Sanfic: Ukrainian Drama "Klondike" Takes Top Honors

Following its Sundance debut in January, where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Competition for Directing, Ukrainian war drama “Klondike” won Best International Film honors at the 18th Beijing International Film Festival. Santiago de Chile (Sanfic).

"Klondike", written, directed and edited by Ukrainian filmmaker Marina Er Gorbach ("Omar and us"), tells the story of the couple Irina and Anatoly who live in the village of Grabove, near the Russian-Russian border. Ukrainian during the high conflict which coincides with shot down. The couple face devastation up close as Irina refuses to move, even as the troops close in.

The Best Director award went to Chilean Roberto Baeza for his documentary 'Punto de Encuentro', a gripping portrait of filmmakers striving to recreate the stories of their fathers, tortured and imprisoned under the dictatorship.

Tyler Taormina's ("Ham On Rye") feature film "Happer's Comet," which examines alienation by focusing on characters from his hometown of Long Island, and the entire cast of social drama Lebanese "Costa Brava, Lebanon" received special mentions Saturday night's awards ceremony.

Oleksandr Yatsentyuk won Best Performer for his role in Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk's 'Pamfir', where he plays the main character tasked with supporting his family amid the city's vast corruption.

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In the Chilean Cinema category, Best Picture honors went to Sebastian Kohan's "Villa Olímpica," backed by Inti-Cordera, a documentary that follows the children of the Pinochet diaspora after leaving the Mexican town they were calling home to return to Chile.

Best Director went to Costa Rica Felipe Zuñiga ("San Jose de Noche") for "La Picada," a documentary that follows the last inhabitant of a city desecrated by volcanic eruptions as it yearns to keep his daily routine despite increasing pressure to move.

Argentina's Mara Bestelli (“Rojo”) won Best Performance for her role as Greta in the Ivan Fund fantasy feature, “Piedra Noche”.

As part of the National Short Film Competition, Katherina Harder's dark coming-of-age tale, "Estrellas del Desierto", and Alejandra Andino's look at the loss, "Mañana Pasado", shared Best Picture honors with special mentions to Chilean director Pablo Cuturrufo for his animated virtual reality preview "The Phantom Touch" and to beloved Chilean actor Louis "Tato" Dubó for his performance in the short films "Tormenta", "Toque", "Redención" and "Aparecides".

Focusing on films with distinct aesthetics and broadly related themes, Sanfic has brought together internationally acclaimed trending titles and emerging talent to shine a light on the diverse landscape that is independent cinema.

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"What the films I have chosen this year have in common is a marked author's gaze, high artistic quality and themes that resonate with the public", said Carlos Nuñez, founder and director art of Sanfic.

Another hybrid event year, the festival made accessibility a built-in feature, continuing the pandemic-era push toward inclusivity for audiences and industry.

"The festival continues to evolve in search of a plurality of approaches that includes prestigious directors and young talents not only from Chile but from all over the world", added Nuñez.

2022 SANFIC WINNERS

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Best Movie

“Klondike” (Maryna Er Gorbach, Ukraine, Turkey)

Best Acting

Oleksandr Yatsentyuk, "Pamfir" (Ukraine)

Special Mention

Cast ensemble of "Costa Brava, Lebanon" (Lebanon)

Best Director

Roberto Baeza, "Punto de Encuentro" (Chile)

Special Mention

Tyler Taormina, "Happer's Comet" (USA)

CHILIAN CINEMA COMPETITION

Best Movie

“Villa Olímpica” (Sebastián Kohan, Chile, Mexico)

Best Game

Mara Bestelli, "Piedra Noche" (Argentina)

Best Director

Felipe Zuñiga, "La Picada" (Costa Rica)

CHILEAN SHORT FILM COMPETITION

Best short film (ex aequo)

"Estrellas del Desierto," (Katherina Harder, Chile)

"Mañana Pasado" (Alejandra Andino, Chile)

Best Director (Special Mention)

“The Phantom Touch”, (Pablo Cuturrufo, Chile)

Best Actor (Special Mention)

Luis Dubó, "Tormenta", "Toque", "Redención" and "Aparecides" (Chile)