LIFFF Announces 2024 Jury Award Winners After Successful Inaugural Edition

The inaugural London International Fantastic Film Festival (LIFFF) concluded on 1st December 2024 at Genesis Cinema with a memorable screening of the closing film Zerophilia, followed by an engaging Q&A session with director Martin Curland and actress Marieh Delfino. The event concluded with the much-anticipated awards ceremony, celebrating the finest achievements in fantastic filmmaking across both shorts and feature-length categories.

The closing film, Zerophilia marked its UK premiere, nearly two decades after its original release in the US. The film explores the ups and downs of Luke, a young man who finds himself morphing into the opposite sex when aroused. This misunderstood queer comedy gem, far ahead of its time on original release, brought heartfelt laughter and warm reception from the London audience.

The post-screening Q&A conversation was hosted via Zoom with director Martin Curland, and to everyone’s delight, featured a surprise appearance by Marieh Delfino, who played the female half of the film’s lead role. This heartfelt reunion of the Zerophilia team added a nostalgic and celebratory touch to the evening.

The event concluded with the awards announcement, where the festival honoured exceptional talents in fantastic cinema, capping off a vibrant and successful inaugural edition of LIFFF.

The winners of the inaugural London International Fantastic Film Festival (LIFFF) 2024 are as follows:

Shorts Winners

Best Student Short: Strings, Dr. Ava Pearson, Eleanor Smith, Nina Zandvliet / UK / 2024 / Horror / 15′

This short was praised by the jury for its expert tension-building and inventive use of puppets as metaphors for manipulative friendships and social hierarchy. The judges commended the script for its exploration of adolescent self-consciousness and isolation, capped with a brilliantly executed twist.

Best Animation Short: In Half, Dr. Jorge Morais Valle / Spain / 2024 / Drama, Adventure, Fantasy / 24′ / London Premiere

The judges admired the film’s distinctive aesthetic and evocative production value. Its haunting visuals and nightmarish exploration of primal fears were described as a deeply affecting odyssey. The animation’s evocative landscapes and textures stood out as a central character in this mesmerizing piece.

Best International Short: Verflechtung, Dr. Philip Hofmänner, Simon Jonas Pflanzer / Switzerland / 2024 / Sci-Fi, Drama / 20′

This sci-fi short captivated the jury with its unsettling atmosphere, minimalistic storytelling, and dystopian themes. The ending was described as “quietly terrifying,” leaving a lasting impression on its viewers.

Best Narrative Short: Ada, Dr. Anaïs Vachez / France / 2023 / Fantasy, Horror / 17′

The jury commended this beautifully crafted film for portraying parental arguments through a child’s eyes, blending fantasy and realism with thoughtful use of framing, lighting, and sound. The imaginative transformation of the parents into monsters underscored the emotional impact of the child’s experience.

Features Winners

Best First-Time Feature: King Baby, Dr. Kit Redstone, Arran Shearing / UK, France / 2024 / Dark Comedy / 89′ / London Premiere

This inventive film was hailed as a “sly parable of malignant narcissism, power dynamics, and class envy,” utilizing absurdist storytelling to explore the fragilities of patriarchy. The jury was impressed by its imaginative and thought-provoking approach.

Best Cinematography: Self-Revolutionary Cinematic Struggle, Dr. Gakuryu Ishii / Japan / 2023 / Drama / 165′ / International Premiere

Awarded for its innovative variety of techniques and experimental artistry, the jury praised the film’s ability to envelop viewers in an intellectually stimulating and emotionally-engaging digital world.

Special Jury Mention: Succubus, Dr. R.J. Daniel Hanna / US / 2023 / Horror, Thriller / 94′ / London Premiere

The jury gave a special mention to this psychosexual nightmare for its inventive use of cinematic formats to tell a horrifying and provocative story of online dating gone wrong.

Best Narrative Feature: The Gesuidouz, Dr. Kenichi Ugana / Japan / 2024 / Drama, Comedy, Music / 93′ / London Premiere

This film charmed the jury with its ensemble cast, playful magical realism, and energetic soundtrack. The story of a wannabe horror-themed punk band finding unexpected cult fame was described as “universally fun and entertaining,” making it a unanimous favourite for the Best Narrative Feature Award.

LIFFF 2024 successfully united filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals to celebrate the best in fantastic cinema. The festival showcased bold and imaginative works that pushed the boundaries of conventional storytelling, setting an exciting foundation for future editions.

Festival Director Kanako Fujita reflected on the inaugural event, saying:

“As our first edition, the festival exceeded expectations thanks to the incredible efforts of our team and the enthusiastic support of our audience. We’ve learned so much from organizing this year’s event, and we’re excited to use these insights to grow the festival and make it even bigger and better in the years to come.”

Features Programmer Blake Simons says:

“Cinema is, above all, about people. This is reflected in the interpersonal warmth, community spirit, and introspection of our selected films, and it’s evident in the people that we’ve met and the moments that we’ve shared together this week. We’ve been delighted by the enthusiastic response this year from our audiences, our filmmakers, press, and juries. We’re looking forward to carrying on with this approach and ethos next year. Films and people outside of the expected norm have a new home at LIFFF.”