Locarno 2015: Golden Leopard Goes To Hong Sangsoo

The 68th Locarno International Film Festival wound to a close yesterday and offered its top prize to a Korean film for the first time, in what was a strong night overall for Asian features. Two years after picking up the Best Director (Silver Leopard) prize for Our Sunhi, Hong Sangsoo was awarded the Golden Leopard for his 17th film Right Now, Wrong Then (read ScreenAnarchy's review here). The film's star Jung Jae-young was also recognized with the Best Actor Prize from the Swiss Fest.

Best Director went to Polish cineaste Andrzej Zulawski for Cosmos, his first film in 15 years, while the Special Jury Prize was won by Isreali filmmaker Avishai Sivan for Tikkun, which also received a special mention for its cinematography. Hamaguchi's Ryusuke's Happy Hour from Japan took home the Best Actress prize, which was shared among Tanaka Sachie, Kikuchi Hazuki, Mihara Maiko and Kawamura Rira, as well as a special mention for its script.

Read on for a full list of winners:

Concorso internazionale

Pardo d'oro
JIGEUMEUN MATGO GEUTTAENEUN TEULLIDA (Right Now, Wrong Then) by HONG Sangsoo, South Korea

Premio speciale della giuria (Special Jury Prize)
TIKKUN by Avishai Sivan, Israel

Pardo per la miglior regia (Best direction)
ANDRZEJ ZULAWSKI for COSMOS, France/Portugal

Pardo per la miglior interpretazione femminile (Best actress)
TANAKA SACHIE, KIKUCHI HAZUKI, MIHARA MAIKO, KAWAMURA RIRA for HAPPY HOUR by HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke, Japan

Pardo per la miglior interpretazione maschile (Best actor)
JUNG JAE-YOUNG for JIGEUMEUN MATGO GEUTTAENEUN TEULLIDA (Right Now, Wrong Then) by HONG Sangsoo, South Korea

Special Mention
For the script of HAPPY HOUR by HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke, Japan
For the cinematography by Shai Goldman for TIKKUN by Avishai Sivan, Israel

Concorso Cineasti del presente

Pardo d'oro Cineasti del presente - Premio Nescens
THITHI by Raam Reddy, India/USA/Canada

Premio speciale della giuria Ciné+ Cineasti del presente (Special Jury prize)
DEAD SLOW AHEAD by Mauro Herce, Spain/France

Premio per il miglior regista emergente (Prize for the best emerging director)
LU BIAN YE CAN (Kaili Blues) by BI Gan, China

First Feature

Swatch First Feature Award (Prize for Best First Feature)
THITHI by Raam Reddy, India/USA/Canada

Swatch Art Peace Hotel Award
SINA ATAEIAN DENA for MA DAR BEHESHT (Paradise), Iran/Gemany

Special Mentions
LU BIAN YE CAN (Kaili Blues) by BI Gan, China
KIEV/MOSCOW. PART 1 by Elena Khoreva, Russia/Estonia/Ukraine

Pardi di domani

Concorso internazionale

Pardino d'oro per il miglior cortometraggio internazionale - Premio SRG SSR
MAMA by Davit Pirtskhalava, Georgia

Pardino d'argento SRG SSR per il Concorso internazionale
LA IMPRESIÓN DE UNA GUERRA by Camilo Restrepo, France/Colombia

Locarno Nomination for the European Film Awards - Premio Pianifica
FILS DU LOUP by Lola Quivoron, France

Premio Film und Video Untertitelung
MAMA by Davit Pirtskhalava, Georgia

Special Mention
NUEVA VIDA by Kiro Russo, Argentina/Bolivia

Concorso nazionale

Pardino d'oro per il miglior cortometraggio svizzero - Premio Swiss Life
LE BARRAGE by Samuel Grandchamp, Switzerland/USA

Pardino d'argento Swiss Life per il Concorso nazionale
D'OMBRES ET D'AILES by Eleonora Marinoni, Elice Meng, Switzerland/France

Best Swiss Newcomer Award
LES MONTS S'EMBRASENT by Laura Morales, Switzerland

Prix du Public UBS
DER STAAT GEGEN FRITZ BAUER by Lars Kraume, Germany

Variety Piazza Grande Award
LA BELLE SAISON by Catherine Corsini, France