The Chicago International Film Festival announced the award winners from its 61st edition, with Oliver Laxe’s Sirât—Spain’s submission for Best International Feature—taking home the Gold Hugo for Best Film in the International Feature Competition.
“It is rare to find a film that makes us thrilled, angry, yearning and lost at the same time,” the jury wrote. “This film took us on an unexpected journey through the hallucinating world of the rave dancers in the desert of Morocco, with the specificity of a journalist, and with all the sensual power of a filmmaker Sirât is a wild ride and explosive mastery of story elements, themes and emotions that mirror our crumbling world.”
Other notable winners include Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Festival alum Kaouther Ben Hania, taking the Silver Jury Prize and Mascha Schilinski’s Sound of Falling recognized with the Silver Hugos for Best Director and Best Sound. Silver Hugos also went to actors Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) and Eszter Tompa (Kontinental ‘25); screenwriter Paolo Sorrentino (La Grazia); and Director of Photography Gergely Pálos (Silent Friend).
Short Summer won the Gold Hugo in the New Directors Competition, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk took home the Gold Hugo in the International Documentary Competition, Bouchra won the Gold Q-Hugo in the OutLook Competition, Kevin Shaw’s One Golden Summer was recognized with the Chicago Award, and Rental Family won the Audience Award for U.S. Feature.
See the full list of winners:
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