LIVIFF2018 Closing Night and Award Winners

Liverpool Film Festival 2018 came to close with a screening of comedy film SAY MY NAME followed by an awards ceremony and after-party at The Club House.

Written by Deborah Frances-White SAY MY NAME tells the story of a one-night stand that gets interrupted by a robbery, forcing two complete strangers to navigate the seedy underbelly of a sleepy Welsh isle to get back their stolen property. The film was followed by a Q&A session with Frances-White and stars of the film Lisa Brenner and Celyn Jones.

After the screening filmmakers and attendees took to the Club House for the awards ceremony and one final after-party. Film of the Festival went to French crime film BEATING HEART, about a man turning to crime to help pay off his mounting debts. Star of the film, Pascal Mottier, also won Best Actor for his role.

OFF THE RAILS, the heart-warming tale of three friends opening a bar in Florida, picked up Best Feature and Best Actress for Otmara Maria. Best Director went to Sean Devlin for WHEN THE STORM FADES a docudrama about a Filipino family recovering from typhoon Haiyan.

Director of Operations Neil Jeram-Croft says: ‘This weekend has been brilliant. Massive thank you to the filmmakers for sharing their films, our amazing volunteers who helped make the weekend run smoothly and all those who attended. Next year is set to be even bigger.’

Full List of Winners:

Film of the Festival: Beating Heart – Laurent Caujat

Best Feature: Off The Rails – Damien Fitszimmons

Best Documentary - IN YOUR FACE - Declan & Beate Maynes

Best UK Short: Spoon Fed – Nick Hatton Jones

Best International Short: Inside the Wardrobe – Sebastien Carfora

Best Animation: Auuuna – Lina Šukova

Best Music Video: Drift – Jess Kay

Best Experimental: The Velvet Abstract – James Hughes

Best Student Film - Ray Richardson: Our Side of the Water - Nina Degraeve 

Best Director: Sean Devlin – When The Storm Fades

Best Actress: Otmara Maria – Off The Rails

Best Actor: Pascal Mottier – Beating Heart

Best Uncommissioned Screenplay – Gem by Roberto Stefano