October Award Winning Film Screenings
In United States, where I grew up, October is the month for Halloween, which also means it’s the month where people choose to spook themselves with horror films. I wonder if that is catching on in Japan, where summer is the traditional season for scary movies.
In case you’re in the mood for some award winning freaky films there are a few screenings coming up that you might want to check out. If you’re not into the scary stuff, there are a couple I added that might be more to your liking.
Happy October!
Blue Mind「ブルー・マインド」
Director & Author: Lisa Brühlmann
Awards
2017
Alice nella Città, Premio Camera D’oro 2017
Zurich Film Festival – Golden Eye for Best Film 2017; Critics’ Choice Award 2017; Filmpreis der Zürcher Kirchen 2017
2018
Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis, Beste Regie 2018
Swiss Film Award – Best Screenplay 2018; Best Actress 2018; Best Fiction Film 2018
Synopsis:
15-year-old Mia is facing an overwhelming transformation which calls her entire existence into question. Her body is changing radically, and despite desperate attempts to halt the process, she is soon forced to accept that nature is far more powerful than her.
Japan Screening:
Tokyo:Human Trust Cinema Shibuya: October 13th (Sat) ~ October 19th (Fri)
Osaka: Cine Libre Umeda: November 10th (Sat),November 12th (Mon),November 14th (Wed), November 16th (Fri)
Dave Made a Maze「キラー・メイズ」
Directed by Bill Watterson
Awards
2018
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films – Saturn Award: Best DVD/Blu-Ray Release
2017
Boston Underground Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Feature
Calgary Underground Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature
Chlotrudis Awards – Chlotrudis Award: Best Production Design
Dead by Dawn Horror Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Feature Film
Fantaspoa International Fantastic Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Feature, Best Art Direction – International Film
Film Club’s The Lost Weekend – Lost Weekend Award: Film You Will Find Yourself Remembering The Most
Florida Film Festival – Grand Jury Award: Best Narrative Feature
Omaha Film Festival – Jury Award: Best Feature
Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival – New Vision Award: Best Motion Picture
Slamdance Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature
Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature
Sun Valley Film Festival, US – One in a Million Award
Synopsis:
Dave, an artist who has yet to complete anything significent in his career, builds a fort in his living room out of pure frustration, only to wind up trapped by the fantastical pitfalls, booby traps, and critters of his own creation.
Japan Screening:
Sitges Film Festival Fantastic Selection 2018
Tokyo: Human Trust Cinema Shibuya: October 12th (Fri) ~ November 1st (Thur)
Nagoya: Cinema Skhole: End of October
Osaka: Cine Libre Umeda: November 24th (Sat) ~ December 14th (Fri)
Good Manners / Les Bonnes Manières / 「狼チャイルド」
Awards
2017
Austin Fantastic Fest – Special Mention: Fantastic Features
Biarritz International Festival of Latin American Cinema – Jury Special Mention
Janela do Recife International Film Festival – Janela Award: Best Image
L’Etrange Festival – Audience Award: Best Film
Locarno International Film Festival – Golden Leopard: Best Film
Oslo Films from the South Festival – Honorable Mention
Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival – FIPRESCI Prize: Best Film; Felix Award (Prêmio Félix): Best Fiction Film; Petrobras Award; Première Brazil Best Film (Melhor Filme)/Best Cinematography (Melhor Fotografia)/Best Supporting Actress (Melhor Atriz Coadjuvante)
Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival – Blood Window Award: Special Mention for Best Actress; José Luis Guarner Critic’s Award: Best Film
2018
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema – Special Mention: Best Picture
Gérardmer Film Festival – Critics’ Prize: Best Film, Jury Prize
Kaleidoscope LGBT Festival – Jury Award: Best Director
Lima Latin American Film Festival – Critics Award: Best Film
Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival – Audience Award: Best Feature Film
Uruguay International Film Festival – Basque Actors Association Award: Outstanding Main Performance on a Feature Film/Outstanding Secondary Performance on a Feature Film
Synopsis:
Clara, a lonely nurse from the outskirts of São Paulo, is hired by mysterious and wealthy Ana as the nanny for her unborn child. The two women develop a strong bond, but a fateful night changes their plans.
Japan Screening:
Sitges Film Festival Fantastic Selection 2018
Tokyo: Human Trust Cinema Shibuya: October 12th (Fri) ~ November 1st (Thur)
Nagoya: Cinema Skhole: End of October
Osaka: Cine Libre Umeda: November 24th (Sat) ~ December 14th (Fri)
Thelma「テルマ」
Directed by Joachim Trier
Awards
2017
Adelaide Film Festival – International Feature Award: Best Feature
Mar del Plata Film Festival – ADF Cinematography Award; Best Actress
Norwegian International Film Festival – Norwegian Film Critics Award
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards – SDFCS Award: Best Foreign Language Film
Utah Film Critics Association Awards – UFCA Award: Best Non-English Language Film
2018
Amanda Awards, Norway – Amanda: Best Cinematography (Årets foto); Best Score (Årets musikk); Best Editing (Årets klipp)
Denver Film Critics Society – DFCS Award: Best Foreign Language Film
Houston Film Critics Society Awards – HFCS Award: Best Foreign Language Film
Kosmorama, Trondheim Internasjonale Filmfestival – Kanonprisen: Best Male Actor in a Leading Role / Best Female Actress in a Leading Role / Best Editing / Best Music
Synopsis:
A confused religious girl tries to deny her feelings for a female friend who’s in love with her. This causes her suppressed subconsciously-controlled psychokinetic powers to reemerge with devastating results.
Japan Screenings:
Tokyo:
Yebisu Garden Cinema, October 20th (Sat)
Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho, October 20th (Sat)
Tachikawa Cinema City, November 11th (Sun)
Roadshow Schedule: (Hokkaido, Miyagi, Kanagawa, Tochigi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Fukui, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Okayama, Fukuoka, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)
Hotel Salvation 「ガンジスに還る」
Directed by Shubhashish Bhutiani
Awards
2016
UNESCO Gandhi Medal – Best Film
Biennale College Cinema Awards – Best Film
New York Indian Film Festival – Best Film
Busan International Film Festival – Best Film
2017
The Vesoul Film Festival – Critics Choice Award
Indie Meme Festival – Audience Choice Award
Stuttgart Indian Film Festival – Audience Choice Award
MOOOV Festival – Behind the Scenes
Festival du Film d’Asie – Jury Award
DC South Asian Film Festival – Best Actor
Jagran Film Festival – Best Actor (Special Mention); Best Debut Director
National Film Awards, India – National Film Award: Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film)
2018
Rajasthan International Film Festival – Best Film; Best Actor; Best Director
Films of India Online Awards – Best Screenplay (Original); Special Mention (Actor)
Filmfare Awards – Technical Award: Best Screenplay
Bollywood Film Journalists Awards – Best Story (Original); Best Screenplay
News18 Reel Movie Awards – Best Screenplay; Best Film
Synopsis:
Faced with his father’s untimely and bizarre demand to go and die in the holy city of Varanasi and attain Salvation, a son is left with no choice but to embark on this journey.
Japan Screening:
Tokyo: Iwanami Hall, October 27th (Sat) ~
Roadshow Schedule: (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima, Nagano, Toyama, Ishikawa, Aichi, Mie, Shizuoka, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Ehime, Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Okinawa)