Lebanese film Costa Brava has scored one of the major wins, Audience Award, at the 65th edition of the BFI London Film Festival that took place between 6 and 17 October.
Directed and co-written by Mounia Akl (together with Clara Roquet), the film has been also nominated to First Feature Award. It stars Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri and Lebanese actress Nadine Labaki.
According to IMDB, the film focuses on a couple who decides to “leave the toxic pollution of their home city of Beirut, hoping to build a utopian existence in a pristine home in the mountains.”
Since its release earlier this year, the film has also won NETPAC Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The first feature from the Lebanese director, Costa Brava adds to the numerous recognitions that Akl received for her raising cinematic career.
Her last short film, Submarine, was in the official selection of the 69th Cannes Film Festival in the Cinefondation category.
Akl was chosen by the Cannes Film Festival’s Director’s fortnight’s Factory to represent Lebanon at the 70th Cannes Film Festival as part of Lebanon Factory.
Iranian film Hit the Road by Panah Panahi won the Best Film Award at 65th London Film Festival.
