FILM SOCIETY SPREADS THE LOVE, KORE-EDA FETED AT CHLOTRUDIS AWARDS 30TH ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND, CEREMONY

Capping off a weekend’s worth of celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film bestowed Trudy Awards to a variety of deserving films at a memorable awards ceremony this past Sunday at Harvard Square’s Brattle Theatre.  A highlight of the night was a one on one conversation with acclaimed director Hirokazu Kore-eda.  In addition to attending the ceremony, the legend of Japanese cinema was present for Q&As during special screenings of several of his films earlier in the weekend at the Brattle, mostly to sellout crowds.

The ceremony kicked off with a wacky film-focused karaoke performance which got the audience singing along.  As the awards were announced it became clear 2023 was a year without an obvious frontrunner:  all told, 13 films came away with Trudies, and no one won more than two.  Prominent among them were PAST LIVES for Best Movie, AFIRE for Best Ensemble, and 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL for Best Documentary.   The Society changed its acting categories to gender neutral this year, awarding Lily Gladstone for Best Lead for their bravura turn in THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY, while Best Supporting performance went to MAY/DECEMBER’s Charles Melton. New award Best Breakout went to Rosy McEwen in BLUE JEAN.

The year’s ceremony was a little different, thanks to the presence of Hirokazu Kore-eda, the Society’s Special Honoree.  Kore-eda was given the Chlotrudis Hall of Fame special award.  His latest film, MONSTER, also picked up two Trudies that night, for Best Director and Best Editing.  After bestowing him with the Hall of Fame Trudy, nationally known film critic Ty Burr joined him on stage for a one on one conversation. Afterwards Kore-eda graciously took a few questions from the 100 plus in attendance.   He admitted to being someting of a workaholic, after it was noted how prodigious his recent output was.  And in response to a question asking if his focus on family was deliberate, Kore-eda commented that, as a volleyball player in school, he was just most comfortable with casts of no more than 5 or 6.  “I could never do Ocean’s Eleven,” he joked, going on to note that a group of 5-6 people often could feel like family.

In the Society’s signature Buried Treasure category, the French film FULL TIME was this year’s winner.  The grinding day to day for a hotel chambermaid and single mother shot like a gripping thriller, FULL TIME portrayed a different picture of life in Paris.   As an added bonus to the night, the filmmaker of 2020’s Buried Treasure, Marc Blane was able to attend and pick up a belated Trudy for his film, CUBBY.  That year’s ceremony was the only Chlorudis Awards that was cancelled, and the Society was happy to be able to recognize Blane and CUBBY at this year’s event.  The Buried Treasure is the only category with eligibility requirements: films must not have been nominated in two other categories, or earned significant box office. Also, members must verify that they have watched all or at least 5 of the nominated films in order to vote..

In all, it was a memorable Sunday for independent film and a great honor for Chlotrudis to honor HIrokazu Kore-eda in person.

Here follows the complete list of winners for the 30th Annual Chlotrudis Awards:

BEST MOVIE
Past Lives

BURIED TREASURE
Full Time

BEST DIRECTOR
Hirokazu Koreeda for Monster

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEAD ROLE
Lily Gladstone for The Unknown Country

BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Rosy McEwen for Blue Jean

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Charles Melton for May December

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE CAST
Afire

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY (TIE)
BlackBerry
The Quiet Girl

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Anatomy of a Fall

BEST USE OF MUSIC IN FILM
Fallen Leaves

BEST SOUND DESIGN
Anatomy of a Fall

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Zone of Interest

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Kate McCullough for The Quiet Girl

BEST EDITING
Hirokazu Koreeda for Monster

BEST DOCUMENTARY
20 Days in Mariupol

BEST KARAOKE PERFORMANCE*
Fallen Leaves

BEST FILM FEATURING CLEANING LADIES*
Full Time

FILM WHERE THERE MIGHT BE BEARS*
R.M.N.

* categories based on 2023 film trendspotting, made tongue-in-cheek