Skip to main content

Awards & Jury’s

The SEA DEVIL is the festival’s top prize for the best fantastic feature film

The Sea Devil is the prize for the best feature film. The jury consists of Maan Meelker, editor at Cineville; journalist, composer and musician Kevin Toma; and Fauve de Ruiter, production manager at Make Way Film.

The 2023 competition:
  • Conann – Bertrand Mandico (Frankrijk, Luxemburg, België 2023)
  • Concrete Utopia – Um Tae-Hwa (Zuid-Korea 2023)
  • Falling Stars – Gabriel Bienczycki, Richard Karpala (VS 2023)
  • From the End of the World – Kazuaki Kiriya (Japan 2023)
  • Human Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person – Ariane Louis-Seize (Canada 2023)
  • Kennedy – Anuragh Kashyap (India 2023)
  • Mami Wata – C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi (Nigeria, VK, Frankrijk 2023)
  • River – Junta Yamaguchi (Japan 2023)
  • The Universal Theory – Timm Kröger (Duitsland, Oostenrijk, Zwitserland 2023)
  • Tiger Stripes – Amanda Nell Eu (Maleisië, Taiwan, Singapore, Frankrijk, Duitsland, Nederland,
  • Indonesië, Qatar 2023)

The jury awards in 2023: TIGER STRIPES

From the jury report:

The winner of the Imagine Sea Devil Competition 2023 has been chosen unanimously. We were moved by this extraordinary and in every way fantastic coming-of-age body horror gem. Set in a small colorful village, we embark on a journey with the infectious free spirit Zaffan, brilliantly brought to life by newcomer Zafreen Zairizal. She refuses to be dictated by the strict religious norms in her community, even when this causes her to face radical consequences. We, the jury, have nothing but praise for the way that this film treats its subject matter in all seriousness, while simultaneously embracing its comedic elements and its low-budget character with pride. The immense charm, the powerful script, the surprising music, and significant societal relevance make this brave film debut an unforgettable experience. The winner of the Imagine Sea Devil Competition 2023 is Tiger Stripes by Amanda Nell Eu!

Competition and jury Méliès d’Argent  for the best European fantastic film

The Méliès d’argent is awarded on behalf of the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF) to the best European fantastic feature film and short film.

This prize is awarded on behalf of the Méliès International Festivals Federation.

This year’s jury for feature film consists of Lisa Smith, director of Roffa Mon Amour, writer and director Zainab Goelaman and researcher, teacher and producer Emiel Martens.

The feature film competition consists of:

  • Home Sweet Home – Where Evil Lives – Thomas Sieben (Duitsland 2023)
  • Hostile Dimensions – Graham Hughes (Groot-Brittannië 2023)
  • Restore Point – Robert Hloz (Tsjechië, Slowakije, Polen, Servië 2023)
  • The Coffee Table – Caye Casas (Spanje 2022)
  • The Funeral – Orçun Behram (Turkije 2023)
  • The Invisible Fight – Rainer Sarnet (Estland, Letland, Griekenland, Frankrijk 2023)
  • The Vourdalak – Adrien Beau (Frankrijk 2023)
  • The Wait – F. Javier Gutiérrez (Spanje 2023)
  • Vermin – Sébastien Vanicek (Frankrijk 2023)
  • You’re Not Me – Moisés Romera, Marisa Crespo (Spanje 2023)

 

The feature film jury awarded in 2022 : VERMIN

From the jury report:

This is a film that manages to grab your attention from start to finish, carried by good actors who feel like real people, both in their goodness and in their flaws.
The wealth of diversity in this film does not feel forced at any point, and the sharp, socially critical mirror that the film holds up is cleverly interwoven with the exciting plot.
The special effects even work through the screen, and also make the viewer tickle.
This film has all the ingredients a good genre film needs, and we believe that the film also has a lot of commercial potential.
A deserved and unanimous winner.

The 2023 Méliès d’argent goes to Vermin by Sebastien Vanicek

Previous winners Méliès d’Argent
2022: Attachment – Gabriel Bier Gislason
2021: Censor – Prano Bailey-Bond

2020: Dogs Don’t Wear Pants – Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää
2019: O Beautiful Night – Xavier Böhm
2018: The Place – Paolo Genovese
2017: Skins – Eduardo Casanova
2016: The Survivalist – Stephen Fingleton
2015: Liza, The Fox-Fairy – Károly Ujj Mészáros

Competition en jury Méliès short film

The Méliès d’argent is awarded on behalf of the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF) to the best European feature film and short film.

