Fantasia International Film Festival Awards: Hanna Bergholm’s ‘Nightborn’ Wins Top Honor

Hanna Bergholm’s “Nightborn” has won the top honor at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival juried awards. “Nightborn” was awarded the prestigious Cheval Noir trophy for best film. Seidi Haarla, who stars opposite Rupert Grint in the film, was also awarded best actress. See the full winners list — along with jury statements — below. 2026 Cheval Noir Awards Popular on Variety Best Film Nightborn (Finland/Lithuania/France/U.K.), dir. Hanna Bergholm “‘It sucks my body, it destroys my career.’ When the anticipated birth and the child who should be loved become the most threatening presence to a mother, she fails to accept the child into her world. To her, the child is not a ‘him,’ but an ‘it.’ This psychological thriller explores the destruction of a woman’s daily life- where everything around her could be reality, or merely an illusion. Ultimately, when she gives up everything and steps into the ‘child’s’ world, we finally discover the “most adorable” child in the world. The suspense keeps you glued to the screen every single second, and the emotion in the ending is bittersweet — making you smile yet feel profoundly sad. This film will stay with us for a long time.” Best Director Kasper Kalle, No Rest for the Wicked (Denmark/Faroe Islands/Iceland) “Like the captain of a sailing vessel, the director is the creative force that unites the crew, bringing all the creative elements and storytelling emotion together on the screen, and one film did that big time for both audiences and the jury. For his skillful helming of a beautifully dark period piece that reveals the discovery and acceptance of identity through a love story, the jury awards Best Director to Kasper Kalle.” Best Screenplay Edwin, Eka Kurniawan, and Daishi Matsunaga, Sleep No More (Japan/Germany/Singapore/Indonesia), dir. Edwin “For a genuinely original storytelling vision that draws Asian folklore, humor, and workers rights, and extreme body horror into a story of family reunification, the jury awards the Best Screenplay Award to Edwin, Eka Kurniawan, Daishi Matsunaga.” Best Cinematography Fabrizio La Palombara, CCS, Ferine (Italy), dir. Andrea Corsini “For its technical and artistic skill, a carefully measured use of the anamorphic format, varied lighting and precise camera composition that wonderfully reflects the narrative and the amazing brutalist Production Design and radical swing character arcs that throttle the audience. For its look that pays homage to the greats of Italian horror while adding its own stamp to a modern genre film while constantly reinventing itself visually, the jury presents the Cheval Noir for Best Cinematography to Fabrizio La Palombara, CCS.” Best Editing Satoshi Ueno, Beasts Clutching at Straws (Japan), dir. Hideo Jojo “We are honored to be the first Fantasia jury to present the new award for best film editing. My former boss and co-editor Orson Welles once said that editing is the last stop on the long road between the dream in the filmmaker’s head, and the public to whom that dream is addressed. The editor focuses that dream into reality. For its dynamic pacing, masterful control of non-linear construction, and clever use of imaginative transitions, while never losing track of the characters and story, the jury presents the award for outstanding editing to Satoshi Ueno.” Best Score Pino Donaggio, Ferine (Italy), dir. Andrea Corsini “Music has the power to soothe, shock and enchant the viewer as it accompanies the characters through the narrative. For the jury, the dramatic music of one colorful, ravenous film stood out, and it marks the return of a revered screen composer- one who might be familiar to fans of classic films like Don’t Look Now and Carrie. The musical artistry of this 84 year-old legend can be heard in two Fantasia films this year, and the jury is thrilled to present the award for outstanding score to Pino Donaggio.” Outstanding Performance Award Seidi Haarla, Nightborn (Finland/Lithuania/France/U.K.), dir. Hanna Bergholm “Genre film is built on risk-taking performances, and this year the jury was completely captivated by a transcendent portrayal of a very different kind of determined mother. With dark humor, astonishing physicality, and heart-wrenching body horror, this actor brings to life a woman struggling beneath the weight of her family’s expectations (and her own) as she unravels and transforms before our eyes.” Outstanding Performance Award Pilou Asbæk, No Rest for the Wicked (Denmark/Faroe Islands/Iceland), dir. Kasper Kalle “Genre cinema has always been drawn to mysterious strangers, but few arrivals have felt as quietly transformative as this one. Through effortless magnetism, and extraordinary emotional precision, this actor crafts a character who belongs as much to the sea as the shore. Every movement, every silence, every knot tied and glance exchanged reveals a soul shaped by freedom, isolation, and the courage to embrace his own identity.” Special