WORLD COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

The jurors for the 2010 World Narrative Competition were Hope Davis, Aaron Eckhart, John Hamburg, Cheryl Hines, John Ridley, Gary Ross and Gary Winick.

• The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – When We Leave (Die Fremde), directed and written by Feo Aladag. (Germany). Winner receives $25,000 cash and the art award “Study: Northern City Renaissance” (Mass MoCA #379K) 2008, commissioned by Sting, created by Stephen Hannock. Sponsored by AKA Hotel Residences. The award was presented by Robert De

Niro and Jane Rosenthal.

Special Jury Mention: Loose Cannons, directed by Ferzan Ozpetek and written by Ferzan

Ozpetek and Ivan Cotroneo.

• Best New Narrative Filmmaker – Kim Chapiron for Dog Pound, written by Kim Chapiron and

Jeremie Delon. (France). Winner receives $25,000 cash. Sponsored by American Express. The

award was presented by Gary Winick.

• Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film – Eric Elmosnino as Serge Gainsbourg in Gainsbourg,

Je t’Aime…Moi Non Plus, directed and written by Joann Sfar. (France). Sponsored by Delta Air

Lines. Winner receives two BusinessElite ticket vouchers for anywhere Delta travels. The award

was presented by Hope Davis.

• Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Sibel Kekilli as Umay in When We Leave (Die

Fremde), directed and written by Feo Aladag. (Germany). Sponsored by Delta Air Lines.

Winner receives two BusinessElite ticket vouchers for anywhere Delta travels. The award was

presented by Aaron Eckhart.

The jurors for the 2010 World Documentary Competition were Jessica Alba, Margaret Brown, Abbie

Cornish, Marshall Curry, Whoopi Goldberg, Aidan Quinn and Eric Steel.

• Best Documentary Feature – Monica & David, directed by Alexandra Codina. (USA).

Sponsored by HBO. Winner receives $25,000 in cash and the art award “Jorge, 2003/2009” by

Vik Muniz. The award was presented by Jessica Alba.

Special Jury Mention: Budrus directed by Julia Bacha (USA, Palestine, Israel).

• Best New Documentary Filmmaker – Clio Barnard for The Arbor (UK). Winner receives

$25,000 cash. Sponsored by American Express. The award was presented by Abbie Cornish.

Jury Comments: “Imagination is a word you don’t often associate with documentary filmmaking,

but this director bends the boundaries of the form, beautifully crafting an innovative and detailed

film wherein great storytelling is paramount.”

NEW YORK COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

The 2010 Best New York Narrative Competition jurors were Selma Blair, Zach Braff, Zoe Cassavetes,

Darko Lungulov and Andrew McCarthy.

• Best New York Narrative – Monogamy, directed by Dana Adam Shapiro, written by Dana

Adam Shapiro and Evan M. Weiner. (USA). Winner receives $10,000 cash, $50,000 in postproduction services donated by Company 3, and the art award “SeaScape Frame” by Valerie

Hegarty. The award was presented by Selma Blair.

Special Jury Mention: Melissa Leo for her performance in The Space Between, directed and

written by Travis Fine. (USA).

The 2010 Best New York Documentary Competition jurors were America Ferrera, Dave Karger, Dan

Klores, Scott Neustadter and Kate Snow.

• Best New York Documentary – The Woodmans, directed by C. Scott Willis. (USA, Italy,

China). Sponsored by Polaroid. Winner receives $10,000 cash, $50,000 in post-production

services donated by Company 3, and art award “New York Studio n.21” by Maurizio Galimberti.

The award was presented by America Ferrara.

SHORT FILM COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

The 2010 Best Narrative Short Competition jurors were Justin Bartha, Katherine Dieckmann, Jack

Dorsey, Peter Facinelli and Brooke Shields.

• Best Narrative Short – Father Christmas Doesn't Come Here, directed by Bekhi Sibiya,

written by Sibongile Nkosana, Bongi Ndaba. (South Africa). Winner receives $5,000 cash, 5,000

feet of 35mm film stock donated by Kodak, and the art award “A Box of Smile, 1967/89” by

Yoko Ono. The award was presented by Peter Facinelli.

Special Jury Mention: The Crush, directed and written by Michael Creagh. (Ireland).

The 2010 Best Documentary and Student Short Competition jurors were Perry Miller Adato, Tim

Armstrong, Jared Cohen, Scandar Copti, Larry Gagosian, Alicia Keys and Shirin Neshat.

• Best Documentary Short – White Lines & The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug, directed and

written by Travis Senger. (USA). Winner receives $5,000 cash, 5,000 feet of 35mm film stock

donated by Kodak and the art award “Fruits of War” by Spencer Platt. The award was presented

by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Scandar Copti.

Special Jury Mention: Out of Infamy: Michi Nishiura Weglyn, directed and written by Nancy

Kapitanoff, Sharon Yamato. (USA).

• Student Visionary Award – some boys don't leave, directed by Maggie Kiley, written by

Matthew Mullen, Maggie Kiley. (USA). Winner receives MacPro Desktop with Final Cut Pro and

a 24-inch monitor provided by Apple and the art award “Inauguration Angel” by Maira Kalman.

This award was also presented by Copti.

Special Jury Mention: The Pool Party, directed and written by Sara Zandieh. (Iran, USA).

TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL VIRTUAL CATEGORIES:

The 2010 Tribeca Film Festival Virtual winners were voted on by the TFF Virtual premium passholders.

• Tribeca Film Festival VIRTUAL Best Feature Film: Spork, directed and written by J. B.

Ghuman, Jr. (USA). Winner receives $25,000 cash. Sponsored by American Express. The award

was presented by Geoff Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises.

• Tribeca Film Festival VIRTUAL Best Short Film: Delilah, Before, directed by Melanie

Schiele. Winner receives $5,000 cash. Sponsored by American Express. The award was

presented by Julie La’Bassiere, Director of Marketing and Industry for Tribeca Enterprises.

Winner: Marwencol

Director: Jeff Malmberg

Special Jury Winner: War Don Don

Director: Rebecca Richman Cohen

NARRATIVE FEATURE

Winner: Tiny Furniture

Director: Lena Dunham

Special Jury Award - Best Ensemble: Myth of the American Sleepover

Director: David Robert Mitchell

Special Jury Award - Best Individual Performance: Brian Hasenfus in Phillip the Fossil

Director: Garth Donovan

Feature Film Audience Awards

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Winner: For Once in My Life

Director: Jim Bigham & Mark Moormann

NARRATIVE FEATURE

Winner: Brotherhood

Director: Will Canon

24 BEATS PER SECOND

Winner: When You're Strange - a film about the Doors

Director: Tom DiCillo

EMERGING VISIONS

Winner: NY Export: Opus Jazz

Director: Jody Lee Lipes

LONE STAR STATES

Winner: Thunder Soul

Director: Mark Landsman

MIDNIGHTERS

Winner: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Director: Eli Craig

SPOTLIGHT PREMIERES

Winner: Richard Garriott - Man on a Mission

Director: Mike Woolf

Short Film Jury Awards

NARRATIVE SHORTS

Winner: Cigarette Candy

Director: Lauren Wolkstein

Special Jury Award: Teleglobal Dreamin'

Director: Eric Flanagan

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

Winner: Quadrangle

Director: Amy Grappell

Special Jury Award: White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug

Director: Travis Senger

ANIMATED SHORTS

Winner: The Orange

Director: Nick Fox-Gieg

Special Jury Award: One Square Mile of Earth

Director: Jeff Drew

EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS

Winner: Night Mayor

Director: Guy Maddin

Special Jury Award: Kids Might Fly

Director: Alex Taylor

MUSIC VIDEOS

Winner: Cinnamon Chasers, "Luv Deluxe"

Director: Saman Keshavarz

Special Jury Award: Grizzly Bear, "Forest"

Director: Allison Schulnik

TEXAS SHORTS

Winner: Petting Sharks

Director: Craig Elrod

Special Jury Award: The Big Bends

Director: Jason William Marlow

TIME WARNER CABLE & OVATION YOUNG FILMMAKER SCHOLARSHIP for TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SHORT

Winner: Give the Dog a Bone

Director: Edward Kelley

Special Jury Award: The Sleep Project

Director: Whitney Bennett & Matthew Cunningham

SXSW Special Jury Awards

SXSW WHOLPHIN AWARD

Winner: Quadrangle

Director: Amy Grappell

SXSW Chicken & Egg Emergent Narrative Woman Director Award

Winner: Lena Dunham for Tiny Furniture

Special Award - The Chicken & Egg Pictures "We Believe in You" Award

Martha Stephens for Passenger Pigeons

SXSW Film Design Awards

EXCELLENCE IN POSTER DESIGN

Winner: Feeder

Designer: Joseph Ernst

Special Jury Award: Amer

Designer: Gilles Vranckx

Audience Award Winner: Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission

Designer: Michael Anderson

Special Jury Award: Equestrian Sexual Response

Designers: Martim Vian & Zeke Hawkins

EXCELLENCE IN TITLE DESIGN

Winner: Zombieland

Designer: Ben Conrad

Special Jury Award: earthwork

Designer: Stan Herd

Audience Award Winner: earthwork

Designer: Stan Herd

Special Jury Award: Enter the Void

Designer: Gaspar Noé and Tom Kam

The annual SXSW Film Awards Ceremony took place on Tuesday, March 16 at the Austin Convention Center Theater. The 2010 SXSW Film Festival Awards were hosted by Ovation TV.

Best International Feature Award

A FILM UNFINISHED (D: Yael Hersonski; P: Noemi Schory, Itay Ken Tor; Israel)

The award includes a $10,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

The Special Jury Prize - International Feature

THE OATH (D: Laura Poitras; P: Laura Poitras, Nasser Arrabyee, Aliza Kaplan, Jonathan Oppenheim; USA, Yemen)

Sponsored by the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the award includes a $5,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

Best Canadian Feature Award

IN THE NAME OF THE FAMILY (D: Shelley Saywell, P: Shelley Saywell, Deborah Parks, Habiba Nosheen; Canada)

Sponsored by the Documentary Organization of Canada, the award includes a $15,000 prize courtesy of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation.

Special Jury Prize - Canadian Feature

LEAVE THEM LAUGHING (D: John Zaritsky, P: Montana Berg, Canada/USA)

Sponsored by the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, the award features a $10,000 prize courtesy of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation.

Best Mid-Length Documentary Award

I SHOT MY LOVE (D: Tomer Heymann; P: Barak Heymann, Tomer Heymann, Carl Ludwig Rettinger; Israel, Germany)

Sponsored by Canada Council for the Arts, the award includes a $3,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

Best Short Documentary Award

TUSSILAGO (D: Jonas Odell; Sweden)

Sponsored by Playback, the award includes a $3,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs.

HBO Documentary Films Emerging Artist Award

Jeff Malmberg for MARWENCOL

The Emerging Artist Award is sponsored by HBO Documentary Films.

2010 Hot Docs Outstanding Achievement Award

Presented to Kim Longinotto by Hot Docs Board of Directors

documentary's Don Haig Award

Presented to Toronto's Philip Lyall and Vancouver's Nimisha Mukerji (65_REDROSES - Official Selection 2009)

Awarded by the Don Haig Foundation, the prize includes a $20,000 cash prize generously sponsored by documentary.

The Lindalee Tracey Award

Ayanie Mohamed (Toronto)

Includes a $6,000 cash prize and $3,000 in film stock donated by Kodak Canada.

Hot Docs Audience Award Winner was THUNDER SOUL (D: Mark Landsman, USA), chronicling the reunion of the Kashmere High School Band – 35 years after their initial success – in honour of their mentor, Conrad "Prof" Johnson.

JURY AWARDS:

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD - The winner of this award becomes eligible for Academy Awards consideration. The Gold Mine (La Mina de Oro) (Mexico), Jacques Bonnavent

FUTURE FILMMAKER AWARD - Pierre Ferrière, The Story of My Life (Toute ma Vie) (France)

PANAVISION GRAND JURY AWARD – Off Season (Canada/USA), Jonathan van Tulleken

JURY SPECIAL CITATION – The jury presented a special mention to Flawed (Canada) directed by Andrea Dorfman "for the originality of its artistic expression, its genre-defying aesthetic and its emotional resonance."

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

AUDIENCE FAVORITE LIVE ACTION SHORT - Wish 143 (UK), Ian Barnes

Runner-up: The Butterfly Circus (USA), Joshua Weigel

AUDIENCE FAVORITE DOCUMENTARY SHORT - Born Sweet (Cambodia), Cynthia Wade

Runner-up: Flawed (Canada), Andrea Dorfman

AUDIENCE FAVORITE ANIMATION SHORT - Ormie (Canada), Rob Silvestri

Runner-up: The Gruffalo (UK), Jakob Shuh and Max Lang

JURY CATEGORY AWARDS:

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT 15 MINUTES AND UNDER First Place – The Gold Mine (La Mina de Oro) (Mexico), Jacques Bonnavent

Second Place – Pretty Little Doggie (USA), E. Ivan Infante

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT OVER 15 MINUTES - First Place – Hermann (Germany/UK), Hana Geissendorfer

Second Place – Aquarium (Norway), Bard Rossevold

BEST ANIMATED SHORT - First Place – Angry Man (Sinna Mann) (Norway), Anita Killi

Second Place – The Lost Thing (Australia/UK), Andrew Ruhemann & Shaun Tan

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - First Place – The Shutdown (Scotland), Adam Stafford

Second Place – Cohen on the Bridge: Rescue at Entebbe (Israel/UK), Andrew Wainrib

Jury Special Citation - The jury presented a special mention to The Lucky Ones (Szczesciarze) (Poland), directed by Tomasz Wolski "for transforming a routine look at bureaucratic procedures into a wry, poignant and subversive exploration of the human experience."

STUDENT CATEGORIES:

BEST STUDENT LIVE ACTION SHORT 15 MINUTES AND UNDER

First Place – Daughters (China/USA), Chloé Zhao

Second Place – Side by Side (Nebeneinander) (Germany), Christoph Englert

BEST STUDENT LIVE ACTION SHORT OVER 15 MINUTES

First Place – The Road Home (India/USA), Rahul Gandotra

Second Place – God of Love (USA), Luke Matheny

BEST STUDENT ANIMATED SHORT

First Place – Prayers for Peace (USA), Dustin Grella

Second Place – Urs (Germany), Moritz Mayerhofer

BEST STUDENT DOCUMENTARY SHORT

First Place – The Little Snow Animal (Lumikko) (Finland), Miia Tervo

Second Place – A Moth in Spring (Canada/USA), Yu Gu

KODAK AWARD FOR BEST STUDENT CINEMATOGRAPHY

First Place - Jaron Henrie-McCrea (cinematographer), Sinkhole (USA)

Second Place - Ilyeon Kim (cinematographer), A Scene at the Sea (Gu Yeo-Rum-Eui Ba-da) (South Korea/USA)

The Alexis Award for Best Emerging Student Filmmaker went to Some Boys Don't Leave (USA), directed by Maggie Kiley. Special citation went to A Wink of the Eye (France/USA), directed by Ambarish Manepalli

The Cinema Without Borders Best International Film Award went to War (Uerra) (Italy), directed by Paolo Sassanelli. The Gold Mine (La Mina de Oro) (Mexico) received second place.

This year's jury members were Dan Ireland, director; Lael Lowenstein, President Los Angeles Film Critics Association; and Guinevere Turner, writer, director and actor.

sponsored by Panasonic

GREEN

Tawak Productions

Download film at www.greenthefilm.com

Silver Teton Award

THE MEERKATS

James Honeyborne

Yaffle Films, BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Films, The Weinstein Company

Best Animal Behavior Program

sponsored by NHNZ

THE GORILLA KING

Tigress Productions, Ltd, Nature/THIRTEEN, BBC

Best Wildlife Habitat Program

sponsored by Sierra Club Productions

YELLOWSTONE: WINTER

BBC Natural History Unit, Animal Planet

Best Conservation Program

sponsored by National Geographic

GREEN

Tawak Pictures

Best People & Nature Program

sponsored by Feodor Pitcairn Productions

LEGEND OF PALE MALE

Birdjail Productions

Best Limited Series

sponsored by Wyoming Business Council

YELLOWSTONE

BBC Natural History Unit, Animal Planet

Best Children's Program

sponsored by Disneynature

ONCE UPON A TIDE

Center for Health and the Global Environment/Harvard Medical School, Sea

Studios Foundation, Laika/house, Funjacket Enterprises

Best Presenter-led Program

sponsored by Amphibico

CHARLES DARWIN & THE TREE OF LIFE

Sir David Attenborough

BBC Natural History Unit, Open University

Best Short Program

sponsored by Arete Media Group

SMALL TALK DIARIES: CHANGELINGS

Ammonite, Off the Fence, CBBC, Big Squid New Media

Marion Zunz Newcomer Award

sponsored by Discovery Channel

SWAMP TROOP

Robyn Keene-Young and Adrian Bailey, Road Media

National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channels International

Best Theatrical Program

sponsored by Sony Electronics

DISNEYNATURE PRESENTS EARTH (90 min)

Disneynature, BBC Worldwide, Greenlight Media and Discovery Channel

Best Non-broadcast Program

sponsored by Buffalo Bill Historical Center

FROG, CHEMICAL, WATER, YOU

The Smithsonian Women's Committee, Jennifer Grace, MSU

Best 360 Campaign

sponsored by Animal Planet

THINK BEYOND PLASTICS: DIRTY SECRETS

National Geographic Television, Daniella Russo -Sea Studios Foundation

RETHINK CAMPAIGN

Save Our Seas Foundation

SPRINGWATCH

BBC Natural History Unit

Best Web Presence

sponsored by ARKive

www.bbc.co.uk/bigcat/BIG CAT LIVE

BIG CAT LIVE

BBC Natural History Unit

Best Sound

sponsored by Dolby Laboratories

SWAMP TROOP

Robyn Keene-Young (Sound Recordist and Sound Design), Adrian Bailey (Sound Design),

Mark Phillips (Sound Editor and Mixer)

Road Media

National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channels International

Best Cinematography

sponsored by Fujinon

THE FOREST: REALM OF SHADOWS

Jan Haft and Kay Ziesenhenne

nautilusfilm GmbH for Studio Hamburg Documentaries, NDR Naturfilm, Arte, ORF

Best Editing

sponsored by ORF/Universum

THE MEERKATS

Justin Krish

Yaffle Films, BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Films, The Weinstein Company

Best Original Score

sponsored by Off the Fence Productions

DISNEYNATURE PRESENTS THE CRIMSON WING: MYSTERY OF THE FLAMINGOS (75 min)

The Cinematic Orchestra

Disneynature, Natural Light Films, Kudos Pictures

Best Writing

sponsored by The Nature Conservancy

THE LEGEND OF PALE MALE

Janet Hess

Birdjail Productions

Best Special Venue

sponsored by nWave

BUGS 3D!

Principal Large Format, SK Films

Best Earth Sciences Program

sponsored by Marco Polo

O2: THE MOLECULE THAT MADE OUR WORLD

ORF Universum / NHU, Burning Gold Productions, AV Dokumenta, BMUKK, BBC

Best Use of Web 2.0/New Media

sponsored by FusionSpark Media

www.kqed.org/quest

KQED-Quest

Outstanding Achievement

DISNEYNATURE PRESENTS EARTH

Disneynature, BBC Worldwide, Greenlight Media and Discovery Channel

GORILLA MURDERS

National Geographic Television

WHALE WARS

Animal Planet

WILD OCEAN

Luke Cresswell, Steve McNicholas

Giant Screen Films, Yes/No Productions

THE WOLF THAT CHANGED AMERICA

Brian Leith Productions, Nature/THIRTEEN

Founders Prize for Best Foreign Fiction Film: Eden is West

Founders Prize for a First Time Filmmaker: Salt of This Sea

Founders Prize for Best Overall Documentary: Rachel

Founders Prize for Best Comedy Documentary: Winnebago Man

Stanley Kubrick Award for Bold and Innovative Filmmaking, Fiction Film: Bob Byington for "Harmony and Me" and "Registered Sex Offender"

Stanley Kubrick Award for Bold and Innovative Filmmaking, Documentary: "Defamation"

Best Fiction Film, Audience Award: "Departures"

Best Fiction Film US, Jury Award: "The Greatest"

Best Fiction Film Foreign, Jury Award: "Mary & Max"

Special Jury Prize, First Narrative Feature Film: Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza for "Entre nos"

Special Jury Prize, Human Spirit: "Everlasting Moments"

Special Jury Prize for Original Storytelling: "O'Horten"

Best Documentary, Audience Award: "Food, Inc."

