SPECIAL AWARDS:

The Showtime Vanguard Award, selected by Showtime representatives, celebrates a breakthrough or visionary achievement, and was awarded to:

THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA, directed by Olaf de Fleur.

The NewDraft Screenplay Competition winners are Day Dream by Rodney Evans and Love Marriage by Soman Chainani. They will receive full staged screenplay readings later in 2008 or early 2009.

The Vito Russo Award, given each year to a New York-based film project in progress will be awarded at NewFest's annual Winter Benefit.

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

The Audience Award for Best Feature was awarded to:
PAGEANT, directed by Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern.

The Audience Award for Best Short was awarded to:
COWBOY, directed by Til Kleinert.

JURIED AWARDS:

The Best US Narrative Feature Award went to:

THE LOST COAST, directed by Gabriel Fleming, for its emotionally engaging narrative, raw and accomplished performances, and technical craftsmanship and beauty.

Honorable Mention went to:
Sam Zalutsky's YOU BELONG TO ME for its play with genre conventions and for its wonderful casting.

The US Narrative Feature Jury was composed of Angel L Brown (Queer Black Cinema), Tom Cunha (Mammoth), and Frank DeCaro (The Frank DeCaro Show).

The Best International Narrative Feature Award went to:
THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA, directed by Olaf de Fleur, for its eye for detail and emotional honesty, and its ability to blend documentary and fiction.

Honorable Mention went to:
Roberto Cuzzillo's NO END for showing the difficult and painful journey of two women on their way to motherhood and sickness, and for avoiding simple clichés, by instead creating a remarkable sense of intimacy and moments of raw, emotional power.

The International Narrative Feature Jury was comprised of Charlie Olsky (indieWIRE), Michael Stuetz (Berlin International Film Festival), and Sarah Warn (AfterEllen.com).

The Best Documentary Feature Award went to:
BE LIKE OTHERS, directed by Tanaz Eshaghian, for its its careful and sensitive examination and exploration of a complicated issue, the status of gender and sexual variance among Iranians.

Honorable Mention went to:
Taylor Greeson's MEADOWLARK for exposing his personal story with emotional intensity and raw honesty, and for doing so in a creatively challenging manner.

The Documentary Feature Jury consisted of Katherine Linton (Linton Media), David Nugent (The Hamptons International Film Festival), and Pauline Park (NYAGRA).

The Best Narrative Short Award was awarded to:
Claudia Morgado Escanilla's NO BIKINI, for its innocent celebration of gender non-conformity by a tomboy at swimming lessons.

The Best Documentary Short Award was awarded to:
Charlotte Hoogakker's ODD ONE OUT, VERY NORMAL REALLY: FROM LUCAS TO LUUS, FROM BOY TO GIRL, for its candid, endearing, and humorous depiction of one pre-adolescent’s transition.

The Short Jury was composed of NewFest's Shorts Screening Committee.

SPECIAL AWARDS:

The Showtime Vanguard Award: “CAMP OUT”
Directed by: Larry Grimaldi and Kirk Marcolina.

The Vito Russo Award, given each year to a New York-based film project in progress: “DIRTY GIRL”
Directed by: Abe Sylvia

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

The Audience Award for Best Feature was awarded to: “CRUEL & UNUSUAL”
Directed by: Janet Baus, Dan Hunt, and Reid Williams.

The Audience Award for Best Short was awarded to: “AVAILABLE MEN”
Directed by: David Dean Bottrell.

JURIED AWARDS:

The Best US Narrative Feature Award went to: “THE GYMNAST” Directed by: Ned Farr

The Best Foreign Narrative Feature Award went to: “GO WEST”
Directed by: Ahmed Imamovic

Honorable Mention went to: “GYPO”
Directed by: Jan Dunn

The Best Documentary Feature Award went to: “CAMP OUT”
Directed by: Larry Grimaldi & Kirk Marcolina

The Best Short Award: “PEACE TALK”
Directed by: Jenifer Malmquist