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The Shepherd
Photo: Courtesy of Raindance Film Festival
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Spanish/UK co-production The Shepherd was the big winner as London's Raindance Film Festival announced its awards, taking home three honours.
Jonathan Cenzual Burley was also named Best Director for the film which follows a farmer whose home and livelihood are threatened by a big construction company that will stop at nothing to take his land. Star Miguel Martin was named Best Actor.
Best Screenplay was awarded to Joaquin del Paso and Lucy Pawlak for Panamerican Machinery, a film about a group of employees who discover their dead boss in the back of their office warehouse.
Camila Romagnolo received the Best Actress honour for her role in Hortensia, about a woman whose life takes a turn for the worst, but who is reinvigorated by the discovery of a letter written by herself as a teenager.
Miranda Bowen’s Gozo was awarded Best UK Feature. The film follows a couple who have decided to immigrate to an idyllic Mediterranean island only to discover that they are unable to escape the horrors of their past.
Best Documentary went to LGBT film Growing Up Coy, about a young Colorado family’s highly publicised legal battle for their six-year-old transgender daughter’s right to use the girls’ bathroom at school.
Łukasz Grzegorzek’s Kamper received the Discovery Award for Best Debut Feature. The film follows a young couple whose relationship is challenged by the husband’s immaturity.
The Film of the Festival Award went to Rick Darge’s Zen Dog about a man who takes up lucid dreaming.
Raindance Founder Elliot Grove said: “We chose Zen Dog as Film of the Festival because of the spirit in which it was made. It takes on a meditative magic carpet ride of the Dreamworld and looks at how we can influence both our dreams and waking life. The film cleverly weaves in the spiritual with the philosophical.”
As a result of this win and as per Raindance tradition, Rick Darge will be asked to direct next year’s Official Festival Trailer.
This year's jury included Anna Friel, Joanna Lumley, Imelda Staunton and Billie Piper. The 24th edition of the festival ends on Sunday:
The full list of winners is below:
Best Film - The Shepherd
Best Director – Jonathan Cenzual Burley (The Shepherd)
Best Actor – Miguel Martin (The Shepherd)
Best Actress – Camila Romagnolo (Hortensia)
Best Screenplay – Joaquin del Paso and Lucy Pawlak (Panamerican Machinery)
Best UK Feature – Gozo
Best Documentary Feature – Growing Up Coy
Discovery Award/Best Debut Feature – Kamper
Indie Award – Selling Isobel
Film of the Festival Award – Zen Dog
Raindance Co-Produciton Best Potential for Brand Partnership Award – The Bicycle
Best Short Film - A l’Arraché (Snatched)
Best UK Short Film – Healey’s House
Best Music Video - Joy
