Bilbao, 16 de diciembre 2023. Michael Dillon triumphs again at BBK MENDI FILM BILBAO BIZKAIA. The Australian filmmaker wins the festival's two main awards, the Grand Prize and the Best Director Award, with THE GREAT WHITE WHALE, an epic and inspiring story of mountaineers and sailors who pursue the dream of climbing Australia's highest and loneliest mountain, Big Ben, a mass located in the depths of the Southern Ocean.

Michael Dillon becomes the first director to repeat the main award of the Mendi Film in its 16 editions. He won the Mendi Film Grand Prize in 2020 with HILLARY- OCEAN TO SKY, and received the Grand Prize of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, the international association of mountain film festivals, as part of the festival in 2022. As for THE GREAT WHITE WHALE, Dillon wanted the film to premiere in Bilbao.

The Jury composed of filmmakers Eliza Kubarska (Poland) and Patricia Ayala (Colombia), journalist Michael Pause (Germany), and Basque composers Juantxo Zeberio Etxetxipia and Nerea Alberdi, awarded the prizes in this new edition of the Mendi Film.

Two other productions have also received awards: ROPE, presented at its international premiere in Bilbao, and ROPE, presented at its international premiere in Bilbao.

 

Grand Prize/Sari Nagusia/Gran Premio
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 6,000€

THE GREAT WHITE WHALE

Zuz/Dir: Michael Dillon | Australia


Best Director/Zuzendari Onena/Mejor Director
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 3,000€

THE GREAT WHITE WHALE

Zuz/Dir: Michael Dillon | Australia


Best Script/Gidoi Onena/Mejor Guion
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 2,000€

CARNE ET OSSA

Zuz/Dir: Roberto Zazzara | Italy


Best Cinematography/Argazkilaritza Onena/Mejor Fotografía
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 2,000€

LA LIGNE DE L’ANGE

Zuz/Dir: Bertrand Delapierre | France


Jury Award/Epaimahaiaren Saria/Premio del Jurado
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 2,000€

RESISTANCE CLIMBING

Zuz/Dir: Nick Rosen & Zachary Barr | USA


Best Original Soundtrack/Soinu Banda Onena/Mejor Banda Sonora original
"Txalaparta" trophy & 2,000€

ROPE

Zuz/Dir: Moe Wada | Japan

Soundtrack: Eiko Ishibashi


EITB Award for Best Film in Basque/EITB Saria Euskarazko Film Onenari/Premio EITB a la Mejor Película en Euskera
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 2,000€

NOIZKO BASOA

Zuz/Dir: Mikele Landa Eiguren | Spain


Best Mountaineering Film/Mendiko Film Onena/Mejor Película de Alpinismo
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,200€

ROPE

Zuz/Dir: Moe Wada | Japan


Best Climbing Film/Eskalada Film Onena/Mejor Película de Escalada
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,200

ELEVATED

Zuz/Dir: Palmer Morse | USA


Best Culture & Nature Film/Kultura eta Natura Film Onena/Mejor Película de Cultura y Naturaleza
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,200€

CARNE ET OSSA

Zuz/Dir: Roberto Zazzara | Italy


Best Sport & Adventure Film/Kirol eta Abentura Film Onena/Mejor Película de Deporte y Aventura
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,200€

WILD WATERS

Zuz/Dir: David Arnaud | France


Best Short Film/Film Labur Onena/Mejor Cortometraje
“Eguzkilore” trophy & 1,000€

CRYING GLACIER

Zuz/Dir: Lutz Stautner | Switzerland - Germany

 

Special Mention of the Jury/Epaimahaiaren Aipamen Berezia/Mención Especial del Jurado
CHIMBORAZO

Zuz/Dir: Keila Cepeda | Spain