Japanese Sci-Fi Movie ‘From the End of the World’ Takes Premier Prize at Genre Festival Fantasporto

The 44th edition of genre film festival Fantasporto, which runs in Portugal’s second city Porto from March 1-10, has bestowed its best film award on Japanese sci-fi fantasy pic “From the End of the World,” directed by Kaz I Kiriya.

The movie follows 10-year-old Hana, whose dreams transport her across various eras in Japanese history, and have the ability to save humanity.

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The jury’s special award went to “The Complex Forms,” Italian director Fabio D’Orta’s debut feature. The sci-fi horror centers on a man who has sold his body so it can be possessed by a creature of unknown nature.

The prize for best direction was nabbed by Spanish filmmaker Gonzalo López-Gallego for horror movie “The Shadow of the Shark” (La Sombra del Tiburon). In the film, a young woman, Alma, is undergoing therapy as she is unable to sleep. With the help of surveillance cameras, she discovers that during the night her home is under siege by dark and violent forces.

The actor award was taken by Tovino Thomas for fantasy-drama “Invisible Windows,” directed by India’s Dr. Biju. Set in a dystopian society, it follows an anti-war activist who starts to communicate with the dead.

Eve Ringuette took the actress honor for comedy horror film “Jour de Merde,” the debut feature by Canada’s Kevin T. Landry. A single mother on the verge of a nervous breakdown takes her teenage son on a work trip to interview a strange lottery winner in an isolated house in the woods.

The screenplay award went to French writer-director Sébastien Drouin for horror-thriller “Cold Meat.” It follows David Petersen, who is driving through Colorado’s Rockies. After saving a diner waitress from her violent ex-husband, he hits the road again alone through a blizzard, when his car crashes into a ravine. Outside a beast is prowling.

The cinematography award went to Germany’s Roland Stuprich for Timm Kröger’s metaphysical noir “The Universal Theory.”

Shirin Ekhlasi’s Iran-set thriller “Acid Base” was named best short film. The shorts jury gave a special mention to French animation “Stabat Mater.”

Steven Gaydos, Variety‘s executive vice president, global content, received the Fantasporto Special Award. The festival bestowed the award to honor Gaydos’ career as a film journalist, author, screenwriter and producer. Ate de Jong’s love story “Heart Strings,” which Gaydos co-wrote and produced, had its world premiere at the festival.

The Fantasporto career award went to Belgian director Karim Ouelhaj.

FANTASPORTO AWARDS

INTERNATIONAL FANTASY SECTION

Film Award
“From the End of the World,” Kaz I Kiriya (Japan)

Jury’s Special Award
“The Complex Forms,” Fabio D’Orta (Italy)

Direction
Gonzalo López-Gallego, “The Shadow of the Shark” (Spain)

Actor
Tovino Thomas, “Invisible Windows” (India)

Actress
Eve Ringuette, “Jour de Merde” (Canada)

Screenplay
Sébastien Drouin, “Cold Meat” (U.K./Canada)

Cinematography
Roland Stuprich, “The Universal Theory” (Germany/Austria/Switz.)

Short Film
“Acid Base,” Shirin Eklasi (Iran)

Special Mention
“Stabat Mater,” Hadrien Maton, Quentin Wittevrongel, Arnaud Mege, Coline Thelliez, William Defrance (France)

DIRECTORS’ WEEK
Film Award
“Bucky F*cking Dent,” David Duchovny (U.S.)

Jury’s Special Award
“Shadow of Fire,” Shinya Tsukamoto (Japan)

Director Award
Loïc Tanson, “The Last Ashes” (Luxemburg)

Screenplay
“A Normal Family,” Jin-Ho Hur (South Korea)

Actor
Zhu Yilong, “Lost in the Stars” (China)

Actress
Tao Xinran, “Within” (China)

ORIENT EXPRESS
Film Award
“Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms,” Wuershan (China)

Jury Special Award
“The Floor Plan,” Junichi Ishikawa (Japan)

Jury Special Mention
“The Forbidden Play,” Hideo Nakata (Japan)

PORTUGUESE FILM AWARD
Portuguese Film
“Departures,” Vasco Viana (Portugal/Czech Republic)

School Film Award
“Esqueci – me que tinha medo,” Diogo Bento (Portugal), Universidade Lusófona de Lisboa

Special Jury Award
“À Luz das Impressões,” Luís Miguel Rocha (Portugal), Universidade da Beira Interior

OTHER AWARDS
Audience Award
“Half-Way Home,” Isti Madarász (Hungary)

Critics Award
“Papa Mascot,” Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio (Philippines)

Fantasporto Career Award
Karim Ouelhaj, Belgian director

Fantasporto Special Award
Steven Gaydos, producer, screenwriter, journalist at Variety

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