The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival awards, providing more than $18,000, have been selected by this year's jury and announced.

Ken Burns Award for Best of the Festival - $3,000
"The Betrayal"
Directed by: Ellen Kuras

Lawrence Kasdan Award for Best Narrative Film - $1,000
"Diente por Ojo"
Directed by: Elvind Holmboe

Chris Frayne Award for Best Animated Film - $1,000
"Spontaneous Generation"
Directed by: Andrew Cahill

"The Mermaid"
Directed by: Lisa Barcy

The Barbara Aronofsky Latham Award for Emerging Experimental Video Artist - $1,000
"Energie!"
Directed by: Thorsten Fleisch

Prix DeVarti for Funniest Film - $1,000
"On the Assassination of the President"
Directed by: Adam Keker

Griot Editorial Award for Best Editing - $500
"I, of the Cyclops"
Directed by: George Kuchar

Peter Wilde Award for Most Technically Innovative Film - $500
"Yours Truly"
Directed by: Osbert Parker

\aut\FILM Award for Best LGBT Film - $500
"Cat Dancers"
Directed by: Harris Fishman

Award for Best International Film - $500
"Nijuman no Borei"
Directed by: Jean-Gabriel Periot

Gus Van Sant Award for Best Experimental Film - $1,000
"Office Suite"
Directed by: Robert Todd

Michael Moore Award for Best Documentary Film - $1,000
"kids + money"
Directed by: Lauren Greenfield

Tom Berman Award for Most Promising Filmmaker - $1,000
"Doxology"
Directed by: Michael Langan

The EMPA Work Life Award - $1,300
"Beginning Filmmaking"
Directed by: Jay Rosenblatt

Kodak/Filmcraft Imaging Award for Best Cinematography - $1,500
"Li: Patterns of Nature"
Directed by: John Campbell

Ghostly Award for Best Sound Design - $500
"Observando El Cielo"
Directed by: Jeanne Liotta

The VUE/DFC Award for Best Michigan Filmmaker - $750
"Mort"
Directed by: Dean Denell

"buzzards steal your picnic"
Directed by: Terri Sarris

The Eileen Maitland Award - $500
"Teat Beat of Sex"
Directed by: Signe Baumane

Honorable Mentions - $1,050
"The Last Moment"
Directed by: Deco Dawson

"Number One"
Directed by: Leighton Pierce

"The Juche Idea"
Directed by: Jim Finn

"Faux Mouvements"
Directed by: Pip Chodorov

"My Olympic Summer"
Directed by: Daniel Robin

"Victory Over the Sun"
Directed by: Michael Robinson

I could never be bored in life because there are so many films yet to be made.”

She has been called the brightest light, a tireless saint, and a compassionate soul. Others have named her a loving wife, dedicated teacher, and caring mother. Inspiring every person around her, she was the playful artist, ambitious rebel, and a sparkling, subversive Southern Belle.

On January 4, 2007, Helen Hill was tragically murdered in New Orleans, Louisiana; and the loss of this innovative, inquisitive and joyful friend has affected us all. Helen celebrated life with a genuine sunny disposition and was a compassionate soul who would always go out of her way to help someone in need. Always generous with her love, support and inspiration, Helen touched the lives of every person who knew her, making her passing unbelievably painful.

She had screened several films at the Ann Arbor Film Festival (including The World’s Smallest Fair, Scratch & Crow, Tunnel of Love and Mouseholes), and was an honored juror at the 42nd Ann Arbor Film Festival. We consider her one of our own, and a member of the AAFF family.

Her animated films reflect her playful, innovative and inquisitive way of living life, and her caring and dedication to teaching show her value for the world around her. This wonderful person spent her brief time on earth joyfully and creatively. Helen leaves behind her husband Paul Gailiunas and their two-year old son, Francis Pop, her pet pig Rosie, and two cats.

In honor of the inspiration and memory that Helen has given all of us, we dedicate the 45th Ann Arbor Film Festival to her beloved memory. We will never forget you, Helen, and will continue to love and be inspired by you.

Thank you to Helen’s family and loved ones and to the Harvard Film Archive for helping us present a tribute and memorial retrospective on Wednesday, March 21st at the Firefly Club in Ann Arbor, where we celebrated her life, and the newly remastered collection of Helen Hill’s 16mm films:

Mouseholes
Tunnel of Love
Scratch and Crow
Vessel
Film for Rosie
Bohemian Town
Your New Pig Is Down the Road
Madame Winger Makes A Film: A Survival Guide to the 21st Century

Ken Burns Award for Best of the Festival:
“Foggy Mountains Breakdown More Than Non-Foggy Mountains”
Directed by: Jessie Stead
Prize: $3000

Gus Van Sant Award For Best Experimental Film:
“Stranger Comes To Town”
Directed by: Jacqueline Goss
Prize: $1000

Lawrence Kasdan Award For Best Narrative Film:
“Everything Will Be Ok”
Directed by: Don Hertzfeldt
Prize: $1000

Michael Moore Award For Best Documentary Film:
“The Bridge Over The Drina”
Directed by: Xavier Lukomski
and “Off The Grid: Life On The Mesa”
Directed by: Eric Juhola
Prize: $1000

The Empa Work Life Award:
“The Other Side”
Directed by: Bill Brown
Prize: $1300

Between The Lines And \Aut\ Film Award For Best Gay/Lesbian Film:
“Jean Genet In Chicago”
Directed by: Frederic Moffet
Prize: $1000

Tom Berman Award For Most Promising Filmmaker:
“You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”
“The General Returns From One Place To Another”
Directed by: Michael Robinson
Prize: $1000

Prix Devarti For Funniest Film:
“The Boy In The Air “
Directed by: Lyn Elliot
Prize: $1000

Vicki Honeyman Award For Best 16mm Film:
“Song And Solitude”
Directed by: Nathaniel Dorsky
Prize: $300

Kodak/Film Craft Lab Award For Best Cinematography:
“Song And Solitude”
Directed by: Nathaniel Dorsky
Prize: $1500

Griot Editorial Award For Best Editing:
“Film For Tom”
Directed by: Stephen Connolly
Prize: $500

Chris Frayne Award For Best Animated Film:
“Tyger“
Directed by: Guilhermo Marcondes
Prize: $375

Michigan Vue Magazine Award For Best Michigan Filmmaker:
“Unified Fields“
Directed by: Brandon Walley
Prize: $500

Detroit Film Center Award:
“Establishing Shots”
Directed by: Chris Mcnamara
Prize: $1500

Tio’s Red Hot & Spicy Award:
“Making The Balkans Erotic”
Directed by: Richard Haber
Prize: $500

The Eileen Maitland Award:
“Dear Bill Gates”
Directed by: Sarah J. Christman
Prize: $250

Honorable Mentions:
“Ski Boys”
Directed by: Benny Zenga

“Children Of The Shadows”
Directed by: Naoyuki Tsuji

“Instructions For A Light And Sound Machine”
Directed by: Peter Tscherkassky

“Market Street”
Directed by: Tomonari Nishikawa

“Black And White Trypps Number Three”
Directed by: Ben Russell

“Kristall”
Directed by: Christoph Giradet & Mattias Muller

“Zone Of Total Eclipse
Directed by: “Mike Taanilla”

“In Loving Memory”
Directed by: Robert Todd
Prize: $1350 Total