a lasting impact on Anna, Aly, and Dary. It is a compelling exploration of the complexity of human experiences, resilience, and the profound impact of trauma.

Director Delphine Girard shared her motivation behind the film, saying, "I find it crucial at this particular time in History, and also on a personal level, to try to find ways to give form, substance, and to understand what’s at play in an assault, as well as the way our system answers to it. I need to try to show what causes an abuser to act, mainly because I don’t think we can change behaviors without understanding them."

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Sales for HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON are handled by the Montréal-based H264, THROUGH THE NIGHT is represented by the Paris-based PLAYTIME.

HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON will screen next week at the TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (TIFF), while THROUGH THE NIGHT is to be shown at the SAN SEBASTIAN (SSIFF) film festival next, before opening the NAMUR FRENCH SPEAKING FILM FESTIVAL (FIFF) for its domestic premiere.

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