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Friday dawned clear on the shores of the Mediterranean and there was a feeling in the air that the Festival is drawing to a close. You could see many more people in the streets, at the stalls selling merchandise, in the restaurants and of course in the queues at the cinemas. The weekend is here and there are many people who have their tickets safely tucked away for what was going to be the last journey of the horror train. Next stop: Sitges. But before nostalgia could take over the hearts of fans, there were still plenty of films left to see, the odd tribute or two and of course the closing of the festival and the awards ceremony. What did we get to see during these last two days?
"Shelley" (Ali Abbasi, Denmark, 2016) is a small and harrowing film that revolves around a woman who wants to have a child through a surrogate mother, on a recurring theme in this edition of the festival: motherhood as a strange, painful and unknown process. "Prevenge" (Alice Lowe, United Kingdom, 2016) also revolves around motherhood, although on this occasion with more blood and sense of humor than the Danish proposal. Actress Alice Lowe brilliantly performs in and directs the story of a pregnant woman who commits murders prompted by the voice of her baby, which made it curious and intriguing to see her walking around the Hotel Meliá in person with her own baby in a stroller. "The Neon Demon" (USA, France, Denmark, 2016) is the latest hallucination from Nicholas Winding Refn. Fascinating, magnetic and enveloping, Refn reduces the plot to a thin storyline that, once crossed and overcome, turns the film into a succession of tableaux of retro and explosive aesthetics, pure addiction. "Dearest Sister" (Mattie Do, Laos, France, Estonia, 2016) offers a suggestive and sinister story in which a young woman cares for her cousin, a blind woman who has supernatural encounters. We were also able to see "Swiss Army Man" (Daniels, USA, 2016), an endearing, tender, scatological and surreal story of friendship, brilliantly performed by Daniel Radcliffe, the eternal Harry Potter, and Paul Dano.
Friday night ended on an exciting note that drove festival fans wild, and especially action cinema fans. Danish actor Dolph Lundgren, remembered for his roles in "Rocky IV", "Red Scorpion" or "Masters of the Universe", received the Time Machine Award amid shouts and applause. Next, we were able to see one of his latest films, "Don't Kill It" (Mike Mendez, USA, 2016), an entertaining horror and action film with Lundgren playing an expert demon hunter.
Saturday midday brought one of the most important moments of the Festival: the press conference where the award winners were announced. The jury of the official section, which features names such as filmmakers Mick Garris and Brian Yuzna, accompanied Ángel Sala, the Festival's director, in a packed press room. The winning film was "Swiss Army Man", which also took home the Best Actor award for Daniel Radcliffe. Best Director went to Yeon Sang-ho, director of "Train to Busan", another of the most acclaimed films. The Korean film also took home the award for best special effects. Sennia Nanua won Best Actress for her role in "The Girl With All the Gifts" and Best Screenplay went to Jeremy Slater for his work on "Pet". "The Autopsy of Jane Doe" took home the Special Jury Prize and the Audience Award went to "The Handmaiden" by Park Chan-wook. The success of "Raw" should also be highlighted, taking home the Silver Méliès award and the Best New Director award for Julia Ducournau. These are awards that bet on variety and, above all, on the most radical and daring cinema.
Saturday afternoon ended with the awards ceremony for the winners and another of the most exciting moments of the festival. Christopher Walken received the Festival's Grand Honorary Award before a packed auditorium that gave him a standing ovation. The Oscar-winning actor for "The Deer Hunter" was moved by a video lasting more than four minutes featuring some of the best moments of his long career. To close, we were able to see "The Limehouse Golem" (United Kingdom, 2016), the latest film directed by Juan Carlos Medina. Sunday ended with several marathons in the different theaters, giving one last chance to see the most outstanding films of an excellent edition of the best fantastic film festival in the world. Something that is confirmed once again this year.
Long life and prosperity to the Sitges Festival and to fantastic cinema.
