Japan’s ‘Shoplifters’ Named Best Foreign Language Film At Palm Springs Festival – Winners List

Japan’s Shoplifters, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, was named Best Foreign Language Film of the Year at the 30th Annual Palm Springs Film Festival today. Marcello Fonte, star of Italy’s Dogman and Joanna Kulig, of Poland’s Cold War, took top honors in the foreign language acting categories.

Juried award winners were announced at the Riviera Palm Springs today. Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature will be announced tomorrow.

The awards for best foreign language film, actor and actress were chosen by a jury of international film critics reviewing 43 of the 87 official foreign language Oscar submissions screened at this year’s Festival.

In addition to the three above-mentioned FIPRESCI Prize winners, the festival’s New Voices New Visions Award went to Sofia (France/Qatar), directed by Meryem Benm’Barek; and the John Schlesinger Award for a debut feature documentary went to Ghost Fleet (USA), directed by Shannon Service and Jeffrey Waldron. A first-ever Youth Jury Award, chosen by a jury of local students, went to What Will People Say (Norway/Germany/Sweden), directed by Iram Haq.

See the complete list of today’s awards, and honorable mentions, below.

The fest’s Cine Latino Award, presented to the best Ibero-American film screening at the festival, went to Carmen & Lola (Spain), directed by Arantxa Echevarria.

A new award, the Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award, named for actor and magician Ricky Jay to honor “a pioneering spirit in furthering the language of storytelling and the magic of cinema” went to Dead Pigs (China), directed by Cathy Yan.

The festival, Jan. 3-14, screened 226 films from 78 countries.

Here is the complete list of award winners announced today:

FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Shoplifters (Japan), directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda

FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Actor in a Foreign Language Film
Marcello Fonte from Dogman (Italy)

FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actress in a Foreign Language Film
Joanna Kulig from Cold War (Poland)

New Voices/New Visions Award
Sofia (France/Qatar), directed by Meryem Benm’Barek
Honorable Mention: Saf (Turkey), directed by Ali Vatansever

The John Schlesinger Award
Ghost Fleet (USA), directed by Shannon Service and Jeffrey Waldron
Honorable Mention: Bathtubs Over Broadway (USA), directed by Dava Whisenant

CV Cine Award
Carmen & Lola (Spain), directed by Arantxa Echevarria Honorable Mention: The Chambermaid (Mexico/USA), directed by Lila Avilés

Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award
Dead Pigs (China), directed by Cathy Yan

GoE Bridging the Borders Award
Eldorado (Switzerland), directed by Markus Imhoof

Youth Jury Award
What Will People Say (Norway/Germany/Sweden), directed by Iram Haq