Miguel Gomes’ feature film ‘Tabu’ has won the Grand Prix for Best Film at the 39th Ghent Film Festival. The international festival jury, chaired by Joan Dupont, announced the results of the jury’s deliberations at Ghent’s town hall. The other films that received awards are Olivier Assayas’ feature film, ‘Après Mai’ (Best Music and Sound Design) and the short films ‘As Ondas’ by Miguel Fonseca (Best European Short Film) and ‘De Naam van de Vader’ by Timothy Josha Wennekes (Best Belgian Student Short Film). ‘Kid’ by Fien Troch received a Special Mention.

This year’s international jury was made up of jury president Joan Dupont (film critic, United States), Bavo Dhooge (writer, Belgium), Bavo Defurne (director, Belgium) and Xialou Guo (writer/director, China).


THE RESULTS

The Grand Prix for Best Film:

‘TABU’
by Miguel Gomes – Distributor: Numéro Zéro

This prize is worth a total of € 43,000: support for the release of the film in Flanders and Brussels (in at least five cinemas) to the value of € 20,000 + a media campaign to the value of € 23,000.

Jury Motivation: “For the highly original approach to a mysterious love story and the creative reflection on colonial history.”



The Georges Delerue Award for Best Music/Sound Design: 

OLIVIER ASSAYAS and NICOLAS CANTIN for the music and sound design of Olivier Assayas’ ‘APRES MAI’ – Distributor: A-Film Belgium

This prize is worth a total of € 25,000: support for the release of the film in Flanders and Brussels (in at least five cinemas) to the value of € 10,000 + a media campaign to the value of € 15,000.

Jury Motivation: “For the music choice by director Olivier Assayas and sound design by Nicolas Cantin”



Special mentions:

‘KID’ by Fien Troch – Distributor: Cinéart

Jury Motivation: “For the brave vision on family and childhood and the original, authentic direction of the actors.”



EFA Short Film Award Ghent:

‘AS ONDAS’ by Miguel Fonseca (Portugal 2012)

As a consequence this film has been nominated for the 2013 European Film Academy’s Short Film Award.



National Lottery Award for Best Belgian Student Short

‘DE NAAM VAN DE VADER’ by Timothy Josha Wennekes (Belgium 2012)

This short film was picked by a professional jury, composed of actress Chris Lomme (jury president), animation filmmaker Raoul Servais, Wallimage and Bruxellimage director Philippe Reynaert, producers Ellen De Waele and Annemie Degryse and screenwriter Bram Renders.

Jury Motivation: “This short film stood out through its beautiful, subtle and moving story. With few words and without exaggerated symbolism, the director was able to penetrate deep into the world of Thomas, the main character.”

The winner receives the National Lottery Award for Best Belgian Student Short with a value of € 2000.



‘CORPS PERDU’ by Lukas Dhont received a Special Mention by the jury.



The Port of Ghent and Canvas Audience Awards will be announced on Monday, October 22th.