Disaster artist update

Source: Warner Bros.

‘The Disaster Artist’

James Franco’s The Disaster Artist won the Golden Shell for best film at last night’s awards ceremony for the 65th edition of the San Sebastián International Film Festival (30 Sept).

The Disaster Artist tells the story of Tommy Wiseau, the man behind cult classic The Room - regarded by many as one of the worst American films ever made. Franco was the star, producer and director of the project, which was also runner-up for the Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award in Toronto.

Read more: ‘The Disaster Artist’: San Sebastian Review

The jury presided by John Malkovich awarded the Silver Shell for Best Director to Anahí Berneri for Alanis, a story about a prostitute forced out onto the streets in Buenos Aires. She is the first women to win the award in the history of the festival.

The film’s star Sofía Gala Castiglione also won the Silver Shell for Best Actress.

The Silver Shell for Best Actor went to Bogdan Dumitrache (Sieranevada) for Constantin Popescu’s Pororoca - a missing child family drama co-produced by Romania and France.

The Special Jury Prize went to Handia, by Aitor Arregi and Jon Garaño, a film inspired by the true story of an unusally tall man from the Basque country who became a circus attraction in the 19th century . Arregi and Garaño had previously collaborated on another San Sebastián premiere, Loreak, three years ago.

The Audience Award went to Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, by Martin McDonagh, a dark comedy starring Frances McDormand as a woman determined to get justice in small-town America.

The 65th edition of San Sebastián closed with The Wife, by Björn Runge, starring Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce. Close attended the ceremony with her daughter Annie Starke, who plays her mother’s character in her youth in the film, and co-star Christian Slater.

San Sebastian 2017: Winners

Golden Shell For Best Film

The Disaster Artist (US)James Franco 

Special Jury Prize

Handia (Spain), Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño

Silver Shell For Best Director

Anahí Berneri, Alanis (Argentina)

Silver Shell For Best Actress

Sofía Gala Castiglione, Alanis (Argentina)

Silver Shell For Best Actor

Bogdan Dumitrache, Pororoca (Romania/France)

Jury Prize For Best Cinematography

Florian Ballhaus, The Captain (Germany/France/Poland)

Jury Prize For Best Screenplay

Diego Lerman, María Meira, A Sort Of Family (Argentina/Brazil/Poland/France)

Kutxabank-New Directors Award

The Sower (France), Marine Francen

Special Mention: Matar a Jesús (Colombia/Argentina), Laura Mora 

Horizontes Award

Los Perros (Chile/France), Marcela Said 

Special Mention: Alba (Ecuador/Mexico/Greece), Ana Cristina Barragán 

Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award 

Braguino (France), Clément Cogitore

Special Mentions: Darya Zhovner (Actress),Tesnota/Closeness (Russia) and Spell Reel (France), Filipa César

San Sebastián Audience Award

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (UK), Martin McDonagh (UK)

San Sebastián Audience Award for European Films

Custody (France), Xavier Legrand 

Irizar Basque Film Award

Handia (Spain), Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño 

Ezae Youth Award

Matar a Jesús (Colombia/Argentina), Laura Mora 

Fipresci Award

Life And Nothing More (Spain/US)Antonio Méndez Esparza

TVE-Another Look Award

Custody (France), Xavier Legrand