ICS Awards celebrate women directors

Happening, The Power Of The Dog and Playground among winners

by Amber Wilkinson

Terence Davies' Benediction
Terence Davies' Benediction Photo: Courtesy of San Sebastian Film Festival

It was a good night for female filmmakers at this year's International Cinephile Society awards, with women taking home the gongs for Best Picture, Director, Animated Film, Documentary and Debut Feature. Although no film swept the boards, Terence Davies' Siegfried Sassoon biopic Benediction won the most gongs, with three.

Audrey Diwan’s tense 1960s-set abortion drama Happening was named Best Picture, while her star Anamaria Vartolomei won Best Breakthrough Performance for her role as a woman who is increasingly desperate to terminate her pregnancy. Jane Campion was named Best Director for her Western about toxic masculinity, The Power Of The Dog.

Immersive school portrait Mr Bachmann And His Class, directed by Maria Speth and Best Animated Film went to Florence Miailhe's the crossing, which is painted on glass. Laura Wandel's gripping school bullying drama Playground was named best debut feature.

The full list of winners is below:

Picture: Happening

Director: Jane Campion – The Power Of The Dog

Actor: Jack Lowden – Benediction

Actress: Lee Hye-yeong – In Front Of Your Face

Supporting Actor: Anders Danielsen Lie – The Worst Person In The World

Supporting Actress: Ruth Negga – Passing

Ensemble: Wheel Of Fortune And Fantasy

Original Screenplay: Benediction – Terence Davies

Adapted Screenplay: Drive My Car – Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe

Cinematography: Benediction – Nicola Daley

Editing: What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? – Aleksandre Koberidze

Production Design: The Souvenir Part II – Stéphane Collonge, Byron Broadbent, Polly Davenport

Score: Annette – Ron Mael, Russell Mael (aka Sparks)

Sound Design: [film id=Film ID:39092]Memoria[/film] – Akritchalerm Kalayanamitr, Raúl Locatelli, Javier Umpierrez

Animated Film: The Crossing – Florence Miailhe

Documentary: Mr. Bachmann And His Class – Maria Speth

Debut Feature: Playground – Laura Wandel

Breakthrough Performance: Anamaria Vartolomei – Happening

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