Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas’ psychological social-media thriller Ego, which world premiered at this year’s 6th edition of the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival went on to win three awards including Best Feature, Best Screenplay and Best Actress for María Pedraza.
“I would like to thank the jury for this award on behalf of Ego’s team, María Pedraza and myself,” said Ego director Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas. “The first international feature film debut promoted by La Caña Imagine could not have been better. Now, we expect that its debut will have the same recognition in Spain. We also wish that this feature-length film could present a new creators’ community in our society and we wish it will open new doors and offer new opportunities for filmmakers.”
The Best Director award went to Rob Jabbaz, for The Sadness, along with a Special Jury Mention.
“Whoa, thanks so much to the judges and to the audience at BHFF,” said Rob Jabbaz on his win for directing The Sadness. “I wish I could have been there in person to receive the award. I’m so happy that there are still people out there who enjoy films like The Sadness as much as I do. This is truly an honor!”
The short film jury awarded Best Short to La Oscuridad, directed by Jorge Sistos Moreno and Best Director to Jon Bell for The Moogai.
“I’m so thankful to everyone for watching La Oscuridad,” said director Jorge Sistos Moreno on the win. “It means the world to me to receive this award from one of the most frighteningly amazing festivals in the world. I’m so grateful to all those who made the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival possible. It brings joy to this wicked soul of mine and is something I will hold dear over these long, cold winter nights spent in ‘La Oscuridad.’”
“My first Best Director’s Award, I can’t truly express my gratitude to the Brooklyn Horror Fest,” said The Moogai director Jon Bell. “Genre films can be such tricky beasts, you never really know if something’s going to work or if it will travel. What’s scary to Australians could easily be considered comedic to American audiences. Kristina Ceyton, Taylor Goddard, Samantha Jennings, Mitch Stanley and I tried our best to make it as universal as possible but you never know. Chelsea Lupkin, Prince Jackson and Yfke van Berckelaer, thank you so much. I got a pocketful of dreams…”
Jury Feature Awards
Best Feature — EGO, dir. Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas
Best Director — Rob Jabbaz, THE SADNESS
Best Screenplay — Jorge Navarro de Lemus, EGO
Best Actor — Nick Stahl, WHAT JOSIAH SAW
Best Actress — María Pedraza, EGO
Best Cinematography — Jenna Cato Bass, MLUNGU WAM (GOOD MADAM)
Special Jury Mention — THE SADNESS, dir. Rob Jabbaz
Jury Shorts Award
Best Short — LA OSCURIDAD, dir. Jorge Sistos Moreno
Best Director — Jon Bell, THE MOOGAI
Best Performance — Irene Tsu and Bert Matias, ATROPHY
Best Cinematography — Nick Morris, SUDDEN LIGHT
Best Sound Design — John Moros, WEEE WOOO
Most Bonkers Short — SUSHI NOH, dir. Jayden Rathsam Hua
Special Jury Award — OTHER BODIES, dir. Alyssa Loh
Audience Award
AUDIENCE AWARD – FEATURE: THE SADNESS, dir. Rob Jabbaz
AUDIENCE AWARD – SHORTS:
Nightmare Fuel — THIS IS OUR HOME, dir. A.K. Espada
Head Trip — THE FARAWAY MAN, dir. Megan Gilbert, Jill Hogan
Slayed — THE COST OF LIVING, dir. Alice Trueman
Home Invasion #1 — STILL TOGETHER, dir. Christopher Piazza
Home Invasion #2 — HAZEL, dir. Jordan Doig
Fear in Focus: Australia — SUSHI NOH, dir. Jayden Rathsam Hua