Following 10 days, 160 films, and thousands of moviegoers, the 17th Annual Florida Film Festival came to a close this weekend with a highly anticipated awards reception recognizing the best in American Independent Film and by honoring Oscar-nominated actress Jennifer
Tilly for her achievements in the art of filmmaking.

This year's award-winners reflect the talent, diversity, and the progression of independent filmmaking, said Shanon Larimer, Executive Director. We have been very fortunate to see filmmakers willing to take risks and audiences who have embraced the unexpected.

The jury and audience award-winners of the 2008 Florida Film Festival in the Feature Film, Documentary, and Short Film categories are as follows:

FEATURE FILMS

Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature:
IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS,
directed by Alex Holdridge

Special Jury Award for Achievement in Directing:
BLACKBIRD,
directed by Adam Rapp

Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature:
WERE THE WORLD MINE,
directed by Tom Gustafson

DOCUMENTARIES

Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature:
OPERATION FILMMAKER,
directed by Nina Davenport

Special Jury Award for Bold Truth:
LAND OF CONFUSION,
directed by Jeremy Zerechak

Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature:
PAGEANT,
directed by Ron Davis & Stewart Halpern

Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short
MY OLYMPIC SUMMER,
directed by Daniel Robin

SHORT FILMS

Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short
MAN,
directed by Myna Joseph

Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short
TEAT BEAT OF SEX,
directed by Signe Baumane

Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Acting
A DAY'S WORK,
directed by Rajeev Dassani

Audience Award for Best Short Film
HOLE IN THE PAPER SKY,
directed by Bill Purple

The Florida Film Festival's coveted Artistic Achievement Award was bestowed upon Oscar-nominated
actress Jennifer Tilly for her achievements in the art of filmmaking and was presented by Don Mancini,
director of "Seed of Chucky" and screenwriter for the Chucky series.

Tillys credits include "The Fabulous Baker Boys," "Bullets over Broadway," "Liar Liar," "Intervention," "High
Spirits," "The Doors," "Made in America," "The Getaway," "Let It Ride," "Relax," "It's Just Sex," "The Crew," "Dancing at the Blue Iguana," "The Cat's Meow," "The Magnificent Ambersons," "Hide and Seek," "The Haunted Mansion," "The Muse," "St Ralph," "Tideland and the infamous Bride of Chucky" and "Seed of Chucky."

The Artistic Achievement Award is the longest running honor in the 17-year history of the Festival, said
Larimer. Jennifer Tilly's diversification, growth, and talent as an artist made her a natural choice as this
years award recipient.

A selection of past recipients of this award include Rosanna Arquette, Karen Black, Brian Dennehy, Illeana
Douglas, Graham Greene, Dennis Hopper, Diane Ladd, Jason Lee, William H. Macy, Campbell Scott,
Christopher Walken, Scott Wilson, and Paul Winfield.

Tillys appearance was made possible by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Visiting Artists Program. The Academy's Visiting Artists Program was established in 1970 to provide a link between the academic study of film and filmmaking and the industry's leading professionals. Through grants made available to institutions, Academy members share their expertise in classrooms, festivals, conferences and other film-related events throughout the U.S. and internationally.

ENZIAN announced today the renowned film actress, Jennifer Tilly will attend the 17th Annual Florida Film Festival’s closing weekend festivities, April 5-6. Tilly will participate in two events that are open to the public.

Festival goers and Tilly fans can get up close and personal during “An Evening with Jennifer Tilly” at Enzian Theater, Friday, April 4 at 7:15 p.m. Attendees will enjoy a screening of the Woody Allen film Bullets Over Broadway, the 1994 sensation that earned Tilly an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of the aspiring but hopelessly untalented actress Olive Neal. A question and answer session with Tilly will follow.

Fans can also join Tilly at the Festival’s Revel 17 closing awards celebration and wrap party to take place at Winter Park Racquet Club, Saturday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. Following ten exhilarating days of films and events, the Wrap Party offers the Festival community, along with the film industry's movers and shakers -- filmmakers, producers, actors and VIPs -- the opportunity to let their hair down and enjoy a night of decadent revelry. The party begins following an awards presentation where Tilly will be the recipient of the Festival’s Artistic Achievement Award.

The Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature: “Black Irish,”
Directed by Brad Gann

The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature: “Black Irish,”
Directed by Brad Gann

The Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature: “Knee Deep,”
Directed by Michael Chandler

The Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature: “Unsettled,”
Directed by Adam Hootnick

The Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short: “The Caress Of The Creature,”
Directed by Steward McAlpine

The Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short: “The Tribe,”
Directed by Tiffany Shlain

The Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short: “Everything Will Be Ok,” Directed by Don Hertzfeldt

The Audience Award for Best Short Film: “Tales Of Mere Existence,”
Directed by Lev Yilmaz

Special Jury Award for Best Actress: Meagan Moses of “Pretty In The Face,” Directed by Nate Meyer

Special Jury Award for Innovative Documentary Storytelling: “Operation Homecoming,”
Directed by Richard E. Robbins

Special Jury Award for Best Female Role Model: “Bitch,”
Directed by Lilah Vandenburgh

Audience Award for Best International Feature: “In The Shadow Of The Moon,” Directed by David Sington

Audience Award for Best International Short: “High Maintenance,”
Directed by Phillip Van