Mention of the Jury: Full Ensemble Hot Spot (Sweden/Greece/Norway/Poland), dir. Agnieszka Smoczyńska “The jury wishes to recognize the achievement of an ensemble cast of individual performers and the monsters are pretty cool too. The story and world building of this film is conveyed by the core characters- a family that communicates without speaking and with intense physicality that transforms them all- and by the supporting performances of the extras- such as a group of religious refugees who move and breathe together in unison. For its exceptionally nuanced collective performance, the jury awards a Special Mention to the ensemble cast of Hot Spot.” Special Mention of the Jury: Special Practical Effects Jabrik Hellworker, Benedictus A.K., Rizal, and Issei Oda, Sleep No More (Japan/Germany/Singapore/Indonesia), dir. Edwin “One film impressed the jury with its handmade practical effects and the VFX they engage with — an angry and ravenous hair monster, a character that grows back missing limbs — all beautifully integrated into the surreal nightmare of the story. For its amazingly original use of practical effects, a Cheval Noir Special Mention goes to Sleep No More.” Jury President: Youngjoo Suh (Founder and CEO of Finecut Co., Ltd. and Producer).Jury: Catherine Corcoran (actor, writer, producer, and festival programmer), Karim Hussain (cinematographer, director, and screenwriter), Bob Murawski (Oscar-winning Film Editor and co-founder of Grindhouse Releasing), and Junnie Punter (journalist with Variety, Toronto Film Critics Association, producer, and editor at Musicworks Magazine). 2026 New Flesh Competition for Best First Feature New Flesh Award for Best First Feature Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant (New Zealand), dirs. THUNDERLIPS “This debut feature was a wild ride from start to finish, with zany design complementing its shock, horror, and humor. The filmmakers have conceived a world that is both funny and extreme, navigating themes of bodily autonomy for both males and females through the playful and the monstrous. This year’s New Flesh competition winner — and best alien penis of the festival — goes to Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant.” Special Mention of the Jury: Best Performance Dilnaz Kurmangali and Ayan Utepburgen, Sicko (Kazakhstan), dir. Aitore Zholdaskali “We are delighted to present an honorable mention for best performance to these two leads. This male and female duo navigated the film’s tonal shifts between horror and comedy with ease. Balancing each other’s intensity to create a memorable dynamic, their performances made an impact, bringing humanity and dimension to unlikable characters just trying to survive in a gritty, complex world. The honorable mention for best performance goes to Dilnaz Kurmangali and Ayan Utepburgen from Sicko.” Jury President: Brandon Hill (Senior Director of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Lionsgate).Jury: Jasper Basch (partner and head of distribution of Greenwich Entertainment, Former Head of theatrical at IFC, and Former Head of distribution at Variance), Julien Fonfrède (director, producer, screenwriter, critic, and festival programmer at Festival du nouveau cinema), Markus Keuschnigg (film critic, writer, and co-founder and artistic director of Slash Filmfestival Vienna), and Hillary Webber (production manager for Film Tampa Bay and industry programmer at Gasparilla International Film Festival). 2026 International Short Film Competition Best FilmMancave (Norway), dir. Fredrik S. Hana Best Director Yu Chih Chieh, The Last Jiangshi (China/Hong Kong/Taiwan) Best Screenplay Kyu-eun Park and Min-hyuk Lee, Wish You Were Dead (South Korea) Best Cinematography Jung Da Bin, Tropic (South Korea), dir. Park Jung-yoon Best Editing Dirtmouths (USA), dir. Breehn Burns Best Score The Last Jiangshi (China/Hong Kong/Taiwan), dir. Yu Chih Chieh Outstanding Performance Ensemble, Pile On (China), dir. Hu Lu Outstanding Performance Jon Jon Briones, Veterano (USA), dir. Patrick Epino Special Mention of the Jury Manhole (Singapore), dir. Jake Low Jury President: Adele Banks (writer, editor, author, broadcaster, and festival director and founder of Dead by Dawn International Film Festival, Scotland).Jury: Abraham Castillo Flores (film historian, curator, writer, and producer), Fatima Hayward (producer and director of distribution at Blue Finch Films), Terry Leung (director, writer, and music producer), and Nick McCabe (manager at Anonymous Content). 