The jury for the Méliès d’argent for the best European fantastic short film consists of programmer Stefan Schoorl and filmmakers Justus van den Elsen and Ruwan Heggelman. The latter won this prize last year.

This year’s competition consists ofL

  • A Kind of Testament – Stephen Vuillemin (Frankrijk 2023)
  • A Place Called Home – Kim de Bruijn (Nederland 2023)
  • Assoiffé – Lisa Sallustio (België 2023)
  • Birdcage – Karel Konings (België 2023)
  • Claudio’s Song – Andreas Nilsson (Groot-Brittannië 2022)
  • Dog Apartment – Priit Tender (Estland 2022)
  • Double Trouble – Marijn te Luggenhorst (Nederland 2023)
  • I Want to Pee With You – Maxim Diab (Nederland 2023)
  • The Purple Season – Clémence Bouchereau (Frankrijk 2023)
  • Meantime – Guillaume Scaillet (Frankrijk 2022)
  • Mystic Tiger – Marc Martínez Jordán (Spanje 2023)
  • Noisetrain – Pol de Plecker (België 2022)
  • Poppy’s Saturn – Nicole Tegelaar (België 2023)
  • Septichexen – Anders Elsrud Hultgreen (Noorwegen 2023)
  • Shinigami – Lina Laraki (Frankrijk 2022)
  • The Alchemist – Robert Gwisdek (Duitsland 2022)
  • The Exchange – Marie Lormeau (Nederland 2023)
  • The Seven Cults – Jerom Fischer (Nederland 2023)
  • The Shore – Eron Sheean (Nederland 2023)
  • The Wyrm Of Bwlch Pen Barras – Julien Allen (Groot-Brittannië 2023)
  • Transylvanie – Rodrigue Huart (Frankrijk 2023)
  • Vibrations – Ruda Santos (Groot-Brittannië 2023)

The jury for the Méliès d’argent for short films awarded the prize to A KIND OF TESTAMENT 

From the jury report:

The jury is unanimously impressed by the profound impact of the film. From the first frame we were drawn into a story that makes us reflect on our own life situation. The filmmakers have created a compelling and brooding narrative with great skill, complete with images that you will not soon forget.

The combination of excellent sound design and aesthetic insight enhance the experience and make the work exceptionally compelling. Especially the free but careful mix of various style elements, which results in a unique experience. The film offers an uncompromising reflection on both the world we live in and the approaching future. That is why the Melies d’Argent for best short film goes to… ‘A Kind of Testament

Competitie Silver Scream Award

The Silver Scream Award is Imagine’s infamous and coveted audience prize. During the festival the audience can vote via a paper ballot after watching a film.

The jury: the Imagine audience.

The audience of Imagine 2023 chose the Japanese Anime movie THE BOY AND THE HERON by Hiyao Miyazaki as the winner

The final count of 2023

1 | Boy and the Heron, The (9,058)
2 | Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (8,967)
3 | Riddle of Fire (8,947)
4 | Robot Dreams (8,650)
5 | Dream Scenario (8,466)
6 | Birth/Rebirth (8,463)
7 | Wait, The (8,414)
8 | Concrete Utopia (8,412)
9 | UFO Sweden (8,389)
10 | Coffee Table, The (8,154)
11 | Roundup: No Way Out, The (8,149)
12 | Halfway Home (8,077)
13 | Vermin (8,026)
14 | Vincent Must Die (8,011)
15 | Mami Wata (7,985)
16 | 180˚ Rule (7,981)
17 | White Plastic Sky (7,947)
18 | From the End of the World (7,891)
19 | Enter the Clones of Bruce (7,866)
20 | Subtraction (7,840)
21 | When Evil Lurks (7,813)
22 | Sweet East, The (7,782)
23 | Monolith (7,715)
24 | Mad Fate (7,675)
25 | You’re Not Me (7,636)
26 | Tiger Stripes (7,609)
27 | River (7,503)
28 | Kurayukaba (7,447)
29 | Bitten (7,413)
30 | Funeral, The (7,383)
31 | Kubi (7,355)
32 | Dario Argento Panico (7,348)
33 | Restore Point (7,336)
34 | Conann (7,311)
35 | Divinity (7,276)
36 | Vourdalak (7,156)
37 | Kennedy (7,094)
38 | Satan Wants You (7,033)
39 | Kids Vs. Aliens (7,030)
40 | Universal Theory, The (7,014)
41 | Home Sweet Home (6,936)
42 | Invisible Fight, The (6,670)
43 | Hostile Dimensions (6,484)
44 | Falling Stars (6,156)
45 | Perpetrator (5,741)
46 | Home Invasion (4,600)