Bertrand Mandico’s After Blue (Dirty Paradise) snagged the top prize for Best Film at Fantastic Fest 2021. In the film, set on a mysterious new planet populated entirely by women, teenager Roxy and her mother undergo a fantastical journey in pursuit of a murderous criminal.

Many of the award-winning films including After Blue will continue to stream as part of the virtual Fantastic Fest @ Home experience from September 30 – October 11.

Fantastic Fest 2021 Award Winners

MAIN COMPETITION

Best Film – AFTER BLUE (dir BERTRAND MANDICO)
Best Direction – ESKIL VOGT, THE INNOCENTS
Best Actor – FRANZ ROGOWSKI (LUZIFER and FREAKS OUT)

HORROR

Best Film – THE SADNESS (dir ROB JABBAZ)
Best Direction – ROB JABAAZ, THE SADNESS
Special Mention – LET THE WRONG ONE IN (dir CONOR MCMAHON)

NEXT WAVE

Best Film – ZALAVA (dir ARSALAN AMIRI)
Best Direction – JEAN LUC HERBULOT, SALOUM
Special Mention – NAME ABOVE TITLE (dir CARLOS CONCEIÇÃO)

DRAWN AND QUARTERED

Best Film – HEART OF GOLD (dir SIMON FILLIOT)
Best Direction – KRISTIAN MERCADO FIGUEROA, NUEVO RICO
Best Artistry – SUNBELLY (dir JORDAN SPEER) and LAUNCH (dir LEAH SHORE)

FANTASTIC SHORTS

Best Film – LAST DAYS (dir DIPO BARUWA-ETTI)
Best Direction – ANNALISE LOCKART, INHERITANCE

SHORT FUSE

Best Film – YOU’RE DEAD HELEN (dir MICHIEL BLANCHART)
Best Direction – MARIA MARTINEZ BAYONA, SUCH SMALL HANDS
Best Dickhead Way to Subvert the Gender System – NIGHT OF THE LIVINGDICKS (dir ILJA RAUTSI)

SHORTS WITH LEGS

Best Film – DANGEROUS TYPE (dir Tipper Newton)
Best Direction – GONÇALO ALMEIDA ,GIRL FROM SATURN
Outstanding Example of Non Fiction Filmmaking in a Genre Film Festival – VO (dir NICOLAS GOURAULT)
Outstanding Example of Creative and Fun Use of Cinema for Social Commentary – MISTER POWERFUL (dir ORIOL BARBERÀ MASATS)