Brazilian director, Daniel Ribeirowas presented the NewFest Audience Award for his first full length feature film, The Way He Looks / Hoje eu quero voltar sozinho at the close of New York's LGBT festival at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
The coming-of-age tale, expanded from the 2010 award winning short film, I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone, centers on blind teenager Leonardo (Ghilherme Lobo), and his best friend Giovanna (Tess Amorim) who’s secretly in love with him.
The arrival of a new student alters the dynamic as both start to fall for Gabriel (Fabio Audi). As Leo and Gabriel start to spend more time together their feelings for each other deepen. With a melodic soundtrack that includes tunes from Belle and Sebastian, One Direct and David Bowie, the film offers a positive portrayal of young gay teenagers in love.
The Way He Looks premiered earlier this year at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Teddy Award for Best Dramatic Feature as well as the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Feature Film in the Panorama section. It also screened earlier in the summer at Outfest in Los Angeles where it won the prize for Best Dramatic Feature.
The film was acquired by Strand Releasing and is slated for a November theatrical release. The 26th edition of NewFest took place July 24- 29 in New York.