Best Documentary, Jury Award: "The Cove"

Best Foreign Documentary, Jury Award: "The End of the Line"

Special Jury Prize for Human Rights: "Which Way Home"

Special Jury Prize for Environmental Documentary: "Crude"

Special Jury Prize for a New Film Maker: Emily & Sarah Kunstler for "William Kunstler: Disturbing The Universe"

Firefighter's Award for Best Comedy Film: "A Matter of Size"

Michigan Prize: "Learning Gravity

Academy Award nominee Patricia Clarkson ("Pieces of April," "Vicki Cristina Barcelona") will receive an Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award after a screening of Woody Allen's "Whatever Works". Emmy and Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson ("Cheers," "The People vs. Larry Flynt") and Ben Foster ("3:10 to Yuma") will also receive Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Awards prior to their screening of "The Messenger." Emmy Rossum ("The Phantom of the Opera") will receive the Young Hollywood Award prior to a screening of her film "Dare," and Jeremy Renner will receive the Spotlight Award for his performance in "The Hurt Locker," which will also screen at the festival. Scott Caan ("Ocean's 11"), the writer and star of "Mercy," one of the festival's competition films, also will attend.

In addition to the special screenings, the festival will showcase 22 professional films (features, documentaries, shorts and animation) and 12 student films in competition. The jurors for the competition are actress Patti D'Arbanville ("Rescue Me"), actress/producer Rita Gam, writer/director Ingrid Rockefeller, writer/director Michael Sucsy (Emmy-Award winning "Grey Gardens") and writer/director David Twohy ("Pitch Black").

Audience Award for Short: "Poison Tree"

Narrative Awards

Best Narrative: "That Evening Sun"

Special Jury-Narrative Breakthrough: "Mississippi Damned"

Special Jury-Visual Achievement: "Idiots & Angels"

Pink Peach

Pink Peach Award: "Training Rules"

Special Jury Award: "Greek Pete"

Documentary Awards

Best Documentary: "The Way We Get By"

Special Jury Awards-Directing: "Art & Copy"

Special Jury Awards-Cinematography: "At the Edge of the World"

Shorts Awards

Best Narrative Short: "Love You More"

Best Animated Short: "French Roast"

Best Documentary Short: TIE - "Salt" & "The Beekeepers"

Special Jury Awards-Innovative Filmmaking: "Between You and Me"

Special Jury Awards-Directing: "Pop Art"

Special Jury Awards-Storytelling: "Locker 13: Down and Out"

Juried Best Documentary Feature: THEY KILLED SISTER DOROTHY

Rogue Creamery Audience Award: Documentary: GARRISON KEILLOR: THE MAN ON THE RADIO IN THE RED SHOES

John C. Schweiger Audience Award: Dramatic Feature: PAPER COVERS ROCK

Juried Best Documentary: Short Subject: THE WAR OF 33

Audience Award Best Short Film Dramatic or Documentary: KICK LIKE A GIRL

Juried Best Short: ACHOLILAND

Special Jury Mention: Short Film: TRECE ANOS (THIRTEEN YEARS)

Juried Best Animated Short: SEBASTIAN’S VOODOO

Juried Best Acting Ensemble: MAN MAID

Special Jury Mention: Acting: Jeannine Kaspar in PAPER COVERS ROCK

Best Cinematography, The Gerald Hirschfeld, ASC Award: Feature: PAPER COVERS ROCK

Family Choice Audience Award: THE FAN AND THE FLOWER

Rogue Award: Elvis Mitchell

Artistic Achievement Award: Bill Plympton

INVISIBLE CITY

Director: Hubert Davis

Producers: Mehernaz Lentin, Gerry Flahive

Executive Producer: Silva Basmajian (NFB)

Sponsored by the Documentary Organization of Canada and the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation

$15,000 prize courtesy of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation

Special Jury Prize - Canadian Feature

WATERLIFE

Director: Kevin McMahon

Producers: Michael McMahon, Kristina McLaughlin, Gerry Flahive

Executive Producers: Mark Achbar, Betsy Carson, Michael McMahon, Silva Basmajian (NFB)

Sponsored by the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation

$10,000 prize courtesy of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation

Best International Feature Documentary

THE ONE MAN VILLAGE

Director/Producer: Simon El Habre

Producers: Jad Abi-Khalil, Irit Neidhardt

Sponsored by A&E

$10,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs

Special Jury Prize - International Feature

COOKING HISTORY

Director/Producer: Peter Kerekes

Producers: Georg Misch, Pavel Strnad

Executive Producer: Ralph Wieser

Sponsored by the OMDC

$5,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs

Best Mid-Length Documentary

RABBIT À LA BERLIN

Director: Bartek Konopka

Producer: Anna Wydra

Sponsored by Canada Council for the Arts

$3,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs

Best Short Documentary

THE DELIAN MODE

Director/Producer: Kara Blake

Producer: Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre

Sponsored by Playback

$3,000 prize courtesy of Hot Docs

documentary’s Don Haig Award

Brett Gaylor

Tracey Deer

Awarded by the Don Haig Award Committee - $20,000 cash prize generously sponsored by documentary

The Lindalee Tracey Award

Laura Bari

Will Inrig

$6,000 cash prize and film stock donated by Kodak Canada and valued at $3,000

HBO Documentary Films Emerging Artist Award

Chung-ryoul Lee

OLD PARTNER

Sponsored by HBO Documentary Films

Hot Docs Audience Award - Determined by audience ballot:

The winner is THE COVE (D: Louie Psihoyos; USA), a passionate, powerful and gripping intervention to end the dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan. The top ten audience favourites as determined by audience vote are:

THE COVE (D: Louie Psihoyos; USA)

65_REDROSES (D: Philip Lyall, Nimisha Mukerji; Canada)

INSIDE HANA’S SUITCASE (D: Larry Weinstein; Canada, Czech Republic)

BEST WORST MOVIE (D: Michael Paul Stephenson; USA)

A HARD NAME (D: Alan Zweig; Canada)

OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY (now known by new title THE HORSE BOY) (D: Michel Orion Scott; USA)

WINNEBAGO MAN (D: Ben Steinbauer; USA)

BURMA VJ (D: Anders Høgsbro Østergaard; Denmark)

ROUGH AUNTIES (D: Kim Longinotto; UK)

PROM NIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI (D: Paul Saltzman; Canada)

Anne Dellinger Grand Jury Award - "Burma VJ - Reporting from a Closed Country" directed by Anders Østergaard

Special Jury Award - "Unmistaken Child" directed by Nati Baratz

Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short - "12 Notes Down" directed by Andreas Koefoed

Honorable Mention - "La Chirola" directed by Diego Mondaca

Honorable Mention - "The Flying Shepherd" directed by Catalin Musat

Center for Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award - "Burma VJ - Reporting from a Closed Country" directed by Anders Østergaard

Sponsored by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. This award honors a documentary artist whose work is a potential catalyst for education and change.

The Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award - "Voices from El-Sayed" directed by Oded Adomi Leshem

Honorable Mention - "Unmistaken Child" directed by Nati Baratz

Honorable Mention - "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe" directed by Sara Kunstler and Emily Kunstler

This prize honors a first-time documentary feature director.

Full Frame Audience Award - "The Way We Get By" directed by Aron Gaudet

Sponsored by the Doc Arts Board of Directors.The Audience Award is determined by counting audience ballots filled out during the four day Festival.

HBO Emerging Filmmaker Award - "Love on Delivery" directed by Janus Metz

Honorable Mention - "45365" directed by Bill Ross and Turner Ross

Honorable Mention - "California Company Town" directed by Lee Anne Schmitt

Sponsored by HBO Documentary Films. This award honors first- or second-time feature filmmakers in both the director and producer roles.

Full Frame Inspiration Award - "Unmistaken Child" directed by Nati Baratz

Sponsored by the Hartley Film Foundation. This award is presented to the film that best exemplifies the value and relevance of world religions and spirituality.

Full Frame President's Award - "Oil Blue" directed by Elli Rintala

Sponsored by Duke University. Aimed at recognizing up-and-coming filmmakers, this prize is awarded to the best student film.

Full Frame / Working Films Award - "Burma VJ - Reporting from a Closed Country" directed by Anders Østergaard

This prize is awarded to the film that has the greatest potential for supporting serious grassroots organizing and social change.

The Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights - "Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech" directed by Liz Garbus

Award is presented to a film that addresses a significant human rights issue in the United States.

The 2009 Competition Jury: Arjon Dunnewind (Utrecht, the Netherlands), Kari McQueen (Calgary) and Dean Otto (Minneapolis)

Images Prize:

Presented and sponsored by the Images Festival, this is the grand prize of the festival, awarded in recognition of the Best Canadian Media Artwork in the festival. The recipient receives a $500 cash prize.

Steve Reinke (Chicago) for Boy/Analysis: An Abridgement of Melanie Klein’s “Narrative of a Child Analysis”

National Film Board of Canada Award:

This prize is awarded by the NFB to the Best Emerging or Mid-career Canadian Film or Video Maker in the festival. The winner receives $5,000 in services through the NFB Filmmaker Assistance Program:

Joshua Bonnetta (Toronto) for Parting

Technicolor Cinematic Vision Award:

This prize is sponsored by Technicolor and honours excellence and innovation in the visual realization of a work by a Canadian film or video artist. The recipient receives $2,500 worth of any services in the Toronto office donated by Technicolor:

Amy Bodman (Toronto) for The Limits of What We Know

Best International On Screen (Film) Award:

Presented and sponsored by the Images Festival, this award honours the strongest new international film in the festival. The recipient receives a $300 cash prize:

Deborah Stratman (Chicago) for O’er the Land

Best International On Screen (Video) Award:

Presented and sponsored by the Images Festival, this award honours the strongest new international video in the festival. The recipient receives a $300 cash prize:

Duncan Campbell (Glasgow, Scotland) for Bernadette

OCAD Off Screen Award:

Sponsored by the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), this award honours the strongest new Canadian or international installation or new media work in the festival. The recipient receives a $300 cash prize:

Pedro Paiva & Joao Maria Gusmao (Lisbon, Portugal) for Magnetic resonance on abissologic experiments On view at Mercer Union until April 18

Steam Whistle Homebrew Award:

Presented by Steam Whistle Brewing, this award honours excellence and promise in a local artist. The recipient receives a $500 cash prize & Steam Whistle prize pack.

Oliver Husain (Toronto) for Mount Shasta

Overkill Award:

This award was established by the Images Festival in 2000 to honour former Executive Director Deirdre Logue, (1996 through 1999 festivals) and is presented annually to a film, video or installation artist whose work approaches extremes of incorrigibility through form and/or content and challenges our notions of edgy, experimental practice. Sponsored by an anonymous donor, the recipient receives a $300 cash prize.

Ben Russell (Chicago) for The Black and White Gods

Marian McMahon Award:

Presented and sponsored by the Images Festival with generous support from Kodak Canada, this award is given to a woman filmmaker each year to honour strong work in autobiography, the complexity of "subject" and the spirit of Marian McMahon. The recipient is invited to attend the Independent Imaging filmmaking retreat, held every each June in Mount Forest, Ontario facilitated by Philip Hoffman:

Naomi Uman (Los Angeles) for Kalendar

York University Award for Best Student Film:

Presented and sponsored by York University's Department of Film and Video, the recipient receives a $300 cash award generously donated by the Department of Film and Video, a Gulf Islands Film and Television School scholarship covering tuition for any one-week Media Intensive Program of their choice and $250 worth of Super-8 to video transfer services from Frame Discreet. The recipient is determined by audience vote:

Daniel McIntyre (York University, Toronto) for It only hurts when I cry

Vtape Award for Best Student Video:

This longstanding award is presented by Vtape, Toronto's video art distributor and includes a $300 cash prize generously donated by Vtape, and $250 worth of Super-8 to video transfer services from Frame Discreet. The recipient is determined by audience vote:

Pouyan Jafarizadeh Dezfoulian (York University, Toronto) for Morning Will Come

Ryerson University Award for Best Emerging Canadian Film/Videomaker from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): In its second year, this award provides the recipient with a continuing education course (valued at $500) in the Chang School’s Film Studies program at Ryerson University.

Lesley Loksi Chan (Toronto) for Curse Cures

Tom Berner Award: This award, sponsored by LIFT, (The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto) commemorates the late Tom Berner, who for many years supported and nurtured Canadian filmmakers. The award is presented annually to an individual who has provided extraordinary support to the cause of independent filmmaking in Toronto: The 2009 Tom Berner Award goes to Mike Hoolboom.

"The Cove," directed by Louie Psihoyos, won both Best Storytelling in a Documentary Film, and the Audience Award for Best Feature.

Showtime's Tony Cox Award for screenwriting was presented to Mark Boal for "The Hurt Locker"

Showtime's Tony Cox Screenplay Competition Award was presented to Jenny Deller for her script “Future Weather”

Cherien Dabis ("Amreeka") received the third annual Adrienne Shelly Excellence in Filmmaking Award, a cash prize awarded to a female filmmaker in honor of the late director.

Teen View on NFF Award went to short "Charlie Thistle," directed by Bragi Schut Jr.

The Audience Award for Best Short went to "Abuelo" directed by Mary Ann Kellogg.

The RIIFF Awards 2009:

Best Short

Grand: Celestial Avenue, Directed by Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes (2009, Australia)

First: Oscar & Jim, Directed by Iain Weatherby (2009, United Kingdom/France)

Tied with: Looking at Animals, Directed by Marc Turtletaub (2009, U S A)

Second: Magellan, Directed by Sebastian Davis (2009, U S A)

Best Feature:

Grand: ISSIZ ADAM (ALONE), Directed by Cagan Irmak (2008, Turkey)

First: Fifty Dead Men Walking, Directed by Kari Skogland (2008, United Kingdom)

Tied with: Not Dead Yet, Directed by: Sam Hull (2008, U S A)

Best Feature Documentary:

Grand: No.4 Street of Our Lady, Directed by Barbara Bird, Judy Maltz, Richie Sherman

(2009, U S A / Israel, U S A, Ukraine)

First: The Good Mother, Directed by Sarah Klein, (2009, France)

Second: Sweet Crude, Directed by Sandy Cioffi, (2008, Nigeria/U S A)

Best Documentary Short

Grand: Team Taliban, Directed by Benjamin Kegan (2008, U S A)

First: AMERIKA IDOL, Directed by Barry Avrich (2008, Serbia/Montenegro/Canada)

Second: TIRA BAKAL (striking metal), Directed by: Scott Wurth (2009, Australia / Philippines)

RIIFF International Ambassador Award

Víctor Bárcena, director of Las manos de Abel from Spain

Directorial Discovery Award:

Grand: Who Killed Chea Vichea? Directed by Bradley Cox (2009, Thailand/U S A)

First: HOME IS WHERE YOU FIND IT, Directed by Alcides Soares (2009, U S A)

Tied With: HouseQuake Directed by Karen Price (2009, U S A)

International Discovery Award:

Grand: Danse Macabre, Directed by Pedro Pires (2009, Canada)

First: Echo, Directed by Magnus von Horn (2009, Poland)

Second: An Unfinished Romance, Directed by Alison Heather (2009, Australia)

Best Cinematography

Grand: Out of the Blue, Directed by Michael Lavelle, (2009, Ireland)

First: The Taxidermist, Directed by Bert & Bertie, Cinematographer/DP: Lynda Hall (2009, United Kingdom)

Second: Garbage Dreams, Directed by Mai Iskander (2009, Egypt/U S A)

RIIFF Director’s Choice Award

Underwear, Directed by Tomer Gendler (2009, U S A

“Helping Hand” International Humanitarian Award

Given annually to a film or filmmaker that inspires social change, community outreach and a better understanding of the world in which we live

FEAT: 63 Marathons in 63 Days, Directed by Deborah Carr (2009, U S A)

Providence Film Festival

Grand: Home Across Lands, Directed by John Lavall (2008, Ethiopia, U S A)

First: The Impact of Your Choice: Breast Health Awareness-When Is Too Young!

Directed by Deborah A. Hoch, Megastar Productions (2009, U S A)

Second: Shooting Beauty, Directed by George Kachadorian (2008, U S A)

Editing:

Grand: School Play, Directed by Eddie Rosenstein, Rick Velleu, Edited by Tom Griffin (2008, USA)

First: War Against The Weak, Directed and edited by Justin Strawhand, (2008, Germany, Poland, U S A)

Tied with: My Son the Pornographer, Directed by Peter Campbell, Edited by Zsolt Sandor

(2009, Canada / Canada, Czech Republic)

Screenplay:

Grand: ROAR, Directed by Adam Wimpenny, Written by J.S. Hill, (2009, United Kingdom)

First: The Stars Don't Twinkle In Outer Space, Directed by Peter Thwaites, Written by Hank Isaac (2008, United Kingdom/Hungary)

Second: The Butler's In Love, Directed by David Arquette, Written by Curtis Reynolds, (2008, USA)

Best Experimental:

Grand: LoopLoop, Directed by Patrick Bergeron, (2008, Viet Nam/Canada)

First: Jelly Fishers, Directed by Steven Subotnick, (2009, U S A)

Second: Schizofredric, Directed by Andy Poyiadgi, (2009, United Kingdom)

Alternative Spirit:

Grand: Claiming the Title: Gay Olympics On Trial, Directed by Jonathan Joiner and Robert Martin (2009, U S A)

First: The Single Mother, Directed by Ryan Logan (2009, U S A)

Tied with: Out in the Silence, Directed by Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson (2009, U S A)

Best Soundtrack:

Rock Prophecies, Directed by John Chester (2009, U S A, United Kingdom)

Best Original Musical Composition (Score):

Grand: Another Harvest Moon, Directed by: Greg Swartz

Music Composed by Rick Garcia and William V. Malpede (2009, U S A)

First: Conrad the Wise, Directed by Alan Miller, Original Music/Composer: Adam Fulton

(2009, Canada)

KIDSEYE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

KidsEye (Films Made for Kids):

Grand: Leonardo, Directed by Jim Capobianco (2009, U S A)

First: The Curiosity of Penny Parker, Directed by Ryan Hanson (2009, Canada)

KidsEye (Films Made by Kids):

Grand: Thunder & Lightning, Directed by Susan and Katherine Procopio (2009, Canada)

Tied with: My Crisis, Directed by Joseph Procopio (2009, Canada)

Best Comedy Short:

Grand: I Can Speak Swedish! Directed by Charlene Loh (2009, Australia)

First: The Enchanted Island, Directed by Noel Kearns (2009, Ireland)

Second: Our Neck of the Woods, Directed by Rob Connolly (2008, U S A)

Best Animation:

Grand: LOST AND FOUND, Directed by Philip Hunt (2008, United Kingdom)

First: Pigeon: Impossible, Directed by Lucas Martell (2009, U S A)

Tied with: Lightheaded, Directed by Mike Dacko, (2009, U S A)

Best Acting:

Love, Directed by Cristian Solimeno

Featuring Amanda Ray-King and Brett Allen

(2008, United Kingdom)

Vortex Sci-Fi & Fantasy:

Hector Corp., Directed by Gary Lee (2009, U S A)

Night:How they triumphed

By Desmond Parks

scallywag & vagabond

Published: June 17, 2009

www.wbff.org/press/coverage/2009/Scallywag.Awards.pdf

BREAKING UPWARDS by DARYL WEIN

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE

BREAKING UPWARDS by DARYL WEIN

BEST DOCUMENTARY (AKA Diane Seligman Award)