2026 Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation Satoshi Kon Award for Best Animated Feature Blaise (France), dirs. Jean-Paul Guigue and Dimitri Planchon “We were struck by how this film transforms social anxiety, people-pleasing, and painfully uncomfortable silences into something hilarious. Its flat, collage-like strangely realistic world perfectly reflects these awkward characters who are constantly trying to fit into everyone else’s expectations. What impressed us most is that beneath the comedy is a film full of empathy, reminding us that we’re all a little awkward sometimes and through that humor, it reminds us that finding the confidence to be ourselves and sometimes simply saying no isn’t always easy. The Award for Best Feature goes to Dimitri Planchon and Jean-Paul Guigue for Blaise.” Special Mention of the Jury Cherry and Virgin (Japan), dir. Masanao Kawajiri “The honorable mention goes to a film whose characters felt so authentic, with emotions that are honest, messy, and relatable. It’s a story with so much heart, and one where the animation technique and storytelling couldn’t be a better fit. Bringing two completely different visual styles together is no small feat, and this film makes it look effortless, it’s playful, seamless and a joy to watch. It beautifully captures what it feels like to navigate insecurity, vulnerability, and human connection. The Honorary Mention goes to Masanao Kawajiri for Cherry and Virgin.” Satoshi Kon Award for Best Short Film — Gold Jeem 1983 (Lebanon), dir. Jorj Abou Mhaya “A life in the arts can be a struggle. But it’s nothing compared to a life living among war. Using art to escape into a reality that imagines beauty where there is none is one of the most powerful statements art can make. A glimpse into a world of Arabic animation that rarely gets to the west in festivals like Fantasia, and hopefully more submissions will be encouraged by this. A young boy travels through 1983 Beirut suspending the horrors and using fantasy for a momentary reprieve. Did we mention Goldorak shows up? The Gold Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation goes to Jori Abou Mhaya’s Jeem 1983.” Satoshi Kon Award for Best Short Film — Silver Fingerbang (South Korea), dir. Kim Yeon-woo “Plenty of films can be surreal, but this one makes you believe in the relationship. Through the most unusual premise, it explores how obsession and longing can distort love, reminding us that the things we desire most can ultimately consume us. The Silver Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation goes to Kim Yeonwoo’s Fingerbang.” Satoshi Kon Award for Best Short Film — Bronze The End of the End (U.S./South Korea), dir. Junar Kim “Executed with an astounding atmosphere through low-key lighting, theatrical staging this film transforms the contemplation of death into a breathtaking work of art. The animation perfectly complements its contemplative pace, drawing us deeper into its haunting world. The Bronze Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation goes to Junar Kim for The End of the End.” Jury President: Sylvie Trouvé (Co-founder and Creative Director, See Creature Animation).Jury: Peter Ferguson (artist and illustrator) and Jeff Waye (A&R and Co-Owner, Third Side Music). 2026 Northern Excellence Award for Canadian Filmmaking Northern Excellence Award for Canadian Filmmaking Black Zombie (Canada/Haiti), dir. Maya Annik Bedward “The award for Best Canadian Filmmaking goes to a feature we found to be a revelatory, thought-provoking, visually stunning trip through religious and cultural film history. For its comprehensive examination of zombie culture and its reflection on the Haitian diaspora, this award goes to Maya Annik Bedward’s Black Zombie.” Special Mention of the Jury Insectasy (Canada), dir. Angus Silver “Our choice for Special mention goes to a film we found bold, distinct, and full of Cronenbergian chutzpah. This feature manages to simultaneously be a post-COVID cautionary tale about bug addiction and a celebration of kink. For its sheer itch factor and use of mixed media, this year’s special mention goes to Angus Silver’s Insectasy.” Jury President: Kier-La Janisse (filmmaker, author, acquisitions and producer at Severin Films and Spectacular Optical).Jury: Matthew Hays (film critic, journalist, and author), Kelly Kay Hurcomb (filmmaker, writer, and actor), Naomie Jaye (filmmaker and installation artist), Mike Peterson (filmmaker and producer), and James Watts (filmmaker, writer, and actor). 2026 Quebec Association of Film Critics (AQCC) Award AQCC Award Bowels of Hell (Brazil), dirs. Gurcius Gewdner and Gustavo Vinagre Special Mention of the Jury Levitating (Indonesia/Singapore/France/Taiwan), dir. Wregas Bhanuteja Jury: Alexandre Blasquez (film critic), Rachel Goulet (film critic), and Sylvian Lavallée (film critic). 2026 Poulain Noir Awards Best Short Film — Gold When The Tide Comes (U.K.), dir. Fêt-Nat Bailly Best Short Film — Silver Il n’y a qu’un poisson dans l’eau (France), dirs. Hector de Ghaisne de Bourmont, Florent Delay, Ilona Laouchez, Gabrielle Montané, Julia Ragot, and André Yu Best Short Film — Bronze Esquisses sur glace (France/Belgium), dir. Marion Auvin Special Mention of the Jury Foools (U.S./Canada), dirs. Seo Kim and Steve Manale Special Mention of the Jury Poisson nuage (Belgium/France), dir. Noé Garcia Jury: Vincent Gosselin (director and animator), Sébastien Latour (director, screenwriter, and entrepreneur), Rui Ting Ji (director and animator), Laura Venditti (director and animator), and Simon Yeretsian (animator).