Bilbao, 16 de diciembre 2023. Michael Dillon triumphs again at BBK MENDI FILM BILBAO BIZKAIA. The Australian filmmaker wins the festival's two main awards, the Grand Prize and the Best Director Award, with THE GREAT WHITE WHALE, an epic and inspiring story of mountaineers and sailors who pursue the dream of climbing Australia's highest and loneliest mountain, Big Ben, a mass located in the depths of the Southern Ocean.
Michael Dillon becomes the first director to repeat the main award of the Mendi Film in its 16 editions. He won the Mendi Film Grand Prize in 2020 with HILLARY- OCEAN TO SKY, and received the Grand Prize of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, the international association of mountain film festivals, as part of the festival in 2022. As for THE GREAT WHITE WHALE, Dillon wanted the film to premiere in Bilbao.
The Jury composed of filmmakers Eliza Kubarska (Poland) and Patricia Ayala (Colombia), journalist Michael Pause (Germany), and Basque composers Juantxo Zeberio Etxetxipia and Nerea Alberdi, awarded the prizes in this new edition of the Mendi Film.
Two other productions have also received awards: ROPE, presented at its international premiere in Bilbao, and ROPE, presented at its international premiere in Bilbao.
Grand Prize/Sari Nagusia/Gran Premio
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 6,000€
THE GREAT WHITE WHALE
Zuz/Dir: Michael Dillon | Australia
Best Director/Zuzendari Onena/Mejor Director
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 3,000€
THE GREAT WHITE WHALE
Zuz/Dir: Michael Dillon | Australia
Best Script/Gidoi Onena/Mejor Guion
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 2,000€
CARNE ET OSSA
Zuz/Dir: Roberto Zazzara | Italy
Best Cinematography/Argazkilaritza Onena/Mejor Fotografía
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 2,000€
LA LIGNE DE L’ANGE
Zuz/Dir: Bertrand Delapierre | France
Jury Award/Epaimahaiaren Saria/Premio del Jurado
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 2,000€
RESISTANCE CLIMBING
Zuz/Dir: Nick Rosen & Zachary Barr | USA
Best Original Soundtrack/Soinu Banda Onena/Mejor Banda Sonora original
"Txalaparta" trophy & 2,000€
ROPE
Zuz/Dir: Moe Wada | Japan
Soundtrack: Eiko Ishibashi
EITB Award for Best Film in Basque/EITB Saria Euskarazko Film Onenari/Premio EITB a la Mejor Película en Euskera
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 2,000€
NOIZKO BASOA
Zuz/Dir: Mikele Landa Eiguren | Spain
Best Mountaineering Film/Mendiko Film Onena/Mejor Película de Alpinismo
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,200€
ROPE
Zuz/Dir: Moe Wada | Japan
Best Climbing Film/Eskalada Film Onena/Mejor Película de Escalada
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,200
ELEVATED
Zuz/Dir: Palmer Morse | USA
Best Culture & Nature Film/Kultura eta Natura Film Onena/Mejor Película de Cultura y Naturaleza
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,200€
CARNE ET OSSA
Zuz/Dir: Roberto Zazzara | Italy
Best Sport & Adventure Film/Kirol eta Abentura Film Onena/Mejor Película de Deporte y Aventura
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,200€
WILD WATERS
Zuz/Dir: David Arnaud | France
Best Short Film/Film Labur Onena/Mejor Cortometraje
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,000€
CRYING GLACIER
Zuz/Dir: Lutz Stautner | Switzerland - Germany
Special Mention of the Jury/Epaimahaiaren Aipamen Berezia/Mención Especial del Jurado
CHIMBORAZO
Zuz/Dir: Keila Cepeda | Spain
