The 2021 Marbella International Film Festival came to a close earlier with the gala awards ceremony, and we’re happy to reveal our esteemed list of winners.   The ceremony also served as the Covid-delayed awards ceremony for the 2020 entries, so it was a double whammy.  Read on to find out just who took home the awards trophies.

2020 AWARD WINNERS

BEST SHORTER SHORT FILM 2020

The nominations for the best Shorter Short Film

  • The Family Gold
  • Unleash Chaos
  • True

And the winner is…  True.

True

Country of production: Ireland
Language: English
Year of production: 2019
Director: Shane Collins
Length of film: 7 mins 44

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Synopsis:

A grandfather struggles to comes to terms with his identity and grandson's homophobia.

Sinopsis:

Un abuelo lucha por aceptar su identidad y la homofobia de su nieto.

BEST SHORT FILM 2020

The nominations for the best Short Film

  • Il Vestito – The Suit
  • Kingsey
  • Celeste’s Dreams

And the winner is… Kingsey.

Kingsey

Country of production: United Kingdom
Language: English
Year of production: 2020
Director: Graeme Slater
Length of film: 22 mins 4 secs

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Synopsis:

Convicted bank robber Graeme King has been released early due to Coronavirus Epidemic. In the boredom of lockdown he turns to drink and drugs to escape the reality. He then begins to display paranoid behaviour. What will he do next to get his adrenaline pumping?

Sinopsis:

El ladrón de bancos convicto Graeme King fue liberado anticipadamente debido a la epidemia de coronavirus. En el aburrimiento del encierro, recurre a la bebida y las drogas para escapar de la realidad. Luego comienza a mostrar un comportamiento paranoico. ¿Qué hará a continuación para que suba la adrenalina?

BEST DIRECTOR 2020

The nominations for the Best Director

Adrian Bol for Legacy of Lies,
Domenico Costanzo for I Married My mother
Luis Carlos Londoño for Caballo de Acer

And the winner is… Luis Carlos Londoño for Caballo de Acer.

Caballo de Acero

Country of production: Columbia
Language: Spanish (English subtitles)
Year of production: 2020
Director: Luis Carlos Londoño
Length of film: 108 mins

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Synopsis:

The two young men train daily for friend to become a professional but the obstacles create a dilemma with himself, generating a doubt where Santa no longer knows how to distinguish between his imaginary world and the real world.

Sinopsis:

Los dos jóvenes entrenan a diario para que su amigo se convierta en un profesional pero los obstáculos crean un dilema consigo mismo, generando una duda donde Santa ya no sabe distinguir entre su mundo imaginario y el mundo real.

BEST FEATURE FILM 2020

The nominations for the best Feature Film are:

Legacy of Lies
I Married My mother
Caballo de Acer

And the winner is… Legacy of Lies.

Legacy Of Lies

Country of production: Ukraine/UK
Language: English
Year of production: 2020
Director: Adrian Bol
Length of film: 101 mins 40

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Synopsis:

When an ex-CIA agent’s (Scott Adkins) daughter is kidnapped by Russian agents he is forced to team up with Sasha, a mysterious Ukrainian woman to track down a video incriminating the Russian government in her abduction.

Sinopsis:

Cuando la hija de un exagente de la CIA (Scott Adkins) es secuestrada por agentes rusos, se ve obligado a unirse a Sasha, una misteriosa mujer ucraniana para rastrear un video que incrimina al gobierno ruso en su secuestro.

2021 AWARD WINNERS

BEST STORY 2021

The nominations for best story are:

  • One Day at a Time
  • Holidays at all Cost
  • Limbo

And the winner is… Holidays at all Cost.

Holidays At All Cost

Country of production: France
Language: French
Year of production: 2021
Director: Stevan Lee Mraovitch
Length of film: 105 mins

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Synopsis:

It has been seven years since Frederic has taken his beautiful wife and son away from Paris for a summer vacation. This year, he is determined to offer them an unforgettable holiday at all cost. Without the cash to pay for a hotel and unknown to his wife and son he makes a secrate deal with his friend, Jean-Luc, the director of a luxury resort. What follows is both hysterical and horrifying as Jean-Luc attempts to seduce Fredric's wife.

Sinopsis:

Han pasado siete años desde que Frederic se llevó a su hermosa esposa e hijo de París para unas vacaciones de verano. Este año, está decidido a ofrecerles unas vacaciones inolvidables a toda costa. Sin el dinero en efectivo para pagar un hotel y sin que su esposa y su hijo lo desconozcan, hace un trato secreto con su amigo, Jean-Luc, el director de un resort de lujo. Lo que sigue es histérico y horroroso cuando Jean-Luc intenta seducir a la esposa de Fredric.

BEST DOCUMENTARY

The nominations for best documentary are:

  • Roller Girls Beirut
  • A Wicked Eden
  • Stalking Chernobyl

And the winner is… Stalking Chernobyl.

