Cinequest is proud to announce the following award winners for the 2008 Festival:
NARRATIVE FEATURES

Maverick Spirit Award (Cinequest’s top prize)
SUPERHEROES
Director: Alan Brown

Best First Feature
IT’S BETTER IF GABRIELA DOESN’T DIE
Director: Sergio Umansky

Special Jury Award for Narrative Feature
A BETTER LIFE
Director: Andrew James

DIRECTORS AWARDS

Global Visions Award
THE TRAP
Director: Srdan Golubovic

New Visions Award
WHO IS K.K. DOWNEY?
Directors: Darren Curtis and Pat Kiely

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

Best Documentary Feature
AUTISM: THE MUSICAL
Director Tricia Regan

Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature
DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER
Director: Kurt Kuenne

SHORTS

Best Student Short Film
MAMITAS
Director: Nick Ozeki

Best Documentary Short Film
BROADCAST COWBOY
Director: David Washburn

Best Animated Short Film
PAPIROFLEXIA
Director: Joaquin Baldwin

Best Narrative Short Film
CENTIGRADE
Director: Colin Cunningham

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Audience Award for Best Short
PERSONAL SPECTATOR
Director: Emmanuel Jespers

Audience Award for Best Feature
TIE-VOTE BETWEEN
SHERMAN’S WAY
Director: Craig Saavedra

and

THE VILLAGE BARBERSHOP
Director: Chris Ford

Audience Award for Best Documentary
DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER
Director: Kurt Kuenne

MAVERICK SPIRIT AWARD RECIPIENTS
The following individuals received Maverick Spirit Awards at Cinequest 18 for their Maverick careers in the film industry: Michael Keaton, Michael Arndt, Bobby Moresco and Danny Glover.

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS

First Place
SWITCHBACK
Writer: Bill Schreiber

Second Place
VERA
Writer: Caitlin McCarthy

Third Place
THE ORCHARD
Writer: Diane Stredicke

In addition, THE BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM & TELEVISION ARTS/LA continues to celebrate the filmmaking artistry of the short film by selecting top winners at festivals around the world. For the 2008 Cinequest Film Festival, the members of BAFTA / LA have chosen:

First Place Winner - BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM & TELEVISION ARTS/LA
SOFT
Director: Simon Ellis

Runners Up – Certificates of Excellence - BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM & TELEVISION ARTS/LA
RATTLESNAKES
Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson

CHIEF
Director: Brett Wagner