Norwegian director Vegard Dahle’s zombie comedy “Grandmonster” received the inaugural Outpost Prize in addition to an award for post-production providers at Fantasia Competition’s prestigious Frontières co-production market, which handed out six awards at its closing cocktail occasion on July 25.
The movie, about an American dropout who unwittingly triggers a zombie outbreak in a distant Norwegian nursing dwelling whereas making an attempt to avoid wasting her grandmother from dementia, was offered with deadpan, self-deprecating humor by Dahle and producer Jon Vatne, who wore matching sweaters, at a one-day Frontiers pitch occasion on July 22.
The challenge, considered one of 20 titles in Frontières’ official choice, acquired a loud and laughter-inducing response from the packed Frontières viewers of fellow pitchers, consumers and trade delegates. 300 delegates from 24 nations attended the market, together with members of the Official Choice challenge groups, Style Lab, Shorts To Options and Music Strands.
Particular Outpost Awards got to 2 titles within the Shorts to Options class. “Reset” is the sci-fi drama from American administrators Céline Tien and Jerry Hsu a couple of program that resets aged individuals into youngsters in order that they continue to be economically helpful; the quick movie screened in Fantasia’s official worldwide quick movie competitors. “Sea Spirits” is the favored gothic horror movie by director Edson Jean, shot in Haiti, a couple of guilt-ridden mom haunted by her daughter, misplaced at sea and refusing to go away the nation in quest of her ghost.
The PurpleDOG Award for an Official Choice Venture, together with an award for Put up-Manufacturing Providers, went to “Cher,” the primary Thai challenge taking part in Frontiers, a supernatural people horror a couple of revenge-seeking forest spirit who emerges close to a distant mining camp that encroaches on a sacred forest.
The PurpleDOG Award for a challenge from the Gender Fairness in Media Society (GEMS) part of the Style Movie Lab went to “Wifey,” Canadian director Cassidy Civiero’s horror thriller about an unbiased artist on the verge of transitioning from a girl to a person who’s pressured right into a non-consensual marriage during which conventional gender norms are used as a violent weapon.
The Sitges Worldwide Implausible Movie Competition prize, with an invite to current on the Sitges competition in October, went to “Everlasting Valley,” the physique horror black comedy from British director Jasmine De Silva, a function movie challenge based mostly on her validation quick “Magnificence Sleep,” which had its world premiere at Fantasia in 2025.
“The suggestions we acquired from members on the tasks offered final Wednesday was extraordinarily optimistic,” mentioned Frontières basic director Annick Mahnert. Selection shortly earlier than the awards ceremony.
“Individuals have praised not solely the distinctive high quality of the tasks themselves, but in addition the filmmakers’ displays. Yearly the bar is ready even greater, and I feel that is why decision-makers come again yr after yr. They belief our curation.”
One-on-one conferences and trade seminars finish July 25.
Right here is the whole checklist of Frontières prize winners and their prizes:
Outpost Prize of CAD$15,000 (US$10,637) in post-production providers: “Grandmonster”
Outpost particular point out of 5,000 CAD$ (3,545 US$) in post-production providers: “Reset”
Outpost Particular Point out: Prize of CAD$5,000 (US$3,545) in post-production providers: “Sea Spirits”
PurpleDOG Prize for Official Choice Venture, CAD$10,000 (US$7,091) in post-production providers: “Costly”
PurpleDOG award to the GEMS challenge, CAD$10,000 (US$7,091) in post-production providers: “Wifey”
Sitges Worldwide Implausible Movie Competition: an invite to pitch on the Sitges Competition subsequent October, “Everlasting Valley”