The Spanish black comedy film La Pietà directed by Eduardo Casanova is the winner of the top prize in the Main Competition Feature section at the 2022 Fantastic Fest. The film stars Ángela Molina and Manel Llunell as Libertad and Mateo in a mother-son toxic relationship.
Piggy, the Spanish horror thriller film directed by Carlota Pereda took the top prize in the Horror Features program, and The Five Devils, the French fantasy film directed by Léa Mysius, won in the Next Waves Feature Program. In Piggy, an overweight girl’s bullies are kidnapped by a stranger and she must decide whether to help police find them or embark on a journey of vengeance. Lea Mysius’ surreal film The Five Devils is about motherhood and repressed love, and follows a little girl, with a magical gift: she can reproduce any scent she likes.
The Audience Award went to the black comedy horror film The Menu directed by Mark Mylod, that focuses on a young couple who visits a restaurant on a remote island where the chef has prepared a lavish tasting menu, along with some shocking surprises.
“We really gave our jury members a tough job this year. We have no idea how they were able to choose between so many amazing films,” Festival Director Lisa Dreyer said. “We are so appreciative to all our filmmakers for sharing their phenomenal films with our audience, and the Jurors’ choices truly embody the wild and wonderful cinematic excellence we love to champion at Fantastic Fest.”
The complete list of winners of 2022 Fantastic Fest
“MAIN COMPETITION” FEATURES
Best Picture: LA PIETÀ directed by Eduardo Casanova
Best Director: Ali Abassi for HOLY SPIDER
“NEXT WAVE” FEATURES
Best Picture: THE FIVE DEVILS directed by Léa Mysius
Best Director: Thomas Hardiman for MEDUSA DELUXE
HORROR FEATURES
Best Picture: PIGGY directed by Carlota Pereda
Best Directors: Mike Mendez, Demian Rugna, Eduardo Sanchez, Gigi Saul Guerrero & Alejandro Brugués for SATANIC HISPANICS
SHORTS WITH LEGS
Best Picture: HUBBARDS directed by Kevin Ralston
Special Mention: ALEGRÍAS RIOJANAS directed by Velasco Broca
SHORT FUSE
Best Picture: RINGWORMS directed by Will Lee
Special Mention: GNOMES directed by Ruwan Heggelman
FANTASTIC SHORTS
Best Picture: THE DIAMOND directed by Vedran Rupic
Special Mention to A MAN TREMBLES directed by Mark Chua, Lam Li Shuen (Emoumie)
DRAWN AND QUARTERED
Best Picture: A GUITAR IN THE BUCKET directed by Boyoung Kim
Special Mention to HAPPY NEW YEAR, JIM directed by Andrea Gatopoulos
AUDIENCE AWARD
THE MENU directed by Mark Mylod