Stalking Chernobyl

Country of production: USA, Bulgaria, Slovakia/ Ukrania
Language: English and Russian
Year of production: 2020
Director: Iara Lee
Length of film: 57 mins

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Synopsis:

Sinopsis:

BEST SHORT FILM 2021

The nominations for the best Short Film are:

  • Why I am a Recluse
  • Limbo
  • Otaku

And the winner is… Why I am a Recluse.

Why I am a Recluse

Country of production: Chile
Language: Spanish with English Subtitles
Year of production: 2020
Director: Cristian Rody Medel
Length of film: 25 mins

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Synopsis:

An inexperienced suicide tries to end his life. With the help of a spiritual being, he will discover the conditions to live the present with joy and calm.

Sinopsis:

Un suicidio sin experiencia intenta acabar con su vida. Con la ayuda de un ser espiritual, descubrirá las condiciones para vivir el presente con alegría y tranquilidad.

BEST ACTRESS 2021

The nominations for the best Actress are:

  • Morgan Makana for TwoTwo
  • Estefanía Villaespesa for Dark Light
  • Donia Eden for Holidays at all Cost

And the winner is…  Estefanía Villaespesa for Dark Light.

Dark Light

Country of production: Spain and Ireland
Language: English
Year of production: 2021
Director: Damian Chapa
Length of film: 93 mins

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Synopsis:

Sonny, an eccentric detective from New York unit finds himself investigating a mysterious set of murders. A disturbed but beautiful woman has been blamed for the murders. Sonny Proves it could not be her, as she has been locked away in a mental institution. However, a strange mysterious set of events still points to the young woman being the culprit.

Sinopsis:

Sonny, un excéntrico detective de la unidad de Nueva York, se encuentra investigando una misteriosa serie de asesinatos. Se ha culpado de los asesinatos a una mujer perturbada pero hermosa. Sonny demuestra que no pudo ser ella, ya que ha estado encerrada en una institución mental. Sin embargo, un extraño y misterioso conjunto de eventos todavía apunta a que la joven es la culpable.

BEST ACTOR 2021

The nominations for the Best Actor are:

  • Oliver Hobson for One Day at a Time
  • Terry Stone for Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins
  • Joel Ballard for TwoTwo

And the winner is…  Terry Stone for Rise of the Footsoldier:Origins.

Rise Of The Foot Soldier: Origins

Country of production: UK
Language: English
Year of production: 2020
Director: Nick Nevern
Length of film: 107 mins

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Synopsis:

This fifth instalment is set in the 1980s, the height of the rave scene. Tucker will do whatever it takes to rise to the top of the drug scene. Teaming up with Bernard O’Mahoney, who was a renowned heavyweight, what could go wrong?

Sinopsis:

Esta quinta entrega está ambientada en la década de 1980, el apogeo de la escena rave. Tucker hará lo que sea necesario para llegar a la cima de la escena de las drogas. Haciendo equipo con Bernard O’Mahoney, quien era un renombrado peso pesado, ¿qué podría salir mal?

BEST DIRECTOR 2021

The nominations for the Best Director are:

  • Dominique Lienhard for Fires in the Dark
  • Jun Hoskulds for TwoTwo
  • Nick Nevern for Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins

And the winner is…  Jun Hoskulds for TwoTwo.

TwoTwo

Country of production: USA
Language: English
Year of production: 2021
Director: Jun Hoskulds
Length of film: 88 mins

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Synopsis:

A homeless man takes David to an entrance to a parallel universe. There he meets TwoTwo, a mysterious girl with special powers who teaches him about the illusory nature of reality and the connection between the essence of all things. A secret alien power is kept underground, but it’s spirit watches everything as David has experiences, he never thought possible.

Sinopsis:

Un vagabundo lleva a David a una entrada a un universo paralelo. Allí conoce a TwoTwo, una chica misteriosa con poderes especiales que le enseña sobre la naturaleza ilusoria de la realidad y la conexión entre la esencia de todas las cosas. Un poder alienígena secreto se mantiene bajo tierra, pero su espíritu observa todo, ya que David tiene experiencias que nunca pensó que fueran posibles.

BEST FEATURE FILM 2021

The nominations for the best Feature Film are:

  • Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins
  • One Day at A Time
  • Holidays at all Cost

And the winner is…  Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins.

Rise Of The Foot Soldier: Origins

Country of production: UK
Language: English
Year of production: 2020
Director: Nick Nevern
Length of film: 107 mins

View Trailer

Synopsis:

This fifth instalment is set in the 1980s, the height of the rave scene. Tucker will do whatever it takes to rise to the top of the drug scene. Teaming up with Bernard O’Mahoney, who was a renowned heavyweight, what could go wrong?

Sinopsis:

Esta quinta entrega está ambientada en la década de 1980, el apogeo de la escena rave. Tucker hará lo que sea necesario para llegar a la cima de la escena de las drogas. Haciendo equipo con Bernard O’Mahoney, quien era un renombrado peso pesado, ¿qué podría salir mal?