The Hedgehog takes audience award at COLCOA

Mona Achache’s The Hedgehog (Le Herisson) starring Josiane Balasko won the audience award at the 14th annual City Of Lights City of Angels (COLCOA) French film showcase in Los Angeles which ended yesterday (Sunday).

Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno directed by Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea won the COLCOA Critics Awards which is presented in association with the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

The panel of critics which included two Screen critics – Brent Simon and Tim Grierson – gave a special prize to Lucas Belvaux’s Rapt and a special mention to Mia Hansen-Love’s The Father Of My Children. Actor Eric Elmosnino also received a special mention for his performance as Serge Gainsbourg in Gainsbourg: Je T’Aime…Moi Non Plus (Gainsbourg, Vie Heroique).

Runner up in the audience awards was Pascal Chaumeil’s Heartbreaker which won the audience special prize and Christian Carion’s Farewell which won a special mention.

Meanwhile Lea Fehner’s Silent Voices (Qu’Un Seul Tienne Et Les Autres Suivront) won the COLCOA first feature award.

COLCOA ran from April 19 to 25 and, despite initial worries that the volcanic ash cloud crisis would prevent directors from attending, virtually all were able to make it to Los Angeles.