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As the amber Spanish sun tenderly kissed the sky adios on the enchanting evening of Sunday, October 8, its lingering warmth bathed the regal Melia Banus Hotel, casting a golden halo over the grand finale of the 18th Marbella International Film Festival—the sparkling 2023 awards soirée.
Over a dizzying, exhilarating five days marked by cinematic debuts, elite networking soirées, and parties that twinkled until dawn, the eventful marathon gracefully pirouetted to its climax, the crowning glory awaited with bated breath by travel-weary yet hopeful nomadic nominees.
Picture the enchanting tableau: guests greeted at the porte-cochère by a winsome nymph, swathed in blooms and bearing champagne flutes like ambrosia. Oh, what a splendid herald for an evening that promised nothing short of opulence and cinematic allure!
The festival’s maestro, the impeccably-attired Mac Chakaveh, appeared amidst whispers and camera flashes, eyes twinkling like stars as he mused about the daunting task of sifting gold from the riveting 500-film bounty they had amassed. To the attentive ears of Euro Weekly News, he confided with unmasked joy: “It's a celluloid carnival with attendees from every corner of the globe—China, the Americas, the UK, Germany— and a house full sign hanging since three moons past!”
Then, a vision descended the red carpet; Madeleine Anna Malmberg, Norway’s reigning beauty queen shimmered, flanked by the Pure Nordic Water entourage, the evening’s patrons. A parade of sequins, crisp suits, and shoes reflecting the glimmer of anticipation in every eye followed suit.
As the space pulsated with rapturous dance, guests were gently shepherded towards the epicenter of anticipation, where tasteful decadence in food met a confluence of languages, buzzing selfies, and an electric atmosphere charged with compliments and the palpable thrum of nerves and excitement.
With the fading music, a hush draped the venue, broken only by the dulcet tones of Giles Brown, the evening's compère, whose witticism turned a minor technical snag into an invisible blip, seamlessly steering the event back onto its illustrious track.
Among the starry winners, “Annie Pannie” snagged the 'Best Shorter Short', with director Deanna Dewey's eyes twinkling with surprise and pride. Then, 'Dragunov' marched home with ‘Best Short’, its creator Robin Kirwan candidly admitting to crafting a script worthy of his acting chops.
As the evening unfurled, ‘Women and Roads: way to yourself. Mallorca’ claimed ‘Best Documentary’, with its jubilant directors effusing about friendship and creativity. ‘Best Actress’ accolades graced Tawanda Auston for ‘Release’, while Sammy Sheik’s absence did little to dim the glow of his ‘Best Actor’ win for ‘I Am Gitmo’.
‘Rise Of The Footsoldier: Vengeance’ not only saw Nick Nevern clinching ‘Best Director’ but also celebrated a victory lap as ‘Best Film’, with producer Andrew Loveday teasing a sequel whispering through Marbella’s breezy palms soon.
With a twinkling “See you soon,” from Giles and the irresistible pull of ‘Burn Baby Burn’ filling the air, the evening swayed into a dance, a fitting close, perhaps symbolic of the relentless, burning passion and the sweet exhaustion of dreams chased and caught under the Marbella sky.
Bravo and a cascade of confetti to all the victors of the night!