‘Neds’ by British director Peter Mullan wins Spain’s top film award

‘Neds’ wins Spanish top film award

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain — British director Peter Mullan’s film “Neds,” has won this year’s top award at Spain’s San Sebastian Film Festival, organizers said Saturday.

The movie, a British-French-Italian co-production, is an insightful exploration of the violent upheavals of adolescence within the harsh environment of 1970s Glasgow in Scotland. It tells the story of the struggle of a young John McGill to make his mark on life.

Connor McCarron won the best actor award for his role as McGill, an intelligent, sensitive boy eager to learn and forge a future for himself but who finds life’s chances stacked heavily against him, in the urban of Glasgow harbors another strong influence — the gangs — which include the Neds, Non-Educated Delinquents.

Mullan gained experience working in Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart,” Ken Loach’s “Riff-Raff”, and Danny Boyle’s “Trainspotting.”

Nora Navas was voted best actress for her part in Spanish film “Pa Negre,” meaning “Black Bread” in the Catalan language. The movie, directed by Agusti Villaronga, is set in a Catalonia devastated by the 1936-39 Spanish civil war.

The best director award went to Raul Ruiz of Chile for “Misterios de Lisboa,” a Portuguese production, while the festival jury’s special mention award went to Spanish film “Elisa K.”

The best photography category was awarded to Jimmy Gimferrer for his work in the Spanish production “Aita,” and the best screenplay prize went to Bent Hamer for “Home for Christmas,” a Norway-Sweden-Germany co-production.

The awards will be handed to winners at a glittering ceremony at this seaside resort city on Saturday night.