'Past Lives' Takes Top Prize at the Pandora International Film Critics Awards - 'Anatomy of a Fall', 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' also Big Winners

In a year for Oppenheimer and Barbie in humongous, explosive fashion right across 2023, the Pandora International Film Critics still hailed the greatness of world cinema in its 5th annual awards hand-outs. The Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan monsters did come away with four wins apiece, but it was the Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall that topped the lot with five wins – including Justine Triet for Directing.

The big award for International Motion Picture though went to the critics and audience darling of the year, Past Lives, with Celine Song winning the Filmmaking Breakthrough award. International honours were also bestowed to Yorgos Lanthimos, ironically winning English Language Motion Picture for Poor Things – perhaps the most surprising win of the night given the Barbenheimer power.

Wins for somehow ignored elsewhere Charles Melton for May December and Andrew Scott for All of Us Strangers, as well as awards going to Priscilla, Godzilla Minus One and Four Daughters, made this a rather unique set of results even with some heavyweight wins. A double too for Hayao Miyazaki, as The Boy and the Heron takes Animated Motion Picture as well as a well deserved Anna Karina Award For World Cinema Icon for the legendary filmmaker.