THE HILLSIDE CROWD by BERNI GOLDBLAT

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT

THE CHAMBERMAID by ANN HOLMGREN

BEST ANIMATION

PASSAGES by MARIE-JOSEE SAINT-PIERRE

BEST EXPERIMENTAL

SOARING, ROARING, DIVING by MIRIAM HARRIS & JULIET PALMER

SPIRIT AWARDS

Short Subject THE DINNER by KARCHI PERLMANN

Experimental Film NAIADE by NADIA MICAULT & LORENZO NANNI

Documentary THE SARI SOLDIERS by JULIE BRIDGHAM

Animation TRICKSTER by ALEXANDER POHL

Feature Narrative DR. ALEMÁN by TOM SCHREIBER

Best New Director

CARLO MIRABELLA-DAVIS for KNIFE POINT

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Short Subject PINCHAS by PINI TAVGER

Experimental Film FLYING LOTUS by DANIEL GARCIA

Documentary BETWEEN THE FOLDS by VANESSA GOULD

Animation SKHIZEIN by JEREMY CLAPIN

Feature Narrative SEA LEGS by CRAIG BUTTA

CERTIFICATES OF OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Screenplay VINKO MODERNDORFER for LANSCAPE No. 2

Producer JIM JERMANOK and HARRY GREGSON-WILLIAMS for EM

Cinematography STEEVE ASSELIN for BORDERLINE

Editing JUSTIN KELLY for CRYPTIC

Original Score BEN LOVETT for THE LAST LULLABY

Actor Female KATE LYN SHEIL for KNIFE POINT

Actor Male JOSH PEACE for YOU MIGHT AS WELL LIVE

BEST MEXICAN FEATURE FILM–

"Los Bastardos"

Directed by: Amat Escalante

Prize includes: Diploma, “El Ojo,” a sculpture by Javier Marin, 100,000 pesos cash provided by Cinépolis

35mm film provided by Kodak, Digital still-photography camera provided by Kodak

THE PUBLIC’S PRIZE FOR BEST MEXICAN FEATURE FILM: "Cinco días sin Nora"

Directed by Mariana Chenillo

Prize includes: Diploma

MEXICAN SHORT FICTION AND ANIMATED FILMS

BEST SHORT FICTION FILM: "La canción de los niños muertos"

Directed by David Pablos

Prize includes: Diploma, “El Ojo,” a sculpture by Javier Marín, 100,000 pesos cash provided by Coca Cola Lite

100,000 pesos in kind: sound post-production provided by MCO Filmworks Image post-production package provided by Newart, 35mm film provided by Kodak

Digital still-photography camera provided by Kodak

SPECIAL MENTION IN SHORT FICTION FILM: "La luz de la oscuridad"

Directed by Gabriela Retes

Prize includes: Diploma

GARCÍA BROSS PRIZE FOR A SHORT FICTION FILM: "Roma"

Directed by Elisa Miller

Prize includes: 3 days of Super 16mm filming of a fiction short

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM: "Jacinta"

Directed by Karla Castañeda

Prize includes: Diploma, “El Ojo,” a sculpture by Javier Marín, 100,000 pesos cash provided by FICM, 100,000 pesos in kind: sound post-production provided by MCO Filmworks Image post-production package provided by Newart, 35mm film provided by Kodak, Digital still-photography camera provided by Kodak

MEXICAN DOCUMENTARY

BEST FEATURE-LENGTH MEXICAN DOCUMENTARY: "Trazando Aleida"

Directed by Christiane Burkhard

Prize includes: Diploma, “El Ojo,” a sculpture by Javier Marín, 100,000 pesos cash provided by the Fundación Televisa, 35mm film provided by Kodak, Digital still-photography camera provided by Kodak

SPECIAL MENTION IN FEATURE-LENGTH MEXICAN DOCUMENTARY: "El ciruelo"

Directed by Carlos Rossini and Emiliano Altuna

Prize includes: Diploma

MUSA PRIZE FOR BEST FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY BY A WOMAN: "Siete instantes"

Directed by Diana Cardoza

Prize includes: Diploma, Sculpture by Elena Somonte provided by the Mexican Association of Women in Film and Television

BEST MEXICAN DOCUMENTARY SHORT: "Zoogocho"

Directed by Bernardo Arrellano

Prize includes: Diploma, “El Ojo,” a sculpture by Javier Marín, 100,000 pesos cash provided by FICM

100,000 pesos in kind: sound post-production provided by MCO Filmworks Image post-production package provided by Newart, 35mm film provided by Kodak

Digital still-photography camera provided by Kodak

SPECIAL MENTION IN DOCUMENTARY SHORT: "Susurros de luz"

Directed by Alberto Reséndez Gómez

Prize includes: Diploma

SPECIAL MENTION IN DOCUMENTARY SHORT: "Nosotros los que hablamos la lengua completa"

Directed by Bernardo Porraz

Prize includes: Diploma

MICHOACAN SELECTION

MICHOACAN PRIZE: "Clandestino"

Directed by Juan Pablo Arroyo and Edurne Farías

Prize includes: Diploma, 50,000 pesos cash provided by FICM, 100,000 pesos in kind: sound post-production provided by MCO Filmworks Image post-production package provided by Newart, 35mm film provided by Kodak, Digital still-photography camera provided by Kodak

MICHOACÁN CONTEST PRIZE FOR SHORT FILM SCREENPLAY: "La lluvia que no llueve"

Directed by Adrián González Camargo

Prize includes: Diploma, 10,000 pesos cash provided by FICM

SPECIAL MENTION IN MICHOACAN SECTION: "Aquí ya no entra Don Inés" (Casimiro Leco)

Directed by: Raúl Máximo.

Prize includes: Diploma

MORELIA LAB

MORELIA LAB MEXICO PRIZE: "Condones Encanto" (Encanto Condoms)

Directed by Ximena Urrutia (Mexico)

Prize includes: Diploma, 50,000 pesos cash provided by Imcine

LATIN AMERICA PRIZE: "Proyecto 54" (Project 54)

Directed by Gerardo Aguilar (Honduras)

Prize includes: Diploma, 50,000 pesos cash provided by Cinépolis

BEST PITCHING PRIZE: "Nada sobre mi padre" (Nothing About My Father)

Directed by Luciana Freitas (Brazil)

Prize includes: Diploma, HD camera provided by Sony

MORELIA LAB SPECIAL MENTION: "Ciclo" (Cycle)

Directed by Andrea Martínez (México)

Prize includes: Diploma

MORELIA LAB SPECIAL MENTION: "2008 Ciudad de México y sereno" (2008 Mexico City and Serene)

Directed by Nestor Sampieri (Mexico)

Prize includes: Diploma

CDI PRIZE

BEST INDIGENOUS FILM OR VIDEO: "Snuu ViKo, el lugar de las nubes y algunas palabras perdidas"

Directed by Nicolás Rojas Sánchez

Prize includes: Diploma, 50,000 pesos cash provided by the National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples (CDI)

SPECIAL MENTION IN INDIGENOUS FILM: "Reencuentros: entre la memoria y la nostalgia"

Director by Yolanda Cruz

Prize includes: Diploma

Larry Stanley "B Movie" Award

The Best "B Movie" Feature: "PLAGUERS"

Fujifilm Award

Best movie shot on Film - $2,500.00 in film stock. (16mm sound.)

"EXCISION"

Gorilla Softward Awards

"Yesterday Was A Lie"

"The Consumed"

Horror Genre Awards

Best Picture Mini-Short: "EXCISION"

Honorable Mention: "PEEKERS," "PENNY DREADFUL," and "KIRKSDALE"

Best Picture Short: "AM1200"

Honorable Mention: "THE CONSUMED"

Best Picture Feature: "PAPER DOLLS"

Honorable Mention: "THE ASSESSMENT," "THE SHADOW WITHIN'

Best Actor: KEITH BLASER for "The Assessment"

Honorable Mention: ERIC LANGE for "AM1200"

Best Actress:TESSA FERRER for "Excision"

Honorable Mention: Kristin Mellian for "Without Within" Victorial Englelmayer for "Hanah's Gift"

Science Fiction Genre Awards

Best Picture Mini-Short/Short: "SUPERHUMAN"

Honorable mention: "GOD'S MARBLE," "WELL FOUNDED CONCERNS"

Best Picture Feature: "ALIEN RAIDERS"

Honorable Mention: "PLAGUERS," "CAVE WOMEN ON MARS"

Best Actor: STEVE RAILSBACK for "Plaguers"

Honorable Mention: CARLOS BERNARD for "Alien Raiders"

Best Actress: COURTNEY FORD for "Alien raiders"

Honorable Mention: ALEXIS ZIBOLIS for "Plaguers"

Fantasy Genre Awards

Best Picture: - Mini Short: "BELIEVE"

Honorable mention: "MIRROR, MIRROR" and "EPICAC"

Best Picture Feature: "YESTERDAY WAS A LIE"

Honorable Mention: "NOBODY" and "CARNIVOROUS"

Best Actor: COSTAS MANDYLOR for "Nobody"

Honorable Mention: ED O'ROSS for "Nobody" and RYAN SCHAUFLER for "Carnivorous"

Best Actress: KIPLEIGH BROWN for "Yesterday Was A Lie"

Honorable Mention: LEAH ROSE for "Carnivorous"

Rising Star Award: - VICTORIA ENGLEMAYER for "Hanah's Gift"

Honorable Mention: - MOLLY SHIFFERR for "Mirror, Mirror" and LAURENCE BELCHER for "The Shadow Within"

Director's Choice: "Without, Within"

Audience Choice Award: "HANAH'S GIFT"

Director: Laurie Lynd

Best Documentary: "A Finished Life: The Good Bye & No Regrets Tour"

Director: Michelle Boyaner, Barbara Green

Best Girl Short: "No Bikini"

Director: Claudia Morgado Escanilla

Best Boy Short: "The Awakening"

Director: Christian Tafdrup

Director: Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern

Best Feature Film: "XXY"

Director: Lucía Puenzo

Best Short Film: "I'm Jin Young"

Director: Sung-Eun Lee

Best Director, Documentary: Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern for "Pageant"

Best Director, Feature Film: Shamim Sarif for "World Unseen"

Best Director, Short Film: Edward Gunawan for "Laundromat"

Best Actor: Tye Olson for "Watercolors"

Best Actress: Christine Evangelista for "Goodbye Baby"

Each award receipiant will receive an engraved crystal plate from Tiffany & Co. Congratulations everyone and thank you for creating amazing films for our entertainment and enlightenment.

HONORARY TRAILBLAZER AWARD: James Schamus

HONORARY MAVERICK AWARD: Kevin Smith

The Lee Marvin award for BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE

Jury Members:

Matt Dentler, Mark Duplass, Ted Hope, Mary Stuart Masterson

Sponsored by the Lee Marvin Estate

Prizes: $5,000 Cash Award

1-year FilmTracker membership for one year from Baseline Studiosystems

Honorary Award receives Final Cut Studio Pro

1-year FilmTracker membership for one year from Baseline Studiosystems

First Prize: "Prince of Broadway"

Directed by Sean Baker

Honorable Mention: "Medicine for Melancholy"

Directed by: Barry Jenkins

Maverick Awards for BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Jury Members: Rachel Grady, Morgan Spurlock, Molly Thompson

Prizes: Final Cut Studio Pro

1-year FilmTracker membership for one year from Baseline Studiosystems

"In A Dream"

Directed by: Jeremiah Zagar

Audience Award for NARRATIVE FEATURE

1-year FilmTracker membership for one year from Baseline Studiosystems

DVD duplication services certificate from Disc Makers

"Let the Right One In"

Directed By: Tomas Alfredson

"Zack and Miri Make a Porno"

Directed By: Kevin Smith

"Pride and Glory"

Directed By: Gavin O'Connor

Audience Award for DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

1-year FilmTracker membership for one year from Baseline Studiosystems

DVD duplication services certificate from Disc Makers

Playing For Change: "Peace Through Music"

Directed By: Jonathan Walls and Mark Johnson

"Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight"

Directed By: Wendy Keys

"At the Edge of the World"

Directed By: Dan Stone and Patrick Gambuti Jr.

Diane Seligman Award for BEST SHORT:

Jury Members: Karen Durbin, Ross Partridge, Peter Bowen

Sponsored by Lowel-Light

Prizes: Light Kit and $750 cash from Lowel Light

1-year FilmTracker membership for one year from Baseline Studiosystems

"Glory at Sea"

Directed By: Benh Zeitlin

Diane Seligman Award for BEST STUDENT SHORT:

Jury Members: Amy Gossels, Jeremiah Newton

Sponsored by Lowel-Light

Light Kit and $750 cash from Lowel Light

1-year FilmTracker membership for one year from Baseline Studiosystems

"Sikumi"

Directed By: Andrew Okpeaha MacLean

Diane Seligman Award for BEST SHORT DOC:

Jury Members: Ryan Harrington, Tim Sternberg, Stephen Nemeth

Sponsored by Lowel-Light

Light Kit and $750 cash from Lowel Light

1-year FilmTracker membership for one year from Baseline Studiosystems

"Pickin' & Trimmin'"

Directed By: Matt Morris

HASKELL WEXLER AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

Jury Member: Haskell Wexler

Sponsored by Panavision, NY

Prize: $15,000 worth of film camera equipment from Panavision, NY

"At the Edge of the World"

Directed By: Dan Stone, Patrick Gambuti Jr.

Cinematographer(s): Daniel Fernandez, Tim Gorski,

Simeon Houtman, James Joyner,

Jonathan Kane, Mathieu Mauvernay,

Rip Odebralski

Maverick Award for FOR BEST ANIMATION

Jury Members: Bill Plympton, Signe Baumane

Presented by Bill Plympton

DVD duplication services certificate from Disc Makers

"Berni's Doll"

Directed By: Yann Jouette

James Lyons Editing Award for NARRATIVE FEATURE:

Jury Members: Sabine Hoffman, Brian Kates, ACE, Kate Williams

Sponsored by the James Lyons Estate

Prize: $1,000 Cash Award

"Were the World Mine"

Directed By: Tom Gustafson

Edited by: Jennifer Lilly

James Lyons Editing Award for DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Jury Members: Sabine Hoffman, Sloane Klevin, Susan Littenberg

Sponsored by the James Lyons Estate

Prize: $1,000 Cash Award

"In A Dream"

Directed By: Jeremiah Zagar

Edited By: Keiko Deguchi, Jeremiah Zagar

Honorable Mention: "Pressure Cooker"

Directed by Jennifer Grausmand & Mark Becker

Jury Members:

FEATURE NARRATIVE JURY

Matt Dentler is the head of marketing and programming for Cinetic Rights Management, a sister company of Cinetic Media in New York. Prior to that, he spent five years as the Producer of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival in Austin starting in 2003. Matt currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Austin Film Society and graduated with a BS in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas. He is also the executive producer of PJ Raval’s and Jay Hodges’ documentary feature, Trinidad.

Mark Duplass and his brother Jay’s film, The Puffy Chair, was one of the breakout hits from the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. The film, which also stars Mark, won the Audience Award at SXSW and was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards. Mark and Jay first made a name for themselves with a string of award-winning short films, including This is John and Scrabble, both of which premiered at Sundance. The brothers are currently writing and directing films for both Universal and Fox Searchlight and have sold The Trail, a television show, to NBC. Their latest feature, Baghead, sold to Sony Classics at Sundance 2008 and is now in limited theatrical release.

Ted Hope is the co-founder of This is That, a New York production company. He most recently wrapped production on Greg Mottola’s Adventureland. His credits include production of Oscar®-winner Alan Ball’s directorial debut Nothing is Private. Ted has also brought the first features of Ang Lee, Hal Hartley, Nicole Holofcener, Todd Field, Michel Gondry, Moises Kaufman, Bob Pulcini and Shari Berman, among others, to the screen. Among Hope’s productions are 21 Grams, which earned two Academy Award® nominations; In the Bedroom, earner of five Oscar® noms; and Happiness, winner of the Cannes Critics Prize.

Mary Stuart Masterson started acting before the age of ten, when she appeared in The Stepford Wives in 1975 with her father. Afterwards, at the direction of her parents, Mary Stuart led a life outside of the limelight, attending school in New York. She appeared in a few productions at New York’s ­Dalton School. At the age of 15, the young actress appeared on Broadway in Eva Le Gallienne’s ­version of Alice In Wonderland. She played two parts, the Four of Hearts and the Small White Rabbit. She returned to films in 1985 with the role of Dani in Heaven Help Us (1985). For eight months afterwards, Mary Stuart attended New York University, where she studied ­anthropology.

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY JURY

Rachel Grady is the co-director of the Emmy®-nominated documentary T he Boys of Baraka. A private investigator-turned-filmmaker, she has produced and directed numerous non-fiction films for MTV, CBS, Discovery Channel, A&E and Britain’s Channel 4. She has directed several films that focus on mental illness, including Mad Justice and Ward 2 West. Rachel was the Series Producer for TX, an eight-part series for VH1. She recently completed her second documentary feature, Jesus Camp, which was nominated for an Academy Award®. She is currently directing a film in Saudi Arabia, and is the co-founder of Loki Films.

Morgan Spurlock is the writer/producer/director of the Academy Award®-nominated film Super Size Me. His highly acclaimed series 30 Days recently completed its third season on the F/X network. The show examines social issues in America and has been praised by such diverse groups as the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. Spurlock’s latest directorial project, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? premiered at Sundance 2008. In 2006, Spurlock and Arts Alliance America created a film and distribution partnership to release films considered to be groundbreaking and important that were overlooked by the majority of filmgoers.

Molly Thompson launched and runs A&E ­Indie­Films, the network’s feature documentary division. She executive produces the division’s original productions including Jesus Camp, a film by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, which was nominated for an Academy Award® and American Teen, a film by Nanette Burstein which won best director at Sundance 2008 and was released by Paramount Vantage this summer. Molly also executive produced a film about Anna Wintour directed by RJ Cutler; and a film on Pat Tillman directed by Amir Bar Lev. Other A&E IndieFilms include the Oscar®-nominated, Sundance Award-winner Murderball and My Kid Could Paint That.

SHORTS JURY

Peter Bowen is editor of FilmInFocus and ­Senior Editor of Filmmaker magazine. He ­previously served as Editorial Director of the Sundance Channel. He has written for a range of periodicals and served on the board of the New Festival.

Karen Durbin is the film critic for Elle magazine, where she writes a monthly two-page column. She also writes features for Elle and articles on film for the Sunday Arts & Leisure section of The New York Times. Previously, she was the film critic for Mirabella magazine and its arts and entertainment editor. From April 1994 to September 1996, Karen was the editor-in-chief of The Village Voice.

Ross Partridge, a native of the Hudson Valley area, recently received critical acclaim for his role of Matt in the Duplass Brother’s Baghead. He went on to co-produce their next film Dodeca Pentathlon, to be released in 2009. Film credits include Steven Spielberg’s The Lost World; Black and White with Gina Gershon; Amityville Horror with Terry O’Quinn; and The Wedding Murders with Canadian director Bashar Shibib. Television credits include: NYPD Blue, CSI, Law and Order, Hudson Street, Quantum Leap and The Net. In addition, Ross wrote and directed the feature film Interstate 84. He was a producer for Trigger Street Productions.

Student SHORTS JURY

Jeremiah Newton is the producer of the upcoming documentary Beautiful Darling: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol Superstar Candy Darling, which has just been sold to the Sundance Channel. He is the industry liaison for New York University’s Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television and is known for his work with young filmmakers. Jeremiah currently resides in Manhattan and Cherry Valley, NY.

Amy Gossels has been the casting director, and in many cases a producer, for more than sixty film productions. Feature film casting credits include Something’s Gotta Give, Godsend, Milk & Honey and Shoot First and Pray You Live. Ms. Gossels has cast and produced more than thirty award-winning short films, including the Academy Award® winning Zen and the Art of Landscaping and Happenstance. Ms. Gossels also casts for a wide range of televison projects, including the Comedy Central 2008 Special Night of Too Many Stars; Lifetime Television’s upcoming series Mom’s Cooking; and three highly anticipated new productions from the creators of Blue Man Group, Counts Media and legendary comedy writer Bruce Vilanch, all slated to open on Broadway in early 2009.

SHORT DOCS JURY

Ryan Harrington serves as the Head of IndiePix Studios. In addition, he serves as the Executive Producer on all IndiePix films. Current projects include 21 Below, Entre Nous, P-Star’s Redemption and Slap & Tickle, all of which will hit the festival circuit in 2009. Prior to this, Ryan ran the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund and managed production for A&E IndieFilms for four years. He was a champion for the Oscar®-nominated films Murderball and Jesus Camp; the Sundance hits My Kid Could Paint That and American Teen; and Barbara Kopple’s Bearing Witness and Street Thief.

