The List Awards at Edinburgh International Film Festival
The Last Circus, Perfect Sense and Project Nim among winning films
It’s been well documented that as a result of what festival director James Mullighan refers to as ‘straightened times’, the Edinburgh Film Festival has scaled back its more expensive operations this year, including cutting several awards. However, stepping into the breach, The List has colonised press screenings across the city in order to produce our first set of EIFF Awards.
Chosen by a panel comprising List film writers, guests from other publications and the film industry at large, these picks represent the best of the features on offer at EIFF 2011.
Best International Feature
Winner: The Last Circus
Alex de la Iglesia’s circus-set horror reminds us that when it comes to sheer visceral chutzpah nobody beats this Spanish master.
Shortlist
Tomboy - Intimate Paris-set tale of young sexuality. (Dir: Céline Sciamma).
The Last Circus - Bonkers horror parable. (Dir: Alex de la Iglesia).
Troll Hunter - Blair Witch-style box office buster. (Dir: Andre Ovredal).
Best UK Feature
Winner: Perfect Sense
David Mackenzie’s inventive and daring ‘end of days’ romantic drama reunites him with Ewan McGregor and reminds us of all that is good in Scottish cinema.
Shortlist
Albatross - Well above average coming of age comedy. (Dir: Niall MacCormick).
Perfect Sense - Inventive apocalypse romance. (Dir: David Mackenzie).
Page Eight - Timely state of the nation thriller with Bill Nighy. (Dir: David Hare).
Best Documentary
Winner: Project Nim
Man on Wire filmmaker James Marsh’s doc about Columbia University’s research programme to teach a chimpanzee to speak is absolutely riveting.
Shortlist
Project Nim - Imagine those PG Tips ads were real. (Dir: James Marsh).
CALVET - A drug addict rent boy turns his life around. (Dir: Dominic Allan).
Bombay Beach - Portrait of California’s poorest community. (Dir: Alma Har’el).
Best Newcomer
Winner: Trond Nilssen
Nilssen’s performance in Norwegian drama King of Devil’s Island about the true story of an uprising at a borstal has a naturalism that cannot be learned.
Shortlist
Jessica Brown Findlay for her performance in Albatross.
Romain Gavras for his directorial debut Our Day Will Come.
Trond Nilssen for his performance in King of Devil's Island.