Spanish director Eduardo Casanova on Sunday saw his "La Pieta" drama about a toxic mother-son relationship take top prize at France's Gerardmer international horror and science fiction film festival. The film, set in 2011, depicts the bond between the mother, Libertad, and her son Mateo as an analogy for the relationship between the people of North Korea and its government. The odd couple's story is upended when Mateo is diagnosed with brain cancer.

Spanish producer Alex de la Iglesia (right) and his wife, Spanish actor and producer Carolina Bang (left), pose with the Grand Prize award and Great East Region - Youth Jury trophies they received on behalf of Spanish actor and director Eduardo Casanova for
Spanish producer Alex de la Iglesia (right) and his wife, Spanish actor and producer Carolina Bang (left), pose with the Grand Prize award and Great East Region - Youth Jury trophies they received on behalf of Spanish actor and director Eduardo Casanova for "La pieta".
French director Thomas Salvador (fourth left) pose with members of the feature film jury (From left) French actor Pierre Rochefort, French songwriter and singer Catherine Ringer, French rapper and actor Gringe, French-Argentinean actor Berenice Bejo, French director, screenwriter and producer Michel Hazanavicius, French screenwriter, director and actress Anne Le Ny, French director, screenwriter and writer Sebastien Marnier, and French actor Pierre Deladonchamps during the closing ceremony of the 30th Gerardmer Fantastic Film Festival in Gerardmer.
French director Thomas Salvador (fourth left) pose with members of the feature film jury (From left) French actor Pierre Rochefort, French songwriter and singer Catherine Ringer, French rapper and actor Gringe, French-Argentinean actor Berenice Bejo, French director, screenwriter and producer Michel Hazanavicius, French screenwriter, director and actress Anne Le Ny, French director, screenwriter and writer Sebastien Marnier, and French actor Pierre Deladonchamps during the closing ceremony of the 30th Gerardmer Fantastic Film Festival in Gerardmer.
French director Gonzague Legout (third left) poses with his wife, French producer Christina Vieira (fourth left), and jury members (from left) French screenwriter Frederique Moreau, French actress Lou Lampros, French director Francois Descraques, French actor Jules Benchetrit, and French magician David Jarre, after winning the Short Film Grand Prize for his film
French director Gonzague Legout (third left) poses with his wife, French producer Christina Vieira (fourth left), and jury members (from left) French screenwriter Frederique Moreau, French actress Lou Lampros, French director Francois Descraques, French actor Jules Benchetrit, and French magician David Jarre, after winning the Short Film Grand Prize for his film "Il y a beaucoup de lumber ici".

"La Pieta" (piety) is 31-year-old Casanova's follow-up to his controversial 2017 noir offering "Skins". Casanova took the Grand Prize along with the youth jury accolade. Jury prizes also went to "Piaffe", the debut effort of director Ann Oren, and "La Montagne" (The Mountain) by French director Thomas Salvador, who also carried off the critics' award.

French director Thomas Salvador poses with his Critics Award and Jury Prize trophies for his film
French director Thomas Salvador poses with his Critics Award and Jury Prize trophies for his film "La montagne".
French director Thomas Salvador speaks on stage after winning the Critics Award for his film
French director Thomas Salvador speaks on stage after winning the Critics Award for his film "La montagne".
Member of the feature film jury French actor Pierre Rochefort announces the winner of the Jury Prize award.
Member of the feature film jury French actor Pierre Rochefort announces the winner of the Jury Prize award.

To mark the 30th edition of the festival US director Chloe Okuno was awarded a special accolade for "Watcher" about an American woman in Bucharest who suspects a stranger watching her from across her street could be a serial killer. The festival also feted Jaume Balaguero, who presented his work "Venus", a three-time jury prize winner. South Korea's Kim Jee-woon, a grand prize winner in 2004 for "A Tale of Two Sisters", was also invited to give a masterclass on film production. - AFP