Stephen Nemeth formed and heads Rhino Films, the independent film company that originated as a division of iconoclastic record label Rhino Records. He has produced ten films and has executive produced fourteen others, including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas; What We Do Is Secret; the upcoming Radio Free Albemuth; the 2008 Oscar®-nominated documentary War Dance; the documentary Fields of Fuel, which won the 2008 Sundance Audience Award; and the documentary Flow which is being screened at both the Democratic and ­Republican National Conventions. He is also working with Amnesty International through Artists for Amnesty on developing and producing human rights-related motion picture and ­television projects.

Tim Sternberg started working in the editing rooms of Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope Studios in San Francisco. After moving to New York he has worked as a sound effects recordist on Sleepless in Seattle and The Human Stain; re-edited the 1992 Academy Award® winning Mediterraneo for U.S. release; and acted as a script consultant for the IFP and American Zoetrope. Recently he worked as music editor on Milos Forman’s Goya’s Ghosts and the Academy Award® winning documentary The Taint of Yingzhou District directed by Ruby Yang. His first film as a director, the documentary short Salim Baba, was nominated for an Oscar® in the 2008 Best Short Documentary category but won the 2007 Best SHort Doc Awad at Woodstock.

ANIMATION JURY

Since her arrival to New York, Signe Baumane has produced and co-produced, written, directed and designed eight independent animated shorts. She has continued her collaboration with Rija Films, where she directed two of her own stories. Her films have screened at such prestigious festivals as Annecy, Tribeca, Sundance, Berlin and Ottawa and have received numerous awards. Signe is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is a Fellow in Film with the New York Foundation for the Arts. She advises a series of film festivals in the U.S. on their animation programs and curates special shows where she personally presents films and filmmakers.

Bill Plympton is often referred to as the “King of Indie Animation.” He’s completed six animated features and over thirty animated shorts. He has a new book coming out this winter, illustrating the lyrics of Kanye West, and is now starting his seventh animated feature film, about sexual jealousy.

Patrick Smith has written, produced, animated and directed five award-winning films. He has made his directorial debut for the Emmy®-nominated series Daria. Smith is a senior thesis advisor at the Pratt Institute in New York; a fellow with the New York Foundation of the Arts; and a curator for multiple international film and animation festivals.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Haskell Wexler, A.S.C, is considered one of the most well respected cinematographers in the film industry today, His career spans six decades, and his work includes such films as Coming Home, Bound for Glory, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Interviews With My Lai Veterans and American Graffiti. Haskell has received five Academy Award® nominations and a number of other prestigious awards honoring his outstanding achievements in the photography of a wide range of films. He won his first Best Cinematography Oscar® in 1967 for Mike Nichols’ Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and received the coveted prize again, ten years later, for Hal Ashby’s Bound for Glory. His other nominations were for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1976), Matewan (1988), and Blaze (1989).

EDITING JURY–NARRATIVE

Sabine Hoffman has passionately edited independent feature films for over ten years. Credits include Rebecca Miller’s The Ballad of Jack and Rose and Personal Velocity, and her new feature film The Private Lives of Pippa Lee; Rodney Evans’ Brother to Brother; Morgan J. Freeman’s Desert Blue and Hurricane Streets; Katja Esson’s Academy Award®-nominated Ferry Tales and Bill Jennings’ Harlem Aria. Sabine is an adjunct professor at Columbia University and serves on the advisory boards of the Fusion Film Festival and the Woodstock Film Festival.

Brian A. Kates, A.C.E. ‘s work as a feature film editor includes the Oscar®-nominated The Savages (Tamara Jenkins); the Emmy Award®-winning Lackawanna Blues (George C. Wolfe) for which he won an A.C.E. Eddie Award; Shortbus (John Cameron Mitchell); The Woodsman (Nicole Kassell); and the Emmy®-nominated The Laramie Project (Moisés Kaufman). He was Jonathan Caouette’s co-editor on the groundbreaking documentary Tarnation, named Best Non-Fiction Film by the National Society of Film Critics. Brian recently completed the Warner Bros. production Nights in Rodanthe (George C. Wolfe). He is currently editing Taking Chance, his third collaboration with director/producer Ross Katz.

Kate Williams studied photography, sculpture and film theory in Australia. In New York, she began editing as an assistant on Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo and Juliet and Fred Schepisi’s Six Degrees of Separation. A sampling of the films she has edited include: Steve Buscemi’s Trees Lounge and Interview; Schepisi’s Last ­Orders and Empire Falls; Hong Kong director Clara Law’s The Goddess of 1967; and Michael Almereyda’s This So-Called Disaster, a documentary on Sam Shepard. Most recently, Williams ­edited the 2008 Sundance Grand Jury prize­winner Frozen River.

EDITING JURY–DOCUMENTARY

Sabine Hoffman (see above)

Sloane Klevin has been an editor of films, television, commercials and music videos for twenty years. Her most recent feature film, Taxi to the Dark Side, which she also co-produced, won the 2008 Academy Award® for best Documentary Feature as well as the WGA award for Best Doc Screenplay. She also received a Peabody Award and the jury prizes at the Tribeca and Chicago film festivals. Her other feature credits include Real Women Have Curves, Heights and Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues for PBS. She is a partner at Union Editorial and an Adjunct Professor of Film Editing at Columbia University.

Susan Littenberg’s credits include the recent live action Charlotte’s Web; A Lot Like Love; Gary Winick’s 13 Going on 30 and Tadpole. Most recently, she completed Five Dollars a Day with Christopher Walken. She is currently editing Bride Wars starring Kate Hudson and Drew Barrymore. Other credits include The Ballad of Ramblin’ Jack, winner of a Special Jury Prize for Artistic Achievement at Sundance 2000; Jump Tomorrow, winner of a BAFTA award for first-time filmmakers; and Stephen Soderbergh’s 1996 film, Gray’s Anatomy.

NOFF announces the winners of the first-ever Audience Awards:

Best Narrative Feature: "How to Be"

Directed by: Oliver Irving

Best Documentary Feature: "Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry"

Directed by: Erich Weiss

Other Awards:

Helen Hill Best Animation Award: "Chainsaw"

Directed by: Dennis Tupicoff

Sponsored by Showbiz Software

Honorable Mention: "The Spider"

Directed by: Juan Delcan

Best Narrative Short Award: "Glory At Sea"

Sponsored by CineFilm Lab

Directed by: Benh Zeitlin

Best Documentary Short Award: "Elegy for the Elswick Envoy"

Directed by: Nancy Willis

Sponsored by Showbiz Software

Best Experimental Award: "Home"

Directed by: Matt Faust

Sponsored by Showbiz Software

Honorable Mention: "Sera/Sera"

Directed by: John Murphy

Best Documentary Feature Award: "Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story"

Directed by: Jeffrey Schwarz

Sponsored by Panavision

Best Narrative Feature Award: "Goodnight Irene"

Sponsored by Swelltone Lab

Directed by: Paolo Marinou-Blanco

Louisiana Filmmaker Award: "The Zeppelin Parable"

Directed by: Kristian Hansen

Sponsored by Panavision & Kodak

We congratulate all the awardees.

The following is a list of this year’s ten award recipients:

Best Documentary: “Neshoba,”

Co-Directors Micki Dickoff, Tony Pagano

Mass Impact: “A Soviet Story,”

Director Edvin Snors

Best Short: “The Confession”

Best Actor: Greg Kinnear, “Flash of Genius”

Best Actress: Jacqueline Bisset, “Death In Love”

Best Screenplay Adaptation: “Appaloosa,” Screenwriters: Ed Harris, Robert Knott

Best Film: “Appaloosa”

Creative Visionary: Director and writer Charlie Levi, “Childless”

Best Director: Boaz Yakin, “Death In Love”

Best International Filmmaker: Jamil Rostami

Producer/Director of “Jani Gal”

Audience Favorite: Clear Lake, WI

This year’s BFF sponsors are: A&E Indie Films, NBC Universal, Bravo, Liberty Hotel, American Airlines, Lindor Truffles, and Sundance Channel.

The red carpet star-studded event included appearances by Gustavo Santaolalla (LALIFF’s GABI Lifetime Achievement Award 2008 recipient), Demián Bechir, Carina Ricco, Alexa Vega, Maya Zapata, Lupe Ontiveros, Rick Najera, Montserrat Roig de Puig, Marlene Forte, Simon Rex, Jesse Garcia and other celebrity guests, along with community leaders and entertainment industry experts.

LALIFF co-founder, Executive Director and programmer Marlene Dermer dedicated the night to acclaimed filmmaker Humberto Solás who passed away on Wednesday, September 17th in his native Cuba. Solás, one of Cuba’s brightest and most outstanding figures in cinema, directed many films that gave voice to his country around the world including: Lucía, a film considered as the birth of the Golden Age of Cuban filmmaking, Un hombre de éxito (1986), El siglo de las luces (1991), and Barrio Cuba (2005).

Dermer also acknowledged the wishes of festival co-founder Edward James Olmos to be present at the ceremony to celebrate the closure of the festival. Olmos is currently directing a film and was unable to attend the festival.

The following includes a list of the winners for the 12th Annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival:

Features/ Best Film (RITA AWARD)

Sponsored by: Deluxe Laboratories

Winner: "Paraíso Travel"

&

Audience Award: Best Film

Sponsored by: CineLatino

Winner: "Paraíso Travel"

Director: Simon Brand - Country: Colombia

Synopsis: Adapted from Jorge Franco’s acclaimed novel of the same title, Paraíso Travel is the story of Marlon Cruz, a young Colombian man who motivated by his girlfriend Reina, leaves his comfortable life in Medellín, an flees with her through Guatemala and Mexico, across the borders, illegally into the United States. Marlon’s journey, which takes him through seedy strip clubs, dance halls, homeless hostels, and the streets of Jackson Heights ultimately takes him to a place he could not have predicted. Directed by Simon Brand with a screenplay by Jorge Franco and Juan Rendón, Paraíso Travel also stars John Leguizamo, Margarita Rosa de Francisco and Ana de la Reguera.

Features/ Best Director

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Winner: Lucia Murat

Film: "Maré, Nossa Historia de Amor"

Country: Brazil

Synopsis: Living in a slum divided between two rival gangs of drug traffickers, Analídia is the daughter of one of the gangs’ leaders and Jonatha is a childhood friend of the other. Both study in a dance group situated exactly in the middle of the two groups. Openly inspired by Romeo and Juliet, the film is a review of our strong sense of music, our contemporary dance as well as the strange mix we find in slum, where violence lives along side artistic possibility brought by social projects.

Features/ Best Screenplay

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Winner: Issa López

Film: "Casi Divas"

&

Features/ Honorable Mention – Best Actor

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Daniela Schmidts

Film: "Casi Divas"

Director: Issa López - Country: Mexico

Synopsis: "Casi Divas" is the story of four ambitious and beautiful young women from four very different corners of Mexico. Just like hundreds of others, they are caught up in the frenzy that sweeps the nation when Alejandro Mateos, one of the country’s most powerful producers, dreams up a massive, nationwide talent search to cast the lead in his next big movie. But all this is news to Alejandro’s on-again, off-again lover, Eva Gallardo, a temperamental diva of epic proportions, who expected to play the part. While Eva schemes to nail down the role, our four leads will do whatever it takes for a chance to be cast. As "Casi Divas" unfolds and comedic sparks fly, they will all discover who will eventually and surprisingly become the country's new superstar.

Opera Prima/ Winner

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Film: "Desierto Sur"

Director: Shawn Garry - Country: Chile

Synopsis: Sofía is a Spanish swimming protégé who loses her mother to cancer. An enigmatic letter falls into her hands, one that her mother sent to Chile when she was alive. The letter is returned by the post office when the recipient could not be found. The content of the letter raises stirring questions in Sofía. To resolve the emotional conflicts caused by the letter she embarks on a journey to Chile. The destination: An unknown and remote town called “Desierto Sur” in the northern Atacama Desert of Chile

Honorable Mention: Features

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Film: "Limbo"

Director: Horacio Rivera - Country: Mexico

Synopsis: Limbo tells the story of Isao, a gay teen, who suffers an accident and goes to limbo, a mysterious place where he will meet a suicide lawyer and a crazy nurse, two characters that will change the life of the kid forever.

Special Mention: Opera Prima

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Film: "Cochochi"

Director: Israel Carteras, Laura A. Guzman - Country: Mexico

Synopsis: Evaristo and Tony, two brothers from northwest Mexico, receive an assignment from their grandfather: to deliver some medicine to the other extreme of the Sierra Tarahumara. Dreading the long road ahead, they decide to take their grandfather’s horse and set off into a journey that becomes longer than they expected.

Documentary Category

Documentaries/ Best Documentary

Sponsored by: Fuji Film

Film: "The Promise of Music"

Director: Enrique Sánchez Lansch - Country: Germany

Synopsis: A film about the passion for music, this documentary tells the stories of four young Venezuelan orchestra players and their young conductor, Gustavo Dudamel. It shows their upbringing in mostly remote and poor places, their daily lives and their future perspectives. While rehearsing for a challenging concert tour to Europe, Félix, Jhoanna, Katherine, Diego and Gustavo embark on a journey into their pasts revealing what their lives could have been without the chance to play from early childhood on within the unique musical education program of Venezuela. Eventually they travel to Germany to perform a concert in Bonn.

Audience Award: Best Documentary

Sponsored by: CineLatino

Film: "Fraude: Mexico 2006"

Director: Luis Mandoki - Country: Mexico

Synopsis: A documentary about the recent presidential election in Mexico on 2006. Records the events that occurred prior to, during, and after an electoral campaign. In addition, it contains extremely powerful visual evidence of its fraudulent practices, which are captured by the cameras of numerous individuals in the general public.

Special Mention: Documentaries

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Film: "Café de los Maestros"

Director: Miguel Kohan - Country: Argentina

Synopsis: With the return to democracy, Argentina is experiencing an extraordinary rebirth of its main national musical tradition, the Tango. Café de Los Maestros is the gathering of the greatest living legends of this formidable musical genre. These extraordinary men and women, ranging from 70 to 95 years old, reveal to us the mysteries and essence of this melancholic and sexy music. Acclaimed musician, producer and composer Gustavo Santaolalla (winner of 2 Academy Awards®) leads us on a journey to bring together these unique "maestros." Reconstructing historical arrangements and recording unpublished material for the first time, this collaboration culminates with a grand performance of Tango music and dance at Buenos Aires’ famous Colon Theatre.

Special Mention: Documentaries

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Film: "La Americana"

Director: Nicholas Bruckman - Country: United States

Synopsis: Carmen never planned to come to the United States, but when her daughter Carla was only nine-years-old, tragedy struck. Carmen left Carla behind in Bolivia and made the dangerous and illegal journey to New York City where she could earn enough to support her ailing daughter, knowing she may never return home. But after six years of separation, congress proposes 'amnesty' legislation that could allow Carmen and Carla to be reunited again. Will Carmen stay and fight for the American dream, or be home as promised for Carla's quinceañera? Filmed in three countries and told through an intimate cinema-vérité narrative, her unforgettable story is woven into the current immigration debate in the United States, putting a human face on this timely and controversial issue.

Special Mention: Documentaries

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Film: "13 peoples, defending water, air and land"

Director: Francesco Taboada Tabone - Country: Mexico

Synopsis: In the future, wars will be fought over water. In the Mexican state of Morelos, this war has already begun. “13 Peoples defending water, air and land” tells the story of the struggle of Mexican indigenous people to preserve their natural resources and their cultural identity. A documentary that contemplates Mexico’s destiny.

Shorts Category

Shorts/ Winner

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Film: "A Day’s Work"

Director: Rajeev Dassani - Country: USA

Synopsis: What was a simple job escalates into a violent misunderstanding in this heart-stopping drama involving an American family and the three immigrant laborers hired to help them move. Enrique, a young man far from home, must quickly decide where his loyalty really lies.

Special Jury Award: Shorts – Animation

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Film: "Sebastian’s Voodoo"

Director: Joaquín Baldwin - Country: USA

Synopsis: A voodoo doll must find the courage to save his friends from being pinned to death.

Special Mention: Shorts

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Film: "Catharsis"

Director: Daniel Chamorro - Country: Spain

Synopsis: A man and a woman talk about their relationship in two interviews. They seem to be arguing very strong, but at the end they are just trying to understand each other.

Special Mention: Shorts – Best Actor

Sponsored by: Entertainment Partners, Final Draft

Winner: Jorge Palacios

Film: "El Pasajero"

Director: Hector Palma - Country: Venezuela

Synopsis: Based on a true story, El Pasajero is a penetrating look at the nature of violence and the effects of isolation. On New Years Eve in Caracas, Venezuela, a desperate cab driver attempts to rob a wealthy passenger, but when the passenger offers to buy the drivers gun, it leads to a night neither of them will ever forget.

“We are pleased to continue showcasing the talented work of Latino filmmakers and their contributions,” stated Dermer. “This night celebrates the films that have made this festival possible and also a great Cuban director who contributed to the world of cinema. We look forward to a successful festival next year.”

Director: Jordan Canning

Best Atlantic Feature: "Down to the Dirt"

Director: Justin Simms

Michael Weir Award for Best Original Screenplay: "Down to the Dirt"

Director: Justin Simms, Sherry White

Rex Tasker Documentary Award: "Norm"

Director: Kent Nason, Teresa MacInnes

Ed Higginson Cinematography Award: "Passage"

Director: Kent Nason

Best Director: "Passage"

Director: John Walker

CBC Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry

Bill Niven, Producer, Idlewild Films

PowerPost Craft Awards:

Best Art Direction: "Growing Op"

Director: Taavo Soodor, Alan MacLeod

Best Editing: "Treevenge"

Director: Jason Eisener

Best Sound Design: "For Wendy"

Director: Jacquelyn Mills, Andreas Mendritzki

Best Original Score: "Outside Afghanistan"

Director: David Christensen

Canadian Awards:

Best Canadian Short: "Next Floor"

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Honourable Mention: "Passages"

Director: Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre

Best Canadian Feature: "C'est pas moi, je le jure!"

Director: Philippe Falardeau

Best Canadian Documentary: "That’s My Time"

Director: Adamm Liley

Best Actor: "C'est pas moi, je le jure!"

Director: Antoine L’Écuyer

Best Actress: "Nurse.Fighter.Boy"

Director: Karen LeBlanc

Inspired Script: "Dot’s Will"

Director: Scott Simpson

International Award:

People's Choice Award for Best Picture: "Summerhood"

Director: Jacob Medjuck

"Noho Hewa: The Wrongful Occupation of Hawai'i"

Director: Anne Keala Kelly

Halekulani Golden Orchid Award for Best Narrative:

"Cape No. 7"

Director: Wei Te-Sheng

Honolulu Magazine Award for Best Short Film:

"Coffee and Allah"

Director: Sima Urale

Honorable Mention: "Texas Girl"

Director: Hyung Hyup Kim

NETPAC Award: "Brutus: The Adventure"

Director: Tara Illenberger

Honorable Mention: "The Little Heart"

Director: Luigi Falomi

Viewers Choice Award Powered by Oceanic Time Warner Cable: "The Hollow"

Director: Dana Ledoux Miller

Film in Hawai'i Award: Joan Lander and Puhipau

(Na Maka o ka 'Aina)

Achievement in Acting: Woo-sung JUNG

Maverick Award: Ji-Woon KIM

Audience Award Winners:

Favorite Feature: "Departures"

Director: Takita Yojiro

Favorite Documentary: "Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority"

Director: Kimberlee Bassford

Favorite Short: "Chief"

Director: Brett Wagner

On October 16th, at the Opening Night of the 12th annual Arab Film Festival, juried awards were given to Arab filmmakers who have been recognized for their contributions to cinematography.

The Noor Awards were given at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. A jury composed of distinguished members of the film and academic communities selected the winning films. Cash prizes were given to the director in four categories: Best Long Fiction, Best Long Non-Fiction, Best Short Fiction and Best Short Non-Fiction.

In addition, the Arab Film Festival's board of directors presented a Lifetime Achievement Award honoring the work of the late Egyptian film director Youssef Chahine.

