ICS Bares Its Soul With Toni Erdmann
For the first time ever, at the 14th International Cinephile Society Awards, top honors were given out to a woman director. Best picture, director, non-English language film and original screenplay all went to Maren Ade for her darkly comic masterwork, Toni Erdmann. Peter Simonischek also won best actor for his hilarious and poignant turn in the title role. This wry German tale of corporate angst finds Ines (lead actress runner-up Sandra Hüller) – a high-powered, high-stress consultant – trying desperately to fend off her lonely father’s incursions, as he sinks his (fake) teeth into her life and won’t let go. The resulting craziness turns out to be unique, joyous, and bittersweet.
Paul Verhoeven’s deliberately provocative Elle took runner-up in picture, director and non-English language film, while garnering wins for adapted screenplay, editing, and best actress – the incomparable Isabelle Huppert, who elevates Verhoeven’s stylish potboiler to rarefied heights with her warped yet mesmerizing character.
Moonlight, our other multiple winner, saw André Holland nab supporting actor for his soulful turn as the adult Kevin, delicately calling home Chiron, his old high school friend and lover. In addition, the ICS ensemble award went to the film’s terrific cast of young and mature actors, each managing to create a powerful performance in limited screen time. And Certain Women‘s Lily Gladstone won best supporting actress as a shy Montana ranch hand emotionally fixated on her new teacher.
Previously released nominations may be found here.
PICTURE
01. Toni Erdmann
02. Elle
03. Moonlight
04. Things to Come
05. Manchester by the Sea
05. Silence
07. Julieta
08. Cemetery of Splendor
09. Certain Women
10. Jackie
DIRECTOR
Maren Ade – Toni Erdmann
runner-up: Paul Verhoeven – Elle
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
01. Toni Erdmann
02. Elle
03. Things to Come
04. Julieta
05. Cemetery of Splendor
06. Embrace of the Serpent
07. Being 17
08. Aquarius
09. Mountains May Depart
10. Cosmos
11. The Handmaiden
ACTOR
Peter Simonischek – Toni Erdmann
runner-up: Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
ACTRESS
Isabelle Huppert – Elle
runner-up: Sandra Hüller – Toni Erdmann
SUPPORTING ACTOR
André Holland – Moonlight
runner-up: Tom Bennett – Love & Friendship
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lily Gladstone – Certain Women
runner-up: Sandrine Kiberlain – Being 17
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Toni Erdmann – Maren Ade
runner-up: Manchester by the Sea – Kenneth Lonergan
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Elle – David Birke
runner-up: Love & Friendship – Whit Stillman
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Embrace of the Serpent – David Gallego
runner-up: Silence – Rodrigo Prieto
EDITING
Elle – Job ter Burg
runner-up: Arrival – Joe Walker
PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Handmaiden – Seong-hie Ryu
runner-up: Silence – Dante Ferretti
SCORE
Jackie – Mica Levi
runner-up: The Neon Demon – Cliff Martinez
ENSEMBLE
Moonlight
runner-up: Certain Women
ANIMATED FILM
The Red Turtle
runner-up: My Life as a Zucchini
DOCUMENTARY
Fuocoammare
runner-up: No Home Movie
BEST PICTURE NOT RELEASED IN 2016
• Brothers of the Night
• The Death of Louis XIV
• Despite the Night
• Happy Times Will Come Soon
• The Lost City of Z
• Nocturama
• The Ornithologist
• Personal Shopper
• A Quiet Passion
• Sieranevada
• Slack Bay
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• Staying Vertical
• Sweet Dreams
• Yourself and Yours