Edinburgh 2016: Taika Waititi's HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE Wins On Final Day Of Festival

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2016 wrapped up over the weekend with a screening of its Closing Film and the announcement of the event’s final prize: the Audience Award. Fittingly Gillies MacKinnon’s warm-hearted and whiskey-soaked remake of Alexander Mackendrick’s Ealing Comedy classic Whiskey Galore played out the festival, while a man who’s carving out his own niche in classic comedies took the Award. Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople proved a firm favorite with critics and audiences alike. Starring Sam Neill as a grizzled loner forced to go on the run with a young tear away, the exceptional Julian Dennison. The film is both hilarious and touching throughout and fully deserves the praise it has received. Other entries to score highly in the public vote included A Man Called Ove, The Carer, Adult Life Skills, and The Fundamentals of Caring.

Edinburgh 2016’s Awards in full:

Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film
Chosen by a jury consisting of actress Kim Cattrall, Edinburgh-based Spanish filmmaker and actress Icíar Bollaín, and actor Clancy Brown, the Award went to Scotland’s own Ben Sharrock for his directorial debut, Pikadero. A keenly observed, Basque-set comedy, Pikadero sees two young lovers repeatedly foiled in their attempts to find a quiet spot for romance.

Best Performance in a British Feature Film
Catrin Stewart put in a double shift as twin sisters, the palindromic Ana and Nan, to earn this best actor award for her role in Euros Lyn’s feature debut The Library Suicides.

Best International Feature Film
An International Jury comprised of actor Angus Macfadyen, actress and producer Sadie Frost and Editor of Screen International, Matt Mueller honored Argyris Papadimitropoulos’ Suntan.

Best Documentary Feature Film
Veteran producer Steve Abbott, actor Dougray Scott and film executive Tejinder Jouhal awarded Johan Grimonprez’s expose of the global arms trade, Shadow World.

Best Short Film: Before Love, Dir. Igor Kovalyov

McLaren Award for Best British Animation: Simon's Cat - Off to the Vet, Dir. Simon Tofield