"Each year the festival offers inspiring films that illuminate Arab lives and present authentic narratives as well as provide insights into the beauty, talent and diversity of Arab culture," said Michel Shehadeh, executive director of the Arab Film Festival. "The Noor Awards shine a special light on filmmakers from the Arab world and from the Arab diaspora who break new artistic and cultural ground. This award recognizes their artistic excellence and their work at building cultural, artistic and human bridges. These are filmmakers who receive little visibility in the United States."

"Paloma Delight" (full length fiction, Algeria 2007) by Nadir Mokneche was selected as the Noor Award winner for Best Long Fiction Film.

"The Yellow House" (Algeria, 2008) by Amor Hakkar received an Honorable Mention in the Long Fiction Film.

In the Best Short Fiction category "Clean Hands Dirty Soap" (Egypt, 2007) directed by Karim Fanous was selected.

The Honorable Mention was presented to "Tenbak" (United Arab Emirates, 2008) directed by Abdullah Hassan Ahmed.

"Life After the Fall" (Iraq, 2008) directed by Kasim Abid, and shot over four years, was selected as the Noor Award winner for Best Long Non-Fiction Film.

"Out of the Frame" (Iraq, 2007) directed by Nizar Annadawi was selected as the Best Short Non-Fiction film.

After the Noor Awards ceremony the festival's Opening Night film "Waiting for Pasolini," a U.S. premiere, was shown to a packed house.

From the Arabic word for "light," the Noor Awards were established to celebrate filmmakers whose enlightened and original works outshine others in their category. The directors of the winning films received cash prizes as follows: Best Long Fiction ($2,000); Best Long Non-Fiction ($2,000); Best Short Fiction ($500) and Best Short Non-Fiction ($500).

This year's Noor Awards jury members were: Professor Nezar Al Sayyad, chair of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley; Jamal Dajani, Senior Director of Middle East Programming for LinkTV; Dr. Jess Ghannam, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Global Health Sciences at UCSF and president of the san Francisco Arab Cultural and Community Center; Irina Leimbacher, filmmaker and co-programmer of Kino 21; Simone Nelson, artist, producer and entertainment industry consultant; and Torange Yeghiazarian, playwright, director and actor as well as the founding artistic director of Golden Thread Theatre.

This year's Arab Film Festival features more than 70 films from 18 countries in 18 in San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose and Los Angeles. In addition, films were shown on Bay Area university campuses and, as part of the Festival in the Schools, to more than 1,000 high school students.

Best of Festival - Sponsored By CBC

"Terminus"

Producer: Carlo Trulli

Director: Trevor Cawood

Production Company: Spy Films

Best Of Saskatchewan – Sponsored by SaskFilm

Wapos Bay: Guardians (Aboriginal)

Producer: Anand Ramayya, Dennis Jackson, Melanie Jackson, Derek Mazur

Director: Dennis Jackson

Production Company: Wapos Bay Productions Inc.

Category Awards

Aboriginal – Sponsored by APTN

Reservation Soldiers

Producer: Trish Dolman, Trish Williams

Director: Lisa Jackson

Production Company: Screen Siren Pictures

Animation – Sponsored by Tyrell Media Corporation

Yellow Sticky Notes

Producer and Director: Jeff Chiba Stearns

Production Company: Meditating Bunny Studio

Children’s Productions – Sponsored by Access Communications

Oma’s Quilt

Producer: Svend-Erik Eriksen

Director: Izabela Bzymek

Production Company: National Film Board Of Canada

Comedy

Jon Dore Television Show: Ready For Love

Producer: John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby, Lindsay Cox, Jon Dore, Ed Macdonald

Director: Matt Hawkins

Production Company: Insight Production Company Ltd.

Drama – Sponsored by Saskatchewan Arts Board

"Terminus"

Producer: Carlo Trulli

Director: Trevor Cawood

Production Company: Spy Films

Experimental – Sponsored by Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television

Machine With Wishbone

Producer and Director: Randall Okita

Lifestyle – Sponsored by The City Of Yorkton

Sarah’s House: Basement

Producer: Michael Prini, Sarah Richardson

Director: Andrea Griffith, Lissa Fraser Kerr

Production Company: Primevista Television Inc.

Performing Arts & Entertainment – Sponsored by RBC Financial Group

End Of The Rope

Producer and Director: Eva Colmers

Production Company: No Problem Productions

Youth Productions –Sponsored by Sasktel

I Have Seen The Future

Producer and Director: Cam Christiansen

Production Company: The Thinktank

Documentary – Arts/Culture – Sponsored by Multicultural Council Of Saskatchewan

Embracing Da Kink

Producer: Trey Anthony, Joel Gordon

Director: Joel Gordon

Production Company: V-Formation Productions Inc.

Documentary – History - Sponsored by History Television

Secret Of The Snake Goddess, The

Producer: Ed Barreveld

Director: Christian Bauer, Nikos Dayandas

Production Company: Storyline Entertainment Inc.

Documentary – Nature/Environment – Sponsored By SaskPower

Buried At Sea

Producer: John Wesley Chisholm

Director: John Wesley Chisholm, Kent Martin

Production Company: Arcadia Entertainment Inc.

Documentary – Point Of View – Sponsored by Painted Hand Casino

Daughters Of The Revolution

Producer and Director: Aeyliya Hussain

Documentary – Science/Medicine

Nature Of Things, The: The Science Of The Senses - Touch

Producer: Michael Allder, Merit Jensen Carr, Erna Buffie

Director: Bonnie Dickie

Production Company: Merit Motion Pictures

Documentary – Social/Political

Inside Time

Producer: Jason Young

Director: Annette Clarke

Production Company: National Film Board Of Canada

Documentary Series

Departures

Producer: Steven N. Bray, Jessie Wallace

Director: Andre Dupuis

Production Company: Departures Entertainment Inc.

Craft Awards

Best Director Fiction

Colony, The (Aboriginal)

Producer: John Christou

Director: Jeff Barnaby

Production Company: Eye Steel Film

Best Director Non-Fiction

Departures: Ascension Island (Doc Series)

Producer: Steven N. Bray, Jessie Wallace

Director: Andre Dupuis

Production Company: Departures Entertainment Inc

Research – Sponsored by MidCanada Production Services

Nature Of Things, The: The Science Of The Senses - Touch (Doc- Science/Medicine)

Producer: Michael Allder, Merit Jensen Carr, Erna Buffie

Director: Bonnie Dickie

Research: Bonnie Dickie, Donna Gall, Elizabeth Klinck, Wendy Rowland

Production Company: Merit Motion Pictures

Special Awards

Emerging Filmmaker – Sponsored by SMPIA

Sur La Terre Comme Au Ciel

Producer and Director: Herve Demers

Production Company: Les Films Herve Demers

Founder’s Award – Presented by The Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival

Buried At Sea

Producer: John Wesley Chisholm

Director: John Wesley Chisholm, Kent Martin

Production Company: Arcadia Entertainment Inc.

NFB Kathleen Shannon Award – Sponsored by The National Film Board Of Canada

Shattered Dreams

Producer: Gina Binetti, Marta Nielsen and Ian Brewster

Director: Marta Nielsen

Production Company: Eternity Inc.

Jury Awards

Super Phoenix

Producer and Director: Sylvie Rosenthal

Production Company: Les Productions Sylvie Rosenthal

Capturing A Short Life

Producer and Director: Sheona McDonald

Production Company: Dimestore Productions Inc.

Hitler’s Canadians

Producer: Ed Barreveld

Director: Douglas Williams

Production Company: Storyline Entertainment Inc.

The Audience Award: "Red Gold"

Director: Ben Knight & Travis Rummel

The Charlie Fowler Award: "King Lines"

Director: Peter Mortimer

The Festival Director's Award: "Red Gold"

Director: Ben Knight & Travis Rummel

Aspiring Filmmaker's Award: "Throw Down Your Heart"

Director: Sascha Paladino

Kidz Kino Awards: "Best Nature Film: Once Upon a Tide"

Director: Gesine Kratzner and Drew Takahashi

Best Cartoon: "Cat Man Do"

Director: Simon Tofield

Funniest Film: "Sid"

Director: Jeff Scher

Best Cultural Film: "Shikashika"

Director: Stephen Hyde

Most Inspiring Film: "The King Of Telluride"

Director: Raphael Berrios, Isabel Marlens

AWARDS:

The Mountainfilm Prize - $5,000

This $5,000 cash prize goes to one of the nonprofits or real-life heroes featured in a film, presentation or gallery exhibit at this year’s festival. Because everyone deserves our appreciation and support, just being eligible for the Mountainfilm Prize entitles each of them to $300 cash.

If you’re moved by what you see in these Mountainfilm Prize nominees and want to increase the prize pool, grab your cellphone. Text to Give is a cutting-edge technology that allows you to contribute simply by texting 90999, keyword mtfilm. Each $5 contribution (feel free to text more than once) will go directly into the general prize pool and help bump the amount we can reward these worthy causes. If you don’t know how to text, ask a volunteer—preferably someone born after 1980.

Click here for a list of the amazing people and organizations who are eligible, and here for a list of the judges who will have the near-impossible job of deciding the winner.

The Audience Award - $1,000

Some distributors think the audience award is a much better harbinger of success for a film than a juried award. Please vote for the Audience Award (by secret ballot at the Closing Picnic and Awards Ceremony). Remember, voting helps ensure a productive and thriving democracy and, if nothing else, assists the filmmaker with a prize of $1,000.

The Charlie Fowler Award - $1,000

Charlie was a mainstay of Mountainfilm for many years, and while we miss him terribly, we find some comfort in knowing his presence is with us for this award. The judges will try their best to discern which mountaineering or climbing film Charlie would have liked most for this $1,000 prize.

Aspiring Filmmaker’s Award - $500

A panel of student filmmakers from Telluride and beyond decide this $500 prize, and Mountainfilm staff determines which films are eligible.

The Festival Director’s Award - $500

It’s unlikely any distributors care about this award. It’s totally arbitrary (and certainly not democratic), but at least it’s completely transparent. This $500 prize goes to a film that David Holbrooke has chosen from this year’s program.

Mountainfilm Prize Nominees

These eight nonprofit organizations—groups associated with programming in the festival this year—are nominated for the Mountainfilm Prize. Each organization will receive $300, and the grand prize winner collects $5,000.

Biodiesel America

(Fields of Fuel: film)

Eden Again

(Azzam Alwash: presentation)

Elephant Nature Park

(Losing the Elephants: film)

Free the Slaves

(Contemporary Slavery: presentation; Dreams Die Hard: film)

Glen Canyon Institute

(Drowning River: film & In Depth)

Grupo Cultural Baguncaco

(Alagados: film; gallery)

Tara Llanes Heart of a Champion Road to Recovery Fund

(Tara Llanes & Anne Keller: presentation; gallery)

Trout Unlimited

(Red Gold film)

2008 mountainfilm jury

The Mountainfilm Prize Jury

Adrian Belic

Adrian Belic began making films in elementary school with his brother Roko. The brothers’ first commercial documentary, Genghis Blues, was winner of the 1999 Sundance Audience Award, nominated for an Academy Award Nomination and, of course, a memorable hit at Mountainfilm. Adrian’s latest project—Beyond the Call, a feature documentary about three Americans who travel to the world’s war zones delivering lifesaving humanitarian aid—has won awards at festivals across the world, including Best of Festival at Mountainfilm 2006. We hope he brings his moustache to Mountainfilm this year.

Jeanmarie Condon

Jeanmarie Condon has made many award-winning documentaries for ABC News and is now a senior producer at Nightline. She believes documentary filmmakers "hold up a mirror to society, documenting its frustrations, exploring its faults, calling for justice, clarifying its present and preserving its sense of history." Of her work as a journalist, Jeanmarie says, “I do this work above all because I believe that it is our ability to empathize with one another that, even in our darkest hours, continues to save us." This is her first time attending Mountainfilm.

Susan Saint James

Susan Saint James has had a memorable film and television career (McMillan and Wife, Kate and Allie, Love at First Bite), but we know her here in Telluride more as a neighbor and good friend to Mountainfilm. We also know her as the mother of five great kids. Two of which, Charlie and Willie Ebersol, will show their second film—Don’t Look Down—at Mountainfilm this year.

The Charlie Fowler Award Jury

Brad Wieners

Brad Wieners is the editor of Men's Journal. He was formerly executive editor of National Geographic Adventure and senior editor at Outside. He is co-creator of two books: Burning Man and Reality Check: Here's the Real Future, a survey of technologies promised in popular culture. His travels have taken him to Alaska, Amsterdam, Arctic Norway, Argentina and a number of other regions that don't begin with the first letter of the alphabet. He lives with his family in Nyack, New York, and looks forward to rowing on the Hudson this summer.

Hilaree O'Neill

Hilaree O’Neill is a skiing and adventure globetrotter. As a ski mountaineer, she has climbed and skied in such places as India, Russia, China and Tibet, Mongolia, Alaska, Canada, the Isle of South Georgia, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. As a North Face athlete, she’s worked on adventure films with Warren Miller, NBC and the Outdoor Life Network. For the past seven years, when not traveling around the world, Hilaree has called Telluride home.

Majka Burhardt

Majka Burhardt is a writer, climber and guide who lives in Boulder, Colorado. Her latest book is Vertical Ethiopia: Climbing Toward Possibility in the Horn of Africa. Majka’s non-fiction writing has appeared in various magazines, including Men’s Health, Climbing, The Explorers Journal, Women’s Adventure and the Patagonia catalogue. She is currently finishing her first novel.

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producer: Vanessa Berlowitz & Jeff Wilson

Sapphire Award, Second Place: "Crash: A Tale of Two Species"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York &

ArgoFilms Co-Production

Executive Producer: Fred Kaufman

Producer: Allison Argo

Special Jury Award: "The Last Trimate"

Fork Films

Producers: Stephen Van Mil & Pria Viswalingam

Montana Filmmaker Award: "Fish and Cow"

Producer: Geoff Stephens

Director: Rick Smith

Best Narration: "The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Miles Barton

Best Use of Music: "Reindeer Girls"

Burning Gold Productions &

BBC Co-Production

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producers: Steve Nicholls & John Capener

Best Educational Value: "Sports Stars"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Wendy Darke

Producer: Stuart Derrick

Best Scientific Content: "The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Miles Barton

Best Animal Behavior: "Animal Genius"

National Geographic Television

Executive Producer: Keenan Smart

Series Producer: David Hamlin

Producers: Adam Geiger, David Hamlin &

Leslie Schwerin

Best Cinematography: "White Falcon, White Wolf"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York &

BBC Co-Production

Executive Producers: Fred Kaufman for NATURE

& Tim Martin for BBC

Producer: Fergus Beeley

Best Sound Design: "White Falcon, White Wolf"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York &

BBC Co-Production

Executive Producers: Fred Kaufman for NATURE

& Tim Martin for BBC

Producer: Fergus Beeley

Best Editing: "Snow Leopard: Beyond the Myth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producer: Vanessa Berlowitz & Jeff Wilson

Best Script: "Crash: A Tale of Two Species"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York & ArgoFilms

Co-Production

Executive Producer: Fred Kaufman

Producer: Allison Argo

Best Conservation Message: "The Bangui Connection"

Camerapix

Executive Producer: Karl Ammann

Best Use of Graphics or Animation: "The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Miles Barton

Graphic Designer: Mick Connaire

Best Storyline: "Saving Luna"

Mountainside Films Ltd.

Producer: Suzanne Chisholm

Best Cultural Message: "5X5, Voices of Change from the Forests of Indonesia"

Handcrafted Films & Grekko Studios Co-production

Executive Producers: John Hudson & Hugh Speechly, DFID

Producers: Tim Lewis & Ridzki R Sigit

Director: Paul Redman & Nanang Sujana

Best of Category Awards

Best Advertising/PSA/Promo: "Destination Earth"

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Executive Producer: Wade Sisler

Producer: Liz Smith

Best Amateur: "The Flying Dustbin"

Producer: Raymond Besant

Best Children’s Program: "Sports Stars"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Wendy Darke

Producer: Stuart Derrick

Best Children’s Series: "Saving Planet Earth – Cheetahs"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Jo Robinson

Best Conservation & Environmental Issue: "Crash: A Tale of Two Species"

NATURE Thirteen/WNET New York &

ArgoFilms Co-Production

Executive Producer: Fred Kaufman

Producer: Allison Argo

Best Ecosystem: "Waterland – Ganges"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Brian Leith

Producers: Dan Rees & Ian Geay

Best Government Agency: "5X5, Voices of Change from the Forests of Indonesia"

Handcrafted Films & Grekko Studios Co-Production

Executive Producers: John Hudson & Hugh Speechly, DFID

Producers: Tim Lewis & Ridzki R Sigit

Director: Paul Redman & Nanang Sujana

Best Human-Wildlife Interactions: "Snow Leopard: Beyond the Myth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producer: Vanessa Berlowitz & Jeff Wilson

Best Independent: "Waterlands"

RSPB Film Unit

Producer: Mark Percival

Best Newcomer: "The Last Trimate"

Fork Films

Producers: Stephen Van Mil & Pria Viswalingam

Best News: "Borneo Rainforest"

BBC News

Producer: Nora Dennehy

Best Non Broadcast: "Waterlands"

RSPB Film Unit

Producer: Mark Percival

Best Point of View: "Blinders"

McMoss Productions, Inc.

Executive Producer: Donald Moss

Best Presenter/Host: "Saba and the Rhino’s Secret

Animal Planet International"

Presenter: Saba Douglas Hamilton

and "The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Presenter: David Attenborough

Best TV Program Under $250,000 Budget: "The Crayfish in the Jam Jar"

nautilusfilm GmbH

Executive Producer: Udo A. Zimmermann

Producer: Jan Haft

Best TV Program $250,000 to $500,000 Budget: "Reindeer Girls"

Burning Gold Productions &

BBC Co-Production

Executive Producer: Tim Martin

Producers: Steve Nicholls & John Capener

Best TV Program Over $500,000 Budget: "Armored Giants"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Series Producer: Miles Barton

Producer: Adam White

Best TV Series Under $250,000 Budget: "Meerkat Manor"

Animal Planet & Oxford Scientific Films Co-Production

Executive Producers: Mick Kaczorowski & Mark

Wild for Animal Planet & Clare Birks for OSF

Producer: Renoir Tuahene

Best TV Series $250,000 to $500,000 Budget: "Animal Genius"

National Geographic Television

Executive Producer: Keenan Smart

Series Producer: David Hamlin

Producers: Adam Geiger, David Hamlin &

Leslie Schwerin

Best TV Series Over $500,000 Budget: "Life in Cold Blood – The Cold Blooded Truth"

BBC Natural History Unit

Executive Producer: Sara Ford

Producer: Miles Barton

Best Theatrically Released: "Arctic Tale"

National Geographic Films

Executive Producers: Tim Kelly, John Bard

Manulis, & Michael Rosenfeld

Co-Executive Producer: Kevin McCarey

Producers: Adam Leipzig & Keenan Smart

Best Youth Group Under Age 13: "Refuge"

Producers: Thane Morin and Jordan English

Best Youth Group Over Age 13

Tipping Point

Producer: Mike Wham

This award is given to a filmmaker who has made a major impact on the documentary genre through a long and distinguished body of work. While equally known for his narrative films, Encounters at the End of the World (see below) is the latest in a long list of enduring documentaries from Herzog, including Grizzly Man, White Diamond, My Best Fiend, Little Dieter Needs to Fly and Land of Silence and Darkness. Encounters was released earlier this year from Image/THINKFilm, to much critical and audience acclaim.

"With the onslaught of new technologies such as digital effects and Photo Shop, and new forms of ‘reality TV' and virtual realities in cyberspace, our sense of reality is challenged in an unprecedented way," said Herzog. "Documentary filmmaking is called upon to find new answers. In these times of re-definition, it is a particular honor for me to receive the award from the IDA."

"Werner is a true original, and we are extremely proud to recognize his vast and unique contributions to the evolving art of nonfiction film," said IDA's Interim Executive Director Eddie Schmidt.

In previous years, IDA has bestowed its Career Achievement award on documentary luminaries such as Sheila Nevins, Michael Apted, Ken Burns, Albert Maysles, Haskell Wexler and last year's recipient, Michael Moore.

