‘Holy Spider’ Leads Prize List At Stockholm Film Festival; Other Winners Include Frances O’Connor And Laura Poitras

The big winner at the Stockholm International Film Festival 2022 was Holy Spider, directed by Swedish-Danish-Iranian Ali Abbasi.

The film won the Bronze Horse for Best Film, while lead actor Mehdi Bajestani was named Best Male Actor for his role as serial killer Saeed Hanaei. The film was based on the true story of the so-called ‘Spider-Killer’ who targeted sex workers and killed 16 women from 2000 to 2001 in Mashhad, Iran. The film depicts a fictional female journalist investigating the crimes.

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In presenting Abbasi with his award, the jury said of Holy Spider:

“A groundbreaking film that is done not only with enormous courage but with mastery that leaves us breathless; our insides both speechless and wanting to cream. A punch in the gut for systematic belief systems that oppress rather than support. An eye opener and a most emotional cinematic experience that awakens internal revolutions in us. For its moving performances, raw and uncompromising direction, brilliant and poignant screenplay we would like to present one of the strongest films we’ve seen in a long time with the Bronze Horse for Best Film.”

Frances O’Connor was awarded Best Director for her directorial debut Emily. Actress Annabelle Lengronne was named Best Actress for her role in Mother and Son.

Icelandic director Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson was awarded the prize for Best Screenplay for his film Beautiful Beings.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

COMPETITION

Best Film: Holy Spider by Ali Abbasi
Best Director: Emily by Frances O’Connor
Best Debut: Autobiography by Makbul Mubarak
Best Script: Beautiful Beings by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
Best Actress: Mother and Son for actress Annabelle Lengronne
Best Actor: Mehdi Bajestani in Holy Spider
Best Cinematography: Balthazar Lab for La Jauria
Honorary mention: Pilar Palomero for La Maternal

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Best Documentary: All the Beauty and the Bloodshed by Laura Poitras

SHORT FILM COMPETITION

Best Short Film: File by Sonia K. Hadad
FIPRESCI Best Film: World War III by Houman Seyyedi
Zalando Rising Star Award 2022: Actress Sara Shirpey

1KM FILM

Scholarship Recipient: SaraKlara Hellström
Honorary Mentions: André Vaara

NIKON SHORT FILM COMPETITION (60sec)

Trust of Mira Hilfon Liungman

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