And the winner of most underrated SBIFF event goes to … the Variety Artisans Awards evening at the Lobero. This is the night, a happy tradition now four years deep, that casts a deserved spotlight on “tech” and “artisan” workers, composers, cinematographers, editors, production and costume designers, and more and delves into the all-important inner workings and machinery of the film art.
Americans can be obsessed with surfaces and shiny objects and window dressing of pop culture. But, as Gary Oldman made a point to mention in his acceptance speech for his Maltin Modern Master Award at the Arlington, he credits his success to “good fortune” and to all those in the supportive role of the cinematic world, in this sight-and-sound world.
Among the honorees on Monday night, all bearing Oscar nominations, were two from Guillermo del Toro’s fantabulous The Shape of Water — production designer Paul Austerberry and seasoned composer Alexandre Desplat, whose contributions were certainly prizeworthy. Austerberry explained the gradual evolution of del Toro’s dream project, originally identified as “untitled fish story,” which expanded from the intended black-and-white film to its ultimate and ultimately “color-centric” extravaganza.