Awards of the 8th Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival

At the closing ceremony of the 8th Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival that took place from the 16th to the 21st of July in Ljutomer, Slovenia, the following awards were given:

Vicious Cat for Best Feature Film

Sleep Tight (Mientras duermes) by Jaume Balagueró (Spain)

Inbred by Alex Chandon (UK)

The Jury, comprised of Slobodan Šijan, Phillip Bergson and Christian Hallman complemented the 8th Grossmann Fantastic Film & Wine Festival for
its rich vintage of films this year, and exceptionally have decided to split its award, The Vicious Cat, unanimously - ex-aequo - between two
very different but equally accomplished films.
Jury Motivation:
With his latest film, Jaume Balagueró shows with consummate mastery how horror can happen in the most ordinary of surroundings.
Alex Chandon wittily places his grotesqueries in a picturesque Yorkshire landscape, confounding traditional rural stereotypes.

Vicious Cat for Lifetime Achievement was presented to our guest of honour Goran Marković by director Dinko Tucaković.

Noisy Cat for Best Music Documentary

Fanzines from Mars (Fanzini sa Marsa) by Siniša Dugonjić (Serbia)

The Jury, comprised of Igor Vidmar, Zdenko Franjić and Igor Bašin explains:

Short and to the point, without filler and self-importance. It effectively encompasses the fanzine scene and its DIY (Do-It-Yourself) aesthetics and explores philosophical, social and political importance of the fanzines. Even though it is a story of times past, it is not nostalgic, but self-reflective and self-critical, which makes it even more important in these times of hyper(dis)information. Make your own fanzine.

Slak's Vicious Cat for Best Short Film

The Jury, comprised of Magnus Paulsson, Aleš Blatnik and Leo Oblak awarded the film

The Captured Bird by Jovanka Vuckovic (Canada)

…for being visually daring and imaginative. The film manages to capture the
imagination of the protagonist in a dark and beautiful way – in a visual
tradition of the best horror films from 70's and 80's.

Melies d'Argent – the Melies d'Or Nominee

Legend (Leyenda) by Pau Teixidor (Spa)

…for taking a simple concept of a family road trip and turning it into a
scary fairy tale. It's a great example of how to make a really effective
film almost without any special effects. Parents beware!

Melies d'Or for best European fantastic short film is given by the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation. This year, the winner will be decided at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival which will take place from the 4th to the 14th of October.

The title of the Wine Champion Vicious Cat went to Rhine Riesling selection 2009 by PRA-VinO Čurin - Prapotnik. The award was presented by Wine Queen of Slovenia Martina Baškovič.

Vicious Old Cat 2008 - Roger Corman and his film "The Little Shop of Horrors" are inspirations for our Little Workshop of Horrors where film crews have to make a film during the festival. On this year's Workshop we had one contestant, Marko Ficko. He directed a short horror Blood Wish.