During this December's awards show, five documentary feature-length films and five documentary shorts will compete for the organization's top film honors, with nominations announced later this fall. Other annual awards presented at the event include its Pioneer Award, Preservation & Scholarship Award and the new Avid Excellence In Editing Award, sponsored by the industry's editing giant.

The IDA Documentary Awards are currently in their 24th year.

AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM

The award for Best Canadian Short Film goes to Chris Chong Chan Fui's "Block B." The film examines the lives of an expatriate Indian community weaving itself through the contradicting soundscapes of contemporary Malaysia. The jury notes: "simple, graphic, hypnotic - this is an achievement of bringing cinema to its bare essentials." A special citation goes to Denis Villeneuve's Next Floor. The short film jury members are filmmakers Louise Archambault and Min Sook Lee, and Rotterdam International Film Festival programmer Peter van Hoof. The award offers a $10,000 cash prize and is supported by the National Film Board of Canada.

CITYTV AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FIRST FEATURE FILM

The Citytv Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film goes to Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu's "Before Tomorrow" "for its arresting beauty, its humanist, innovative storytelling and its artistic integrity in capturing the narrative of a people through an intimate tale." Based on the novel by acclaimed Danish author Jørn Riel, "Before Tomorrow" is a moving drama about a strong Inuit woman and her beloved grandson, who become trapped on a remote island as they face the ultimate challenge of survival. A special citation goes to Lyne Charlebois' "Borderline." Established by Citytv, the award carries a cash prize of $15,000.

CITY OF TORONTO-CITYTV AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM

The City of Toronto-Citytv Award for Best Canadian Feature Film goes to Rodrigue Jean's "Lost Song." Elisabeth (Suzie LeBlanc), Pierre (Patrick Goyette) and their new-born baby move to a summer cottage in a remote area north of Montreal. Isolation and the difficulty of coping with her new situation and surroundings send Elisabeth into a spiral of depression. The jury described the film as "constantly surprising," and "profound, masterful and devastatingly sad." A special citation goes to Atom Egoyan's "Adoration." Generously co-sponsored by the City of Toronto and Citytv, the City of Toronto-Citytv Award for Best Canadian Feature Film carries a cash prize of $30,000.

CANADIAN FEATURE FILM AWARDS JURY

Winners of the Citytv Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film and the City of Toronto-Citytv Award for Best Canadian Feature Film were selected by a jury of film industry professionals, consisting of filmmaker Ann Marie Fleming, filmmaker and actor Sarah Polley, programmer for the Locarno Film Festival Vincenzo Bugno, and producer Michael Burns.

DIESEL DISCOVERY AWARD

The Diesel Discovery award goes to Steve McQueen's Hunger. The film follows Bobby Sands and the other political inmates of Northern Ireland's Maze Prison in 1981 as they seek to gain special category status for republican prisoners. The Festival press corps, which consists of 1000 international media, voted on the Diesel Discovery Award. The award offers a $10,000 cash prize and a custom award sponsored by DIESEL Canada.

PRIZE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRITICS (FIPRESCI PRIZE)

The Festival welcomed an international FIPRESCI jury for the 17th consecutive year. This year's jury was expanded and considered eligible films in the Discovery and Special Presentation programs. The jury members consist of jury president Jonathan Rosenbaum (USA), Nick Roddick (United Kingdom), Elie Castiel (Canada), Ranjita Biswas (India), Kim Linekin (Canada) and Pablo Scholz (Argentina).

The Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Discovery is awarded to Derick Martini's Lymelife. From the filmmaking team behind Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire (TIFF 1999) comes an examination of first love, family dynamics and the American Dream in late 1970s Long Island, as seen through the innocent eyes of a 15-year-old. Scott Bartlett (Rory Culkin) is a gentle boy - a direct contrast to his blustery father, Mickey (Alec Baldwin). After an outbreak of Lyme disease hits their suburban community, the lives of the Bartletts and their neighbours begin to crumble in the wake of illness, confrontation and paranoia.

The Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Special Presentations is awarded to Steve Jacobs' "Disgrace." Professor David Lurie's (John Malkovich) life falls apart after he has an impulsive affair with one of his students. Forced to resign from Cape Town University, he escapes to his daughter's farm in the Eastern Cape. Their relationship is tested when they both become victims of a vicious attack. In order not to lose the love of his daughter, David stands by her as she accepts her tragic circumstances. She continues her life on the farm and their individual disgrace finally settles to an uneasy grace.

CADILLAC PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

The Cadillac People's Choice Award is voted on by Festival audiences. This year's award goes to Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire." From acclaimed director Danny Boyle comes a story about a kid with nothing, who has everything to lose. Jamal Malik, an 18-year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants to be A Millionaire?" Arrested on suspicion of cheating, he tells the police the amazing tale of his life on the streets, and of the girl he loved and lost. But what is a kid with no interest in money doing on the show? And how does he know all the answers? First runner-up is Kristopher Belman's "More Than A Game" and the second runner-up is Cyrus Nowrasteh's "The Stoning of Soraya M." The award offers a $15,000 cash prize and custom award, sponsored by Cadillac.

OFFICIAL JURY OF ANIMATION:

Ignacio Aliaga Riquelme, Chile

Xavier Sarabia Mariche, Venezuela

Donald Myerston, Venezuela

Heiki Ernits,  Estonia

The Animation Jury of the 7th International Film Festival “NUEVA MIRADA” for children and youth formed in the city of Buenos Aires, wishes to highlight the high quality of the presented works, especially in the category of shorts, of which it was a difficult decision.  

Furthermore, of the awarded films, we would like to emphasize the shorts, “The owner”, by Ernesto Piña and Wilber Nogue of Cuba, a poetic contribution to a universal political theme and “Maria´s Life,” by Marcio Ramos of Brazil, an emotional and simple story that is presented with an excellent example of the life cycle of a woman farmer.and the full-length film, “Mug Travel,” by Aaron Lim of Korea for its quality and ability to communicate with children.

GIVEN PRIZES:

“Golden Kite”  to the Best Short Film for Children:

“THE TINY FISH”

Directed by Sergei Ryabov, Russia, 2007

Por sus técnicas y estéticas inspiradas en lo mejor del dibujo animado europeo, un excelente uso y selección de la música que soporta de un modo magistral las atmósferas y el ritmo de la obra, con temas de valor universal.

For its technical bravado and aesthetics inspired by the best of European cartoon; an excellent selection which uses music in a way that masterly supports the atmosphere and the rhythm of the work; also touching on themes of universal value in the process.

“Golden Kite” to the Best Short Film for Youth:

“THE EMPLOYMENT”

Directed by Santiago “Bou” Grasso, Argentina, 2008

For its lucid reflection on the human condition, with a current and universal purpose, not exempt from irony, with an impeccable artistic display, in the finest tradition of the great Argentinean Comic.

“Golden Kite” to the Best Feature Film for Children:

“NOCTURNA”

Directed by Adriá García y Víctor Maldonado, Spain-France, 2007

For the constitution of a work which surprises by its aesthetic achievements and  narrative strengths, by introducing a film for kids which touches on such themes as the fear of darkness and the orphan’s condition, opening up a salvation gateway.

“Golden Kite” to the Best Feature Film for Youth:

“PAPELUCHO AND THE MARTIAN”

Directed by Alejandro Rojas Tellez, Chile, 2007

For the presentation of a relationship of love and friendship between the protagonists, who manage to solve their problems free of all violence and also with a lot of imagination and humor.

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OFFICAL JURY OF FICTION

Xiaojuan Zhou, Canada

Jo Anne Blouin, Canada

Marialva Monteiro, Brasil

GIVEN PRIZES:

“Golden Kite” to the Best Feature Fiction Film for Children:

“MOZART IN CHINA”

Directed by Bernd Neuburger, Austria, 2008

A takes us on an amazing journey to discover a rarely seen part of China by combining the beauty of a western and oriental art form, landscape, lifestyles, as well as opening a dialogue between cultures.

“Golden Kite” to the Best Feature Fiction Film for Youth:

“TONI GOLDWASHER”

Directed by Norbert Lechner, Germany, 2007

A coming of age story about strong, wilded boy who beat all odds to find gold and first love shows us another success in literature to screen adaptation.

“Golden Kite” to the Best Short Fiction Film for Children

(Ex-aequo):

“WIND’S STORIES”

Directed by Javier Beltrán Ramos, Venezuela, 2007

This jury was equally enchanted by the naturalistic approach to the birth of life seen from the point of view of a very young child.

AND:

“FOR A FEW MARBLES MORE”

Directed by Jelmar Hufen, Netherlands 2006

The jury is enchanted by this nicely film that empowers children.

“Golden Kite” to the Best Fiction Film for Youth:

“TORTURE AND GLORY”

Directed by Carlos Gil and Mercedes Furst Zapiola, Argentina, 2006

In a time where so few young people read, this picture stimulates curiosity for literature.

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OFFICIAL JURY OF NUEVA MIRADA AND “MY TV”

Claudia Doura

Gustavo Gotbater

Paraná Sendros

GIVEN PRIZES:

“Nueva Mirada” to the Best Documentary Made by Children and Youth:

“OUR MIRANDA”

Directed by Jean Charles L’ Ami (Workshop Director), Venezuela, 2007

“Nueva Mirada” to the Best Fiction Short Made by Children and Youth:

“THE BATHROOM”

Directed by the Children from the Cinema School DODECA, Uruguay, 2007

“Nueva Mirada” to the Best Animated Short Made by Children and Youth:

“HIDE-AND-SEEK IN SPACE”

Directed by the Children from the Community Integration Centers (CIC), Secretariat of Culture and Ministry of Social Development, Argentina, 2007

“Nueva Mirada”  to the Best Feature Film Made by Children and Youth:

“THE HOLIDAY TAKERS”

Directed by Diego Betancor, Miguel Trudu, María Lorente, Spain 2007

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“MI TV” AWARDS

“Mi TV” Award to the Best Non-Fiction Program:

“THE MUSIC MIRACLE OF CARACAS”

Directed by Peter Puhlmann, Germany 2007

“Mi TV” Award to the Best Fiction Program:

“STORYPAINTER”

Directed by Ricardo González Serrano, Chile 2003

“Mi TV” Award to the Best Animated Program:

“ALPHA BETA”

Directed by Jean-Christophe Villard, France 2006

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YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILDREN JURY

Beatriz Salort

Guillermina Herrera

Daniela Cohen

Sofía Schverdfinger

Ezequiel Zena

COORDINATORS: Adrián Baccaro y Horacio Pezzutti

GIVEN PRIZES:

Children and Young People Jury Award to the Best Feature Film of Fiction:

“THE YEAR MY PARENTS WENT ON VACATION”

Directed by Cao Hamburger, Brasil 2007

Children and Young People Jury Award to the Best Feature

Film of Animation:

“NOCTURNA”

Directed by Adriá García y Víctor Maldonado, España-France, 2007

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SIGNIS JURY

María Teresa Teramo

Alberto Farina

Horacio Pezzutti

SIGNIS Award to the Best Feature Film of the Festival:

“KING SIRI”

Directed by Somaratne Dissanayake, Sri Lanka, 2008

The  Prize of CIFEJ (International Center of Film for Children and Young People) and  “DAUPHIN D’OR”, WHICH IS OF 5.000 DOLLARS TO:

“THE YEAR MY PARENTS WENT ON VACATION”

Directed by Cao Hamburger, Brasil 2007

This award goes to a film that allows us to experience, from a child’s point of view, the turmoil of a family in a complex society. The flawless performance of this young actor, the innovative cinematography and the profound sense of humanity won the unanimous vote from the international, professional jury for the 3rd Edition of the CIFEJ-Dauphin D´Or, Delphis Award.

Melhor filme de longa-metragem: NOME PROPRIO de Murilo Salles

Melhor Diretor: Domingos Oliveira pelo filme JUVENTUDE

Melhor Ator: Daniel de Oliveira pelo filme A FESTA DA MENINA MORTA

Melhor Atriz: Leandra Leal pelo filme NOME PROPRIO

Melhor Roteiro: Domingos Oliveira pelo filme JUVENTUDE

Melhor Fotografia: Lula Carvalho pelo filme A FESTA DA MENINA MORTA

Prêmio Especial do Júri: A Festa Damenina Morta de Matheus Nachtergaele

Premio de Qualidade Artística: para os Atores Aderbal Freire Filho,

Domingos Oliveira e Paulo Jose pelo filme JUVENTUDE

Melhor Diretor de Arte: Pedro Paulo de Souza pelo filme NOME PROPRIO

Melhor Música: Matheus Nachtergale pelo filme A FESTA DA MENINA MORTA

Melhor Montagem: Natara Ney pelo filme JUVENTUDE

Prêmio da Crítica: A Festa Da Menina Morta de Matheus Nachtergale

Melhor filme do Júri Popular: A Festa Da Menina Morta de Matheus Nachtergale

Longa-Metragem Estrangeiro:

Melhor Filme: COCHOCHI de Israel Cardenas e Laura Guzman

Melhor Diretor: Carlos Moreno pelo Filme PERRO COME PERRO

Melhor Ator: Marlon Moreno e Oscar Borda pelo filme PERRO COMOE PERRO

Melhor Atriz: Ana Carabajal pelo filme POR SUS PROPIOS OJOS

Melhor Roteiro: Liliana Paolinelli pelo filme “ POR SUS PROPIOS OJOS

Melhor Fotografia: Juan Carlos Gil pelo filme PERRO COME PERRO

Prêmio Especial do Júri: para POR SUS PROPIOS OJOS

Prêmio de Qualidade Artística: para COCHOCHI

Excelência de linguagem técnica: COCHOCHI de Israel Cardenas e Laura Guzman

Premio da Crítica: Perro come Perro de Carlos Moreno

Melhor Filme do Júri Popular: POR SUS PROPIOS OJOS de Liliana Paolinelli

CURTA METRAGEM

Melhor filme: Areia de Caetano Gotardo

Melhor Diretor: Jaime Lerner pelo filme Subsolo

Melhor Ator: Augusto Madeira pelos filmes Blackout e Noite de Domingo

Melhor Atriz: Malu Galli pelo filme Areia

Melhor Roteiro: César Cabral e Leandro Maciel por Dossiê Rebordosa

Melhor Fotografia: Heloisa Passos por Areia

Premio Especial do Júri: Booker Pittman de Rodrigo Grota

Melhor Diretor de Arte: José de Aguiar pelo filme Booker Pittman

Melhor Música: Booker Pittman pelo filme Booker Pittman

Melhor Montagem: César Cabral e Leandro Maciel pelo filme Dossiê Rê Bordosa

Prêmio da Crítica: : Booker Pittman de Rodrigo Grota

Mostra Gaúcha

Melhor Filme: Um dia como hoje de Eduardo Wannmacher

Melhor Direção: Diego Muller por Cortejo Negro

Melhor Roteiro: Eduardo Wannmacher por Um dia como hoje

Melhor Fotografia: Fernando Vanelli por Cortejo Negro

Melhor Direção de Arte: Rita Faustini por O Sete Trouxas

Melhor Música: Fausto Prado por Subsolo

Melhor Montagem: Fábio Lobanowsky por Um dia como hoje

Melhor Edição de Som: Cristiano Scherer por Rosário dos Navegantes

Melhor Produtor/ Produtor Executivo: Pablo Muller por Cortejo Negro

Melhor Ator: Júlio Andrade por Um dia como hoje

Melhor Atriz: Carolina Sudat por Um dia como hoje

SIFF 2008 Awards

The Golden Space Needle Award winners were announced at a ceremony earlier today. More than 70,000 ballots were cast by SIFF audiences to determine the winner in six categories: Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Short Film.

Also presented were six juried SIFF 2008 Competition Awards: New American Cinema Award, New Directors Showcase Award, Best Documentary Award, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animated Short.

SIFF 2008 Competition Grand Jury Award winners receive a $5,000 cash prize, a hand-made glass creation by artist James Mongrain, Movie Magic Screenwriter software, and a DVD replication prize package from Discmakers. New American Cinema Competition winner receives an annual subscription to The Studio System from Baseline Studio Systems. New Directors Showcase and Documentary Competition winners receive an annual subscription to FilmTracker from Baseline Studio Systems.

SIFF 2008 New American Cinema Competition

Grand Jury Prize: "Em,"

directed by Tony Barbieri (USA)

Jury Statement: “In Em, writer-director Tony Barbieri tackles the timely and original subject of love and mental illness, with the help of his two excellent leads, Stef Willen and Nathan Wetherington. It’s a sweet, sad, scary movie that feels completely contemporary.”

Special Jury Prize: "The Bluetooth Virgin"

director: Russell Brown

Jury Statement: “The Special Jury Prize is awarded to The Bluetooth Virgin and writer-director Russell Brown for his fresh and squirmy script.”

The New American Cinema jury was comprised of: Rajendra Roy, Chief Curator, Film Department at MoMA; David Schmader, associate editor at The Stranger; and Kyle Thorpe, Vice President of Publicity at Focus Features.

SIFF 2008 New Directors Showcase Competition

Grand Jury Prize: "Everything is Fine,"

directed by Yves-Christian Fournier (Canada)

Jury Statement: “The New Directors Showcase Prize for director of a first or second feature goes to Yves-Christian Fournier from Quebec, Canada, and his film Everything is Fine, for its skillful avoidance of the nihilistic clichés in its treatment of contemporary youth. The jury would also like to commend the outstanding performance of Marie Turgeon in the role of the mother.”

Special Jury Prize: "Mermaid,"

directed by Anna Melikyan (Russia)

Jury Statement: “The jury would also like to award a special mention to Mermaid by Anna Melikyan from Russia for its entertaining portrait of Russia and its growing pains as it transitions into a capitalist society.”

The New Directors Showcase jury was comprised of: Frederic Boyer, programmer for Director’s Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival; Oliver Mahrdt, president of Hanns Wolters International, and East Coast representative of German Films; and Charles Taylor, ?lm critic for the Newark Star-Ledger and Bloomberg News.

SIFF 2008 Documentary Competition

Grand Jury Prize: "Derek,"

directed by Isaac Julien (UK)

Jury Statement: “The Grand Jury Prize is awarded to Isaac Julien’s Derek for the strength of both the subject and the filmmaking.”

Documentary Competition Special Jury Prizes:

Jury Statements:

"Combalion," directed by Raphaël Mathié (France), “…for its artistic integrity and visually arresting composition.”

"Accelerating America," directed by Timothy Hotchner (USA), “…for capturing the inspiration of the subject and the humanistic heart of the film.”

The Documentary jury was comprised of: Ken Eisen, president of Shadow Distribution; Julie Goldman, founding partner of Cactus Three; and Steven Raphael, founder of Required Viewing.

SIFF 2008 Short Film Jury Awards

SIFF 2008 Grand Jury Short Film Award winners receive a $2,500 cash prize, a hand-made glass creation by artist James Mongrain, Movie Magic Screenwriter software, a DVD replication prize package from Discmakers, and an annual subscription to FilmTracker from Baseline Studio Systems.

Documentary Grand Jury Prize:

“Self Portrait With Cows Going Home” and Other Works: A Portrait of Sylvia Plachy, directed by Rebecca Dreyfus, U

USA Documentary Special Jury Prize: "The Ladies," directed by Christina Voros, USA

Animation Grand Jury Prize:

"The Pearce Sisters," directed by Luis Cook, UK Animation Special Jury Prize: Home, directed by Kim Slate, USA

Narrative Grand Jury Prize: "Rewind,"

directed by Atul Taishete, India

Narrative Special Jury Prizes: "Walnut,"

directed by Amy Gebhardt, Australia

"Dog Altogether,"

directed by Paddy Considine, UK

"A Mate,"

directed by Teemu Nikki, Finland

"New Boy,"

directed by Steph Green, Ireland

Honorable Mentions for Inventive Filmmaking: "Introduction to Lucid Dreaming,"

directed by John Grigsby, USA

"On the Assassination of the President,"

directed by Adam Keker, USA

The Short Film jury was comprised of: Scilla Andreen, co-founder of IndieFlix; Seattle Filmmaker Douglas Horn, winner of the 2006 Golden Space Needle for Best Short Film; and Jeff Shannon, Film critic for the Seattle Times and P-I.

