The 16th edition of the Macau International Short Film Festival concluded yesterday at Teatro Capitol on Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva (伯多祿局長街), with director Meike Wüstenberg from Germany winning the ”Best Film of the Festival” award in the SHORTS category for “The Last Bet”, a fictional film she directed.
The film was an entry from Germany. The free admission festival was held from last Thursday through yesterday at the cinema on the top floor of Teatro Capitol in the city centre, with a total of 122 short films and music videos showcased in over 30 screenings.
Entries were chosen from among 6,350 submissions from 123 countries and regions.
The synopsis of Wüstenberg’s film shows an elderly couple having a tradition, which they bet on who will die first, with the last piece of chocolate as the prize, with each hoping to go before the other but for very different reasons, according to information provided at the festival.
The cash prize for the “Best Film of the Festival” is 16,000 patacas.
Remarking on her win at yesterday’s Gala Award ceremony at the cinema, Wüstenberg said via video message that she had an overwhelming gratitude for the award, emphasising her happiness that audiences connect with her film’s portrayal of an elderly couple’s “annoyance and subtle love.” She pledged, “I will treasure this award truly,” and praised the festival.
Meanwhile, in the VOLUME category, the “Best Music” award, went to “Bobby Beauty Parlour” composed by India’s Vishal-Chayan.
A total of 15 awards were distributed during yesterday’s ceremony.
Director Carline Brillians from Kenya won “Best Documentary” for “Our Voices Can Bring Change”, while “Best Fiction” went to director Jake Wachtel from the United States for “The Sentry”.
Meanwhile, director Matúš Vizár from the Czech Republic bagged the “Best Animation” award for the short animated film “Free the Chicken”.
Moreover, the “Macau Cultural Identity” award went to “Developing Macao” directed by Zhang Linliang from Macau/the Chinese mainland; “Best Local Entry” was won by local and China’s Taiwan region director Chan Chon Sin for “Nuptial Flight” while local director Leong Hou Wang took home the “Audience Choice” award for “In the Orbit Without You”.
The other prizes featured the “Best Student Film” and four SHORTS Prestigious Awards, including “Best Director” and “Best Visual Effects”, as well as two VOLUME Prestigious Awards comprising “Best Song” and “Best Sound Design”.
Macau International Short Film Festival Director Menn Chow (周萬生) (left) presents the “Best Film of the Festival” trophy to Institute of European Studies of Macau (IEEM) to President Paulo Canelas de Castro who collected it on behalf of German director Meike Wüstenberg at Teatro Capitol in the city centre last night.
German director Meike Wüstenberg delivers her message of gratitude via video during yesterday’s Macau International Short Film Festival award ceremony at Teatro Capitol. – Photos: Khalel Vallo
