Courtesy of Film Journal International
The Aruba International Film Festival (AIFF) held its awards ceremony last night at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino on the Caribbean island of Aruba before its final day of screenings on Oct. 11. Sponsored by the Aruba Tourism Authority, the event hosted international and regional premieres of feature-length and short films from around the world, special tributes, master classes, panel discussions and more.
This year the festival presented the international premieres of Tyrese Gibson’s SHAME, Zachary Sluser’s THE DRIFTLESS AREA, and Eli Roth’s KNOCK KNOCK, as well as the latest screenings of Paz Fábrega’s VIAJE and the acclaimed horror film THE FINAL GIRLS.
The juries, headed by Oscar nominee Virginia Madsen and noted film journalist Kevin Lally, presented awards to films in the following categories:
Best International Feature– EEN DAG IN ‘T JAAR/12 MONTHS IN 1 DAY (Netherlands): Coping with the loss of their brother, old friend and first love, three friends delay time: while they experience their continuous walk to last only 24 hours, in fact an entire year passes.
Best Feature Documentary– WAR OF LIES (Germany): Was Rafed Aljanabi really able to walk over the world ́s most powerful intelligence agencies? And how exactly did his lies become a convenient truth?
Best International Short– CUERDAS/STRINGS (Spain): María’s routine at school is altered by the arrival of a very special child. Soon, they become close friends.
Best Caribbean Spotlight Series Film– DEAL WITH IT (Netherlands/Aruba): In this intimate family portrait, we enter the chaotic and colorful world of Shamira’s father Pempy, a drug dealing addict, and her brother Andy, who’s following in his father’s footsteps. They both counter their seemingly desperate lives with lots of resilience and humor.
Best Aruba Flavor Film– ALTO VISTA (Aruba) Souls trapped in the moment, searching for love, satisfaction and forgiveness. Alto Vista is a place that not only unites a family but also divides them, repeating their past and reflecting their future.
The film DEAL WITH IT added to its awards tally, by also winning the Audience Award for Best Caribbean Spotlight Series Film. The local short THE PACKAGE walked away with the Audience Award for Best Aruba Flavor Film.
Special jury mentions were given to the following films:
SIN ALAS/WITHOUT WINGS (USA/Cuba): Sin Alas follows the tumultuous life and love of Cuban writer Luis Vargas as he chooses the excitement and possibilities of the revolution over the wealth of his dysfunctional family.
THE GLAMOUR & THE SQUALOR (USA): Marco Collins was the on and off switch for an artist’s potential career and was the gatekeeper credited for helping break the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Beck, Weezer and countless others.
POT V RAJ/SAILING TO PARADISE (Slovenia): A young man struggling with the death of his parents meets an extroverted girl who joins him on his sailing trip.
SOUCOUYANT (St. Lucia): In the small Caribbean island of St. Lucia lives an ancient spirit. Soucouyant, as she is known, cannot be contained, captured or killed.