SIFF 2008 FutureWave Jury Award

SIFF 2008 FutureWave WaveMaker Award winner receives a $2,500 cash prize.

Grand Jury Prize (WaveMaker Award): "Disorder," directed by Rose McAleese

Honorable Mentions: "4th Floor,"

directed by Misami Kubo, “…for excellence in visual storytelling.”

"Driving to the New Age: American Automobiles and You,"

directed by Meng Mao, Eli Shalcross, Charlie Shelton, and Matt Yaggy, “…for delivering a serious message through outstanding use of satire.”

"New Perspective,"

directed by Dave Riff, “…for clarity of vision.”

The FutureWave jury was comprised of the participants in the 2008 Fly Filmmaking challenge: Cheryl Slean, Megan Griffiths, Rob Cunningham, Andy McCone and Joe Shapiro.

SIFF and IndieFlix 2008 MyFestival Winners

SIFF and IndieFlix MyFestival Feature Film winner receives a $1,500 cash prize; Short Film winner receives a $500 cash prize.

SIFF Official Selection and MyFestival Feature Film Winner:

"Perfect Sport," directed by Anthony O’Brien

SIFF Official Selection and MyFestival Short Film Winner:

Robbie’s Withdrawal, directed by John Burish

MyFestival Special Recognition Awards: "Eternal City," directed by Jason Goodman

"Hot Wind: America’s Fallout Casualties,"

directed by Kirsten Alaqidy

SIFF 2008 Golden Space Needle Audience Awards

SIFF 2008 Golden Space Needle Award winners receive a hand-made glass creation by artist James Mongrain. Golden Space Needle Award Best Short Film winner receives $1,000 of Color Negative Motion Picture Film from the Eastman Kodak Company Entertainment Imaging Division, and an Apple Intel 15" Laptop Computer loaded with the Final Cut Pro Suite of products from IrisInk and The Mac Store.

Best Film Golden Space Needle Award: "Cherry Blossoms – Hanami,"

directed by Doris Dörrie (Germany)

The remaining top ten audience favorites (in order)

"Frozen River,"

directed by Courtney Hunt (USA)

"Fugitive Pieces,"

directed by Jeremy Podeswa (Canada)

"Captain Abu Raed,"

directed by Amin Matalqa (Jordan)

"The Drummer,"

directed by Kenneth Bi (Hong Kong)

"Summer Heat,"

directed by Monique van de Ven (the Netherlands)

"Letting Go of God,"

directed by Julia Sweeney (USA)

"Late Bloomers,"

directed by Bettina Oberli (Switzerland)

"Bliss,"

directed by Abdullah Oguz (Turkey)

"Michou d’Auber,"

directed by Thomas Gilou (France)

Best Documentary Golden Space Needle Award: "The Wrecking Crew,"

directed by Denny Tedesco (USA)

The remaining top ten audience favorites (in order):

"Great Speeches From a Dying World,"

directed by Linas Phillips (USA)

"Man on Wire,"

directed by James Marsh (UK)

"Accelerating America,"

directed by Timothy Hotchner (USA)

"Creative Nature,"

directed by John Andres (USA)

"Emmanuel Jal: War Child,"

directed by C. Karim Chrobog (USA)

"Trouble the Water,"

directed by Carl Deal and Tia Lessin (USA)

"Stranded: I’ve Come From a Plane that Crashed in the Mountains,"

directed by Gonzalo Arijon (France)

"Good Food,"

directed by Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin (USA)

"They Killed Sister Dorothy," directed by Daniel Junge (USA)

Best Director Golden Space Needle Award:

Amin Matalqa, for "Captain Abu Raed" (Jordan)

The remaining top five audience favorites (in order)

Courtney Hunt, for "Frozen River" (USA)

Nina Paley, for "Sita Sings the Blues" (USA)

Dorota Kedzierzawska, for "Time to Die" (Poland)

Nic Balthazar, for "Ben X" (Belgium)

Best Actor Golden Space Needle Award:

Alan Rickman, for "Bottle Shock" (USA)

The remaining top five audience favorites (in order)

Nadim Sawalha, for "Captain Abu Raed" (Jordan)

Andrew Garfield, for "Boy A" (UK)

Zdenerk Sverák, for "Empties" (Czech Republic)

Greg Timmermans, for "Ben X" (Belgium)

Best Actress Golden Space Needle Award:

Jessica Chastain, for "Jolene" (USA)

The remaining top five audience favorites (in order)

Catinca Untaru, for "The Fall" (USA)

Melissa Leo, for "Frozen River "(USA)

Danuta Szaflarska, for "Time to Die" (Poland)

Melanie Diaz, for "American Son" (USA)

Best Short Film Golden Space Needle Award:

"Felix," directed by Andreas Utta (Germany)

The remaining top five audience favorites (in order)

"Sleeping Betty," directed by Claude Cloutier (Canada)

"Bailey-Boushay House: A Living History," directed by Terence Brown (USA)

"Zoologic," directed by Nicole Mitchell (USA)

"Spider," directed by Nash Edgerton (Australia)

Lena Sharpe Award:

"Frozen River," director Courtney Hunt (USA)

This award is given to the film by a woman director that receives the most votes from the public.

Grand prix des Americas:

OKURIBITO (DEPARTURES) by Yojiro Takita (Japan)

Special Grand Prix of the jury :

THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE (CE QU'IL FAUT POUR VIVRE) by Benoît Pilon (Canada)

Best Director :

THE TOUR (TURNEJA) by Goran Markovic (Serbia/Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Best Actress :

BARBARA SUKOWA for the film THE INVENTION OF THE CURRIED SAUSAGE (DIE ENTDECKUNG DER CURRYWURST) by Ulla Wagner (Germany)

Best Actor :

ERI CAÑETE for the film TEO'S VOYAGE (EL VIAJE DE TEO) by Walter Doehner (Mexico)

Best Screenplay:

WELCOME TO FAREWELL-GUTMANN (BIENVENIDO A FAREWELL-GUTMANN) by Xavi Puebla, screenplay by Xavi Puebla and Jesús Gil (Spain)

NOBODY TO WATCH OVER ME by Riyoichi Kimizuka, screenplay by Riyoichi Kimizuka and Satoshi Suzuki (Japan)

Best Artistic Contribution :

WOLF (VARG) by Daniel Alfredson (Sweden-Norway-Finland)

Innovation Award:

IT ALL BEGINS AT SEA by Eitan Green (Israel)

SHORT FILMS :

1st prize :

THE NECKTIE (LE NŒUD CRAVATE) by Jean-François Lévesque (Canada)

Jury Award:

FAL by Hans Van Nuffel (Belgium)

JURY

President : MARK RYDELL, director (U.S.A.)

EVELYNE BOUIX, actress (France)

JOHANNE DUGAS, representing the general public (Canada)

XIE FEI, director (China)

VOJTECH JASNY, director (Czech Republic)

DANY LAFERRIÈRE, writer and director (Canada)

ZENITHS FOR THE BEST FIRST FICTION FEATURE FILMS 2008

Golden Zenith for the Best First Fiction Feature films :

FOR A MOMENT, FREEDOM (EIN AUGENBLICK, FREIHEIT) by Arash T. Riahi (Austria/France)

Silver Zenith for the First Fiction Feature Film :

WELTSTADT by Christian Klandt (Germany)

Bronze Zenith for the Fisrt Fiction Feature Film :

SUMMER BOOK (TATIL KITABI) by Seyfi Teoman (Turkey)

Members of the jury of the First Fiction Films :

Pierre-Henri Deleau (France)

Denis Héroux (Canada)

Armand Lafond (Canada)

PUBLIC AWARDS

The public was invited to vote for the most popular films among the feature films presented during the 2008 Montreal World Film Festival.

Public Award for the most popular film of the Festival:

THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE (CE QU'IL FAUT POUR VIVRE) by Benoît Pilon (Canada)

Public Award for the most popular Canadian Feature Film :

THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE (CE QU'IL FAUT POUR VIVRE) by Benoît Pilon (Canada)

Glauber Rocha Award for the Best Latin American Film :

DON'T LOOK DOWN (NO MIRES PARA ABAJO) by Eliseo Subiela (Argentina-France)

Award for Best documentary :

CHILDREN OF THE PYRE by Rajesh S. Jala (India)

Award for Best Canadian Short Film :

THE NECKTIE (LE NŒUD CRAVATE) by Jean-François Lévesque (Canada)

FIPRESCI PRIZE (INTERNATIONAL FILM CRITICS)

THE TOUR (TURNEJA) by Goran Markovic (Serbia/Bosnia and Herzegovina)

ECUMENICAL PRIZES

WOLF (VARG) by Daniel Alfredson (Sweden-Norway-Finland)

Special mention of the Ecumenical jury :

TEO'S VOYAGE (EL VIAJE DE TEO) by Walter Doehner (Mexico)

OTHER AWARDS

Special Awards for their exceptional contribution to the cinematographic art :

ALAN LADD JR.

TONY CURTIS

ISABELLE HUPPERT

MEMBERS OF THE JURY:

Award for the overall winner:

NORMAN MCLAREN AWARD offered by the National Film Board of Canada, a value of $2500 in technical services for the winner's next production.

« This Little Piggy » by Sarah Quinn and Sébastien Rist (Concordia University)

KODAK IMAGING AWARD

For the Best New Canadian Student Director, presented by Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging. The winner will receive a camera and $4200 of film

« For Wendy » by Jacquelyn Mills (Concordia University)

BEST ANIMATION PRODUCTION:

« C Block » by Vladimir Kooperman (Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario)

BEST DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION:

« Forty Men for the Yukon » BY Tony Massil (Simon Fraser University, Vancouver)

BEST EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTION:

« Presidio Modelo » by Pablo Alvarez (Simon Fraser University, Vancouver)

BEST FICTION PRODUCTION :

« Firebear Called Them Faith Healers » by Kelvin Redvers (Simon Fraser University, Vancouver)

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

« Amma » by Aparna Kapur (Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Vancouver)

« 16 ans » by Pierre-Luc Laganière (U.Q.À.M.)

The jury members were :

Francine Brücher, Swiss Films

Ravida Din, Executive Producer at the National Film Board of Canada

Pierre Jutras, Director of conservation and programming of the Cinémathèque.

A total of 27 festival awards in 15 categories and three audience favorites were announced Tuesday evening at the Awards Presentation held at the Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs, CA, followed by the Closing Night Party at Wang's Restaurant. A total of $14,000 in cash prizes, $7,500 in Kodak film stock, $6,000 in software prizes and a $60,000 Panavision camera package were awarded. Award winners receiving a first place prize in four categories are automatically eligible to submit their films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Academy Award® consideration. Over the past 13 years, the Festival has presented 58 films that have gone on to receive Academy Award nominations.

Highlights from this year's Festival included actor Bill Pullman serving on the Festival's jury and teaching a Master Class on Acting for aspiring filmmakers. Actresses Jessica Biel and Kirsten Dunst attended the screening of their films, part of the Shooting Stars program. Biel starred and produced Hole in the Paper Sky, directed by William Purple and Dunst directed, wrote and produced Welcome starring Winona Ryder.

Commenting on the success of this year's Festival and Market, Festival Director Darryl Macdonald said, "Packed theatres, enraptured audiences, delighted filmmakers and a hyper-active film market with multiple buyers chasing the same film in many instances -- what's not to like? I got an email this morning from a filmmaker who told me he'd been trailed out of the theatre by several film festival directors wanting to invite his film to their events. It was a banner year for ShortFest, and an exceptionally good year for newly emerging filmmaking talent."

The 2008 Palm Springs International ShortFest award winners are:

JURY AWARDS

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD: $2,000 & Showbiz Software Package. The winner of this award is eligible to submit their film to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar consideration.

"6.5 Minutes in Tel Aviv" (Israel) Mirey Brantz

Lovers parting, families traveling, businessmen commuting -- a Tel Aviv bus station is the setting for an unexpected confrontation brought on by fear and panic in this part of the world where it only takes a minute for the landscape to become completely unrecognizable.

FUTURE FILMMAKER AWARD: $2,000, Showbiz Software Package & Ultimate Stock Footage Collection

Marçal Forés for "Friends Forever" (UK)

Returning to school following the death of his closest friend, Chris, young George is bedeviled by his friend's ghost, who seems to follow him everywhere. But who is doing the following?

Honorable mention for this award went to Nicolas Brault for "Hungu" (Canada).

PANAVISION GRAND JURY AWARD: Panavision Camera Package valued at $60,000 & two days studio time courtesy of Casablanca Studios, Palm Springs, CA.

"A Good Day for a Swim" (Romania), Bogdan Mustata

This harrowing short film, winner of the Golden Bear at this year's Berlin Film Festival, follows the trail of a trio of young sociopaths as they pick up a young woman they find at the side of the road and take her to the beach for a day of amoral pursuits. Not for the squeamish.

AUDIENCE AWARDS

All first place winners in these categories will receive a Showbiz Software package.

AUDIENCE FAVORITE LIVE ACTION SHORT

"Toyland" (Germany), Jochen Alexander Freydank

When a young boy's mother, responding to her son's question about the whereabouts of his best friend (whose family has been put on a train for the camps), tells her son that his friend has been sent to "Toyland," the boy sneaks off to join him.

Runner up: "On the Road to Tel-Aviv" (Israel), Khen Shalem

AUDIENCE FAVORITE DOCUMENTARY SHORT

"The Witness: The View from Room 306" (USA), Adam Pertofsky

This riveting short documentary recounts the incidents leading up to, during and immediately after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, utilizing archival footage and photos, first-hand accounts, and interviews with a number of the people who participated in the events of that time.

Runner up: "One Bridge to the Next" (USA), Kim Snyder

AUDIENCE FAVORITE ANIMATION SHORT

"This Way Up" (UK), Adam Foulkes, Alan Smith

Two undertakers run into a number of slight problems delivering a body for burial.

Runner up: "Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty" (Ireland), Nicky Phelan

JURY CATEGORY AWARDS

All first place winners in these categories received a cash award of $2,000, Showbiz Software

Package. First place winners in the Animated and Live Action categories will be eligible to submit their films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for Oscar consideration. Second Place recipients received a $500 cash prize.

MINI MOVIE CHANNEL AWARD for BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT UNDER 15 MINUTES

First Place($2,000): "A Good Day for a Swim" (Romania), Bogdan Mustata

This harrowing short film, winner of the Golden Bear at this year's Berlin Film Festival, follows the trail of a trio of young sociopaths as they pick up a young woman they find at the side of the road and take her to the beach for a day of amoral pursuits.

Second Place ($500): "È Finita la Commedia" (Belgium), Jean-Julien Collette, Olivier Tollet

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT OVER 15 MINUTES

First Place ($2,000): "Cairn" (Norway), Hanne Larsen

Young Johan wants to be accepted by the cool guys at school, so he joins them in a cruel prank, shutting another boy from their class in a cold, dark cairn underground. When a series of circumstances cause him to leave the boy in the cellar, his actions have consequences that he could never have anticipated.

Second Place ($500): "The Radiant City" (France), Romain Raynaldy

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

First Place ($2,000): "Hungu" (Canada), Nicolas Brault

A deeply moving meditation on migration, traditions and family are visually imprinted in striking black and white animation.

Second Place ($500): "Skhizein" (France), Jeremy Clapin

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

First Place ($2,000): "The Witness: The View from Room" 306 (USA), Adam Pertofsky

This riveting short documentary recounts the incidents leading up to, during and immediately after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, utilizing archival footage and photos, first-hand accounts, and interviews with a number of the people who participated in the

events of that time.

Second Place ($500): "Springtime in Sant Ponç" (Switzerland), Eugenia Mumenthaler, David Epiney

STUDENT CATEGORIES

All first place winners in these categories will receive $1,000 in Kodak film stock. Second Place recipients receive $500 in Kodak film stock. All student filmmakers in Festival competition are eligible for these awards.

BEST STUDENT LIVE ACTION SHORT UNDER 15 MINUTES

First Place ($2,000): "6.5 Minutes in Tel Aviv" (Israel), Mirey Brantz

Lovers parting, families traveling, businessmen commuting -- a Tel Aviv bus station is the setting for an unexpected confrontation brought on by fear and panic in this part of the world where it only takes a minute for the landscape to become completely unrecognizable.

Second Place ($500): "Small Change" (Australia), Anna McGrath

BEST STUDENT LIVE ACTION SHORT OVER 15 MINUTES

First Place ($2,000): "James" (Northern Ireland), Connor Clements

Young James struggles as the outsider kid at his school; his teacher Mr. Sutherland the only person James feels he can connect with. However, when James can finally put voice to the feelings he's been having, Mr. Sutherland's response isn't at all what James had hoped for.

Second Place ($500): "Friends Forever" (UK), Marçal Forés

BEST STUDENT ANIMATED SHORT

First Place: "Procrastination" (UK), Johnny Kelly

This winner of the Best British Animated Short at the London Short Film Festival is an amusing and visually lively meditation on the subject of inertia.

Second Place: "For the Love of God" (UK), Joe Tucker

BEST STUDENT DOCUMENTARY SHORT

First Place: "A Different Color Blue" (USA), Melanie Levy

Charles Curtis Blackwell, a semi-blind artist, lost most of his eyesight in an accident during his youth, but this adversity has only heightened his artistic gifts.

Second Place: "A Great Silence" (Germany), Eva Kosmas

KODAK AWARD FOR BEST STUDENT CINEMATOGRAPHY

First Place ($1,000 in Kodak film stock): Eduard Grau (cinematographer), "Friends Forever" (UK)

Returning to school following the death of his closest friend, Chris, young George is bedeviled by his friend's ghost, who seems to follow him everywhere. But who is doing the following?

Second Place ($500 in Kodak film stock): DeClan Keeney (cinematographer), "James" (Ireland)

Three special awards were presented at this year's Festival. The Alexis Award for Most Promising Student Filmmaker went to "Open Your Eyes" (USA), directed by Susan Cohen. In the film, a young wife going through the trauma of breast cancer finds her relationship with her husband strained by her inability to open up to him, until a chance meeting with an irreverent young woman casts everything in a different perspective. The recipient will receive a Final Cut Pro package, courtesy of Apple Computer valued at $2,500.

Presented by Jason Reitman's production company Hard C Productions, The Hard C Hi Five to Lo-Fi Award for Best Low Budget Short went to "My Rabit Hoppy" (Australia), directed by Anthony Lucas, where young Henry's Show and Tell school project about his pet rabbit goes horribly awry. The Cinema Without Borders Best International Film Award went to "Angels Die in the Soil" (Iran), directed by Babak Amini. On the border between Iran, Kurdistan and Iraq, a headstrong young woman who survived Saddam's chemical warfare attacks during the Iran/Iraq war encounters an American soldier, who's been shot and left for dead by his terrorist captors.

Jury members include actor Bill Pullman; Eileen Arandiga, Festival Director of the Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto; Dana Harris, editor Variety.com; Sydney Levine of Film Finders; and Dragan Milinkovic, Serbian film academic and producer.

Now in its 14th year, ShortFest screened 317 films, selected from a record of more than 2,700 worldwide entries, including 53 World Premieres, 47 North American Premieres and 24 U.S. Premieres. The selection of films for screening and competition featured star-studded casts as well as award-winning films from 40 countries around the world. All selections are structured into 51 themed programs covering a wide array of issues for specific and general audiences to enjoy.

Festival Director Darryl Macdonald commented, "This year's ShortFest line-up reflects a return to more personal themes in the world of short film storytelling, and a move away from the 'big issue' themes of recent years, like the Iraq War, immigration and 9/11. That and the increasingly sophisticated use of technical innovations in the short filmmaking process are the two big stories that emerge from the short film world this year."

"The quality of work from these films has been remarkable to watch, especially from countries where film production is on the rise," said ShortFest Film Curator Kathleen McInnis. "For example, we have strong and vital narrative stories from more African countries than we've ever seen before. Filmgoers will be inspired by the wealth and breadth of storytelling from the global diversity in our film line-up."

