- Mezipatra awarded prizes to the best films of the 24th edition during a ceremony at Lucerna Cinema.
- The winner of the main jury prize was the South Korean feature film Peafowl (Gong-jak-sae) directed by Sung-bin Byun. The short films Blond Night (Nuit Blonde) and Neo Nahda also impressed the student jury.
- A total of 69 feature-length and short films were showcased at the festival with the theme "Crossroads." The program also included accompanying events and Q&A sessions with international guests.
On Wednesday, November 8th, the 24th queer film festival Mezipatra concluded with a festive ceremony at Lucerna Cinema, featuring a total of 69 films. Awards were presented to the best films during the ceremony.
The main jury prize for the best feature film was awarded to Peafowl (Gong-jak-sae) directed by Sung-bin Byun:
“This film beautifully deconstructs the often too easily simplified binaries: like the binaries of rejection and acceptance, urban and rural, modern and traditional, shame and pride. It combines traditional rituals with modern queer culture (dance, make-up and fashion) to reflect upon the universal experiences of mourning and forgiveness. With gentle humor and with a self-confident trans protagonist, it steps beyond the conventional narratives of struggling with identity. Instead, it portrays the many layers of queerness and shows a queer person who can be an inspiration for her family, friends and society.”
The film received the Watcha Award at the Busan International Film Festival, and the actress Hae-jun was honored by the L.A. Outfest jury for her outstanding performance.
Special recognition was given by the jury to the Brazilian-French film Rule 34 (Regla 34):
It is a very strong female call for justice and freedom. The film provocatively manages to do this through a variety of layers that make the differentiation between the public and the private rather fluid. It explores the boundaries of consensual violence, control and the use of power, and it contrasts that with abuse and non-consensual domestic violence. With remarkable performances and beautiful portraits of bisexual characters, it inspires a reflection of our world today.
The student jury prize for the best short film was awarded to the Canadian film Blond Night (Nuit Blonde):
The film treats the desires of people on the autistic spectrum as equal. In doing so, it wields genre conventions on the levels of both the aesthetics and the dynamics of a relationship between two men from different worlds, while avoiding clichés, instead preserving a sensitive, realistic tone.
Special recognition went to the British short film Neo Nahda directed by May Ziadé, set in 1920s Cairo.
The awards for the ceremony were prepared by the design studio DECHEM.
On Friday, November 10th, the festival moves to Brno, where it continues until November 17th, when the Audience Award will also be presented at the closing ceremony.
