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Mexican filmmaker Enrique Rivero yesterday took home the top prize of Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival with his film Parque Via, about a man who has put himself in voluntary seclusion. Rivero’s film features Beto, who has isolated himself in the empty house where he used to work as a servant, with his contacts limited to only two people. The special jury prize went to 33 Scenes from Life by Polish Malgoska Szumowska exploring the angst of a young woman coping with her mother’s illness.The award for best direction was handed to Denis Cote from Canada for Elle Veut Le Chaos.

Rivero’s film also won the FIPRESCI critics award at the event. Garth Jennings’ “Son of Rambow” won the fest’s audience award. Fernand Melgar from Switzerland won the Filmmakers of the Present Competition for “La Forteresse” and Eva Randolph from Brazil won the International Leopoard of Tomorrow Competition for “Dez Elephants.”

The 61st Locarno International Film Festival came to a close last night with an outdoor Piazza Grande screening of Solveig Anspach’s world premiere, “Back Soon.” The film was awarded The Variety Piazza Grande Award for a fest premiere film that exhibits artistic qualities and also has the potential to secure a theatrical release.

List of winners:

Golden Leopard “Paraque Via” by Enrique Rivero, Mexico Special Jury Prize “33 Scenes from Life” (33 Sceny Z Zycia) by Malgoska Szumowska, Germany/Poland

Best Director for “Elle Veut Le Chaos” by Denis Cote, Canada
Leopard for Best Actress Ilaria Occhini in “Mar Nero” by Federico Bondi, Italy/Romania/France

Leopard for Best Actor Tayanc Ayaydin in “The Market - A Tale of Trade” by Ben Hopkins, Germany/UK/Turkey/Kazakhstan

C.P. Company Golden Leopard / Filmmakers of the Present Competition “La Forteresse” by Fernand Melgar, Switzerland

Cine Cinema Special Jury Prize / Filmmakers of the Present Competition “Alicia En El Pais” by Esteban Larrain, Chile

Leopard for the Best First Feature “Marz” by Haendl Klaus, Austria (International Competition)

Golden Leopard SRG SSR idee suisse Prize for the International Leopard of Tomorrow Competition “Dez Elephantes” by Eva Randolph, Brazil

Silver Leopard Eastman Kodak Company Prize for the International Leopard of Tomorrow “Kaupunkilaisia” by Juho Kuosmanen, Finland

Golden Leopard IKEA Prize for the Leopards of Tomorrow National Competition “La Delogeuse” by Julien Rouyet, Switzerland

Silver Leopard Eastman Kodak Company Prize for the Leopards of Tomorrow National Competition “Un Dia y Nada” by Lorenz Merz, Switzerland

Prix du Public UBS “Son of Rambow” by Garth Jennings, UK/France/Germany

Variety Piazza Grande Award “Back Soon” by Solveig Anspach, Island/France