City of Donostia / San Sebastian Audience Award
The tale of Bruno and Malik, two friends who have lived for twenty years in a different world: that of autistic children and adolescents. With the support of two non-profit organisations, they train young people to care for cases of severe autism. They therefore create an exceptional association, removed from the traditional environments, for extraordinary characters. The latest feature film from the directors of Intouchables (Untouchable, Official Selection, 2011) and Samba (Official Selection, 2014) closed the Cannes Festival out of competition.
Best European Film
Ricky, Abby and their two children live in Newcastle. They are a strong family who care for each other. Ricky has skipped from one labouring job to another while Abby, who loves her work, cares for old people. Despite working longer and harder they realise they will never have independence or their own home. It’s now or never; the app revolution offers Ricky a golden opportunity. He and Abby make a bet. She sells her car so Ricky can buy a shiny new van and become a freelance driver, with his own business at last. The modern world impinges on these four souls in the privacy of their kitchen; the future beckons.
Youth Award
The early 90s in Buenos Aires. Amanda is 10 years old; she has two younger brothers and separated parents with whom the children alternately live. When they’re with their father, Amanda has to act like an adult and take care—as she can—of everyone, since Gustavo is a rather peculiar character who barely loves his children any more than he loves himself. But one day, their mother suggests an alternative outside the country, far from her father’s messy existence, throwing Amanda into turmoil. Debut film.