The selected short films were organized into 51 themed programs covering a variety of genres -- including thrillers, horror, animation, documentaries, and comedies -- and themes, including boy meets girl, siblings, security issues, crime, sins, romance, lust, friendship, parenthood, culture clashes, performance, travel, the Jewish experience, gay and lesbian lifestyles, and the event featured a special focus on films from France. ShortFest viewers experienced shorts from Kenya, Colombia, Romania, Chile, Burkina Faso, the Philippines, Malaysia and other exotic locales. This year's opening night screening on Thursday, August 21 at 6:30 p.m. will be highlighted by award-winning live-action and animated films including Life's Hard (Romania), Manon on the Asphalt (France), Procrastination (U.K.), Sikumi (On the Ice) (USA), Tadeo Jones and the Basement of Doom (Spain) and The Wednesdays (Ireland).

Festival attendees saw a roster of films featuring familiar faces in front of and behind the camera, including Kate Hudson directing Cutlass (USA) starring Dakota Fanning, Virginia Madsen, Kurt Russell and Chevy Chase; Kirsten Dunst directing Welcome (USA) starring Winona Ryder; and Matthew Modine directing and starring in I Think I Thought (USA). Other star-studded shorts include past Palm Springs International Film Festival Rising Star recipient Jessica Biel who stars in and produced Hole in the Paper Sky (USA); Dana Delany in Flying Lessons (USA) directed by Janet Grillo; David Arquette in Nosebleed (USA) directed by Jeff Vespa; Jordan Belfi and Rainn Wilson in Missing Pieces (USA); Tony Shalhoub in LA Actors (USA); Whoopi Goldberg narrating The Descendant (Germany); Sir Ian McKellan voicing a character in the animated For the Love of God; and Robert Redford narrating The New Environmentalists (USA).

A jury of five industry professionals will screen this year's short films selected for competition in eighteen categories including Best Animation, Best Documentary, Best Live Action, Best of Festival and the Future Filmmaker Award. A total of $86,000 in money and production prizes, including $14,000 in cash awards were given out. The Panavision Grand Jury Award winner will receive a digital or film camera package valued at $60,000 and two days studio time courtesy of Casablanca Studios. An additional $7,500 in Kodak film stock was presented to the film winners in the student award categories. Other prizes included copies of filmmaking software from Showbiz Software Store and Entertainment Partners, Apple Final Cut Studio 2, and the Ultimate Stock Footage Collection.

The illustrious Jury was comprised of Bill Pullman; Eileen Arandiga, Festival Director of the Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto; Dana Harris, editor Variety.com; Sydney Levine of Film Finders; and Dragan Milinkovic, Serbian film academic and producer. First place winners will automatically become eligible for consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a possible Academy Award nomination. Over the course of its first 13 years, the Festival has presented 58 films that have gone on to receive Academy Award nominations.

Designated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an award-qualifying Festival and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest and its Short Film Market, are the largest and most prominent short film showcase in North America. The Festival and its concurrent 2,700-film Film Market continues to serve as a scouting ground for new filmmaking talent and is well attended by those in the business of buying and selling short films. Companies attending this year's Market include Mini Movie Channel, Kodak, Nickelodeon, Panavision, Famous Frames Mobile Interactive, Metacafe, Big Film Shorts, Hollywood Shorts, Echo Lake Entertainment, Moviela, Current TV, Atom Films, Shorts International, Senator Films and more.

Several seminars and panels comprised of industry representatives were assembled to discuss trends and provide advice on short filmmaking. The Festival will feature three separate master classes, one with actor Bill Pullman and another with Academy Award nominated cinematographer William Fraker presenting and discussing their work with filmmakers. The third master class will be taught by film critics David Ansen (Newsweek) and Claudia Puig (USA Today) on film criticism. Tribeca Film Festival Short Film Programmer Sharon Badal will attend to discuss her new book Swimming Upstream along with several of her collaborators.

Workshops included Kodak Presents "Stop By. Shoot Film.," a hands on experience in using Super 16 mm film; Taking Your Short to Market; and Investigating New Media Opportunities. The Nickelodeon Writer's Lab is an invitation only event that will prepare applicants for submission to the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship. For those who prefer a more personal environment, the Festival will continue its popular "One-on-One Program," an opportunity for participants to meet individually with publicists, agents, distributors, producers, exhibitors and festival programmers to answer any questions filmmakers may have.

The Palm Springs International ShortFest was supported by a growing number of sponsors with local, national and international prominence. The Title Sponsor is the City of Palm Springs with Presenting Sponsors The Desert Sun, Spencer's, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Wessman Development Company. Major Sponsors include Mini Movie Channel, Kodak, Nickelodeon, Panavision, Famous Frames Mobile Interactive, The Bottom Line, Metacafe, CBS2 and the Kaiser Restaurant Group. Supporting foundations include the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. The official host hotel and media center is located at the Hilton Palm Springs Resort.

1. LA QUEUE DE LA SOURIS - Benjamin Renner - France

2. OKTAPODI - Julien Bocabeille, François Xavier Chanioux, Olivier Delabarre, Thierry Marchand, Quentin Marmier, Emud Mokhberi - France

3. MAMAN JE T'AIME - Mickael Abensur, Antoine Collet, Damien Dell'omodarme - France

Best Feature Film

1. DELGO - Marc F. Adler & Jasin Maurer - United States

2. PRINCESS - Anders Morgenthaler - Denmark

3. IDIOTS AND ANGELS - Bill Plympton - United States

Best Short for Children

1. EIN SONNIGRE TAG - Gil Alkabetz - Germany

2. THE CURSE OF SKULL ROCK- Ben Smith - United Kingdom

3. SEU LOBO - Humberto Avelar - Brazil

Best Brazilian Animation

1. DOSSIÊ RÊ BORDOSA - César Cabral

2. CALANGO LENGO - VIDA E MORTE SEM VER ÁGUA - Fernando Miller

3. SEU LOBO - Humberto Avelar

Best Short Film

1. DOSSIÊ RÊ BORDOSA - César Cabral - Brazil

2. LA QUEUE DE LA SOURIS - Benjamin Renner - France

3. PREMIER VOYAGE - Grégoire Sivan - France

Canal Brasil Acquisition Award

DOSSIÊ RÊ BORDOSA - César Cabral - Brazil

PROFESSIONAL JURY AWARDS

The Professional Jury is composed by 34 professionals that includes fine-artists, animators, journalists, educators filmmakers and writers from the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. All the winners will receive the ANIMA MUNDI trophy.

Best Soundtrack

KFJG Nº 5 - Alexei Alexeev - Hungary

Best Script

LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES - Kunio Kato - Japan

Best Art Direction

YOURS TRULY - Osbert Parker - United Kingdom

Best Animation

MADAME TUTLI-PUTLI - Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski - Canada

Best Commissioned Film

SONY BRAVIA 'PLAY-DOH' - Frank Budgen, Darren Walsh - United Kingdom

AUDIENCE AWARDS - SAO PAULO

Best Student Film

1 - OKTAPODI - Julien Bocabeille, François Xavier Chanioux, Olivier Delabarre, Thierry Marchand, Quentin Marmier, Emud Mokhberi - France

2 - BLIND SPOT - Johanna Bessiere, Cecile Dubois Herry, Simon Rouby, Nicolas Chauvelot, Olivier Clert, Yvon Jardel - France

3 - LA QUEUE DE LA SOURIS - Benjamin Renner - France

Best Feature Film

1 - PRINCESS - Anders Morgenthaler - Denmark

2 - IDIOTS AND ANGELS - Bill Plympton - United States

3 - DELGO - Marc F. Adler & Jason Maurer - United States

Best Short for Children

1 - UM DIA DE SOL (EIN SONNIGER TAG) - Gil Alkabetz - Germany

2 - SEU LOBO - Humberto Avelar - Brazil

3 - CUCURUJAS (HUHU - POLE HOLE) - Alexei Alexeev - Hungry

Best Brazilian Animation

1 - DOSSIÊ RÊ BORDOSA - César Cabral

2 - SEU LOBO - Humberto Avelar

3 - O JUMENTO SANTO E A CIDADE QUE SE ACABOU ANTES DE COMEÇAR - William Paiva, Leo D.

Best Short Film

1 - DOSSIÊ RÊ BORDOSA - César Cabral - Brazil

2 - ISABELLE AU BOIS DORMANT - Claude Cloutier - Argentina

3 - OKTAPODI - Julien Bocabeille, François Xavier Chanioux, Olivier Delabarre, Thierry Marchand, Quentin Marmier, Emud Mokhberi - France

ANIMA MUNDI's Directors Special Prize

LA QUEUE DE LA SOURIS - Benjamin Renner - France

Award "Núcleo de Animação de Campinas" - for Best Brazilian Student Animation

O POVO ATRÁS DO MURO - Marconi Loures de Oliveira

"With nearly 30 jurors from all corners of the globe, and two separate jury meetings, this year's Computer Animation Festival jury was one of the most comprehensive in the Festival's history," stated Samuel Lord Black, Computer Animation Festival Juried Co-chair. "The varied expertise we received from our jury ensures that this year's festival is well-balanced, exciting, and a great snapshot of the industry's finest material."

Since 1999, the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival has been an official qualifying festival for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences "Best Animated Short Film" award.

New in 2008 is the addition of the Computer Animation Festival award presentations, where winners will be revealed during the event. This year's expanded Festival also offers attendees an array of activities over a five-day period, which includes competition and showcase screenings at Los Angeles' famed Nokia Theater.

Attendees interested in all aspects of animation can also participate in a variety of panels, talks, and presentations, including two full days that will focus on the world of 3D stereo cinematography. These events will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Complete details on this year's Computer Animation Festival

The nominees for this year's Computer Animation Festival Awards are as follows:

Best in Show Nominees

Bolides

Supinfocom, France

From Supinfocom, this imaginative student film treats us to a chaotic, hilarious, wheelchair race through an old age home.

Carbon Footprint

Jellyfish Pictures, UK

Using computer graphics, Jellyfish Pictures drives home the point of global responsibility, presenting the decomposition of a single soda can over half a century, in a single seamless shot.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

DreamWorks Animation, USA

Hilarity, peril, romance, and zoo animals; everything expected from DreamWorks Animation, this glimpse into their upcoming film provides a whole new perspective on flying with animals.

Oktapodi

Julien Bocabeille, François-Xavier Chanioux, Olivier Delabarre, Thierry Marchand, Quentin Marmier, Emud Mokhberi, GOBELINS l'ecole de lâ��image, France

GOBELINS' third-year students directed this animated short about two octopi in their comical escape from the grasps of a stubborn restaurant cook.

The Chemical Brothers "The Salmon Dance"

Framestore CFC, UK

Great music combines with hilarious animation to provide a new perspective on aquaria, as a tank filled with rapping, beatboxing, and dancing fish comes to life, featuring over 300 hand-animated fish.

Best Student Piece Nominees

893

Supinfocom, France

Once again, France's Supinfocom combines story and style in this tale of honor, tradition, and imagination.

Al Dente

Supinfocom, France

Combine opera, pasta, and a knife-wielding chef, and the result is another delicious animated short from this prolific school.

Bärenbraut

Derek Roczen - Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction, Germany

This tale of disproportionate love shows how relationships can change over time. This remarkable 2D animation illustrates a complicated subject and a complex relationship using the most limited of color palettes.

Blind Spot

Johanna Bessiere, Nicolas Chauvelot, Olivier Clert, Cecile Dubois Herry, Yvon Jardel, Simon Rouby, GOBELINS l'ecole de l'image, France

Peripheral vision is everything in this animation about a nearsighted grandmother, a clumsy robber, and a surveillance camera that doesn't quite tell the story of what's really going on in the convenience store.

Mauvais Rôle

Alan Barbier, Camille Campion, Dorian Fevrier, Frederic Fourier, Frederic Lafay, Min Ma, Jean-François Macem, Emanuel Reperant, Jeremie Rousseau, Olivier Sicot, École Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle, France

This little tale tells the story of getting whatever you want, as long as you know what it is. Watch as a monster constantly cast in games, finds his perfect job in a game you'd never choose for him.

Jury Award Nominees

Chump and Clump

Michael Herm, Stephan Sacher, Germany

This short shows us just how distracting your friends can be ... and just how they can lead you to miss your bus. Repeatedly.

Mauvais Rôle

(see above for description)

Oktapodi (see above for description)

Our Wonderful Nature

Tomer Eshed, HFF Potsdam, Germany

This documentary uses time stretching, film camera work, and creative sound design to tell the story of water shrews in the wild.

The Plush Life

Timothy Heath, USA

This film, rendered entirely with NVIDIA's Gelato, shows us what happens when you pick at something that just shouldn't be picked at: you might just imperil your trip to work.

SCION Award for First Time Director: "Were the World Mine"

Director: Tom Gustafson

Jury Award for Best Male Short: "Wrestling"

Director: Grimur Hakonarson

Jury Award for Best Female Short: "Congratulations Daisy Graham"

Director: Cassandra Nicolaou

TIED for Jury Award for Best Documentary: "Squeezebox"

Director: Steve Saporito, Zach Shaffer A

AND "Polymath, or the Life and Opinions of Samuel R. Delany, Gentleman"

Director: Fred Barney Taylor

Jury Award for Best Feature: "Ciao"

Director: Yen Tan

Programmers’ Award for Best Female Short: "Dire Straights"

Director: Carolina Roca-Smith

Programmers’ Award for Best Male Short: "Getting Lucky"

Director: Christian Lloyd

Audience Award for Best Documentary: "black./womyn.: conversations with lesbians of African descent"

Director: Tiona M.

Audience Award for Best Feature: "Tru Loved"

Director: Stewart Wade

Best Feature Film: "XXY"

DIRECTOR: Lucia Puenzo

First-time director Lucia Puenzo has created a film as beautiful, tough and unpredictable as the rocky Uruguayan shoreline on which it is set. XXY is a portrait of Alex, a 15-year-old coping with an extended puberty made more complicated by the presence of an extra chromosome and, according to her mother, a few extra parts. Born intersex, Alex has been brought up female. But now that her body is changing— and she’s faced with the prospect of “corrective” surgery that her father refused to allow when she was born— she’s beginning to wonder.

Best Documentary: "PAGEANT"

DIRECTOR: Ron Davis, Stewart Halpern

Taking us behind the glitz and glamour of the 34th annual Miss Gay America, filmmakers Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern focus on five female impersonators as they descend on Memphis, Tennessee to strut their stuff and compete against 45 other contestants. The amazing physical transformation of these men into glamorous women is a wonder to behold. No hormones or body enhancements are allowed, which means these au natural drag queens become beautiful the old-fashioned way: with duct tape and lots of makeup.

Best Short: "NO BIKINI"

DIRECTOR: Claudia Morgado Escanilla

At seven years old, Robin decides to go without her bikini top at a summer camp – with surprising results!

HBO Audience Award for Best Documentary was given to FLOW: FOR LOVE OF WATER , directed by Irena Salina

HBO Audience Award for Best Short Film was given to WHO I AM, directed by Whitney Peters

The John Schlesinger Award (awarded to a first time filmmaker) was given to Lance Hammer, director of BALLAST

The Student Film Competition Grand Jury Award was given to RABIA, directed by Muhammad Ali Hasan

The Student Film Competition Special Jury Prize was given to THE SHERIFF, directed by Jeff M. Giordano

Feature: HERB AND DOROTHY

Director: Megumi Sasaki

Short: THE TAILOR

Director: Oscar Perez

Sterling US Feature Award:

Winner: THE GARDEN

Director: Scott Hamilton Kennedy

Special Jury Mention: TROUBLE THE WATER

Directors: Carl Deal and Tia Lessin

Sterling World Feature Award:

Winner: THE ENGLISH SURGEON

Director: Geoffrey Smith

Special Jury Mention: THE RED RACE

Director: Jan Zabeil

Sterling Short Award:

Winner: WHAT WOULD THE DROP KNOW ABOUT THAT? (screens with THE GARDEN)

Director: Jan Zabeil

Honorable Mention: GROUND FLOOR RIGHT

Director: Marlene Schiött Rasmussen

and ONE DAY

Director: Ditte Haarløv-Johnsen

Music Documentary Award:

THROW DOWN YOUR HEART

Directed: Sascha Paladino

Cinematic Vision Award:

THE ORDER OF MYTHS

Director: Margaret Brown

WITNESS Award:

PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL

Director: Gini Reticker

American Film Market/SILVERDOCS Award:

KASSIM THE DREAM

Director: Kief Davidson

Writers Guild of America Documentary Screenplay Award:

FORBIDDEN LIE$

Director: Anna Broinowski

ACE Grant Winner:

THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM

“We have seen a considerable amount of filmmaker talent at the Festival over the past decade, and this year is no exception,” said Artistic Director Trevor Groth. “In addition, CineVegas had record number of attendees this year. From our groundbreaking films, to our extravagant parties, this has by far been our most well-attended Festival to date.”

Artistic Director Trevor Groth, Festival President Robin Greenspun and Chairman of the Creative Advisory Board Dennis Hopper bestowed its filmmaking honors to the following films:

Feature Jury Competition

This year’s feature jury was presided over by Screen International film critic David D’Arcy, Matt Dentler of Cinetic Digital Rights Management, longtime film festival advisor Robert Hawk, esteemed film journalist Mark Olsen and Claudia Puig, lead film critic for USA Today.

The Grand Jury Prize went to "She Unfolds By Day," the film directed by Rolf Belgum about a frustrated middle-aged son trying to manage his misanthropic 80-year-old mother.

A Special Jury Award was given to Dark Streets for the collaborative craftsmanship in achieving its visual splendor and showmanship. Dark Streets, directed by Rachel Samuels, is a stylish noir fever dream of blues music, seduction and murder.

Bill Pullman was also given a Special Jury Award for his outstanding performance as America’s greatest science-fiction writer who awakens to find himself trapped in an alternate reality in Matthew Wilder’s "Your Name Here."

Documentary Jury Competition

Acclaimed writer/producer/director Morgan Spurlock, film and television critic and journalist Robert Abele and Tamara Krinsky, associate editor of IDA’s documentary magazine made up the inaugural Pioneer Documentaries Jury.

The Documentary Jury Award went to "Beautiful Losers" from directors Aaron Rose and Joshua Leonard. "Beautiful Losers" documents the lives of a loose-knit group of artists in the ‘80s who created their own art movement outside the mainstream.

"Hi My Name is Ryan" was awarded with a Special Documentary Jury Prize. The documentary by directors Paul Eagleston and Stephen Rose tells the story of Ryan Avery, the Clown Prince of the downtown Phoenix art scene.

Audience Awards

With a record high attendance at this year's festival, audiences chose "Lost in the Fog" to receive the CineVegas Documentary Audience Award, presented by FIJI Water, and "Visioneers" to receive the CineVegas Dramatic Audience Award, presented by Cadillac.

From director John Corey, "Lost in the Fog" follows a cantankerous owner and his blue collar colt who earn the right to take on horse racing’s finest.

"Visioneers," the crafty debut from first-time director Jared Drake, cleverly and comedically highlights the trajectory of a 1984-esque, dystopian society.

La Próxima Ola Jury

This year’s La Próxima Ola jury was comprised of CNN en Español anchor Ana María Montero, Sergio Burstein from La Opinión and Shaz Bennett, Associate Director of Programming at the AFI Film Festival in Los Angeles.

The La Próxima Ola Jury Prize was awarded to Jonás Cuarón’s "Año uña "(Year of the Nail), a love story between a Mexican teenager and an older American woman who meet one summer in Mexico.

Shorts Jury

VEGAS Magazine writer Humberto Guida, Karina Longworth, co-founder of Cinematical and current editor of SpoutBlog, Giant Robot founder Eric Nakamura and Patrick Walsh, reviewer for Cinematical.com, made up this year’s shorts jury.

Myna Joseph’s Man received the CineVegas Short Film Jury Prize while Jonpaul Lewis’ Jack the Ripper received the CineVegas Nevada Short Film Jury Prize presented by the Nevada Film Office. The jury also acknowledged Allan Steele’s "The Fence," Benh Zeitlin’s "Glory at Sea," Jason Kupfer’s "The Sleuth" Incident and Josh Safdie’s Jerry Ruis, "Shall We Do This?" with Honorable Mentions.

Directed By: Charles Kinnane

Documentary Feature World Cinema: "War Child"

Executive Producers: Dal LaMagna, Rick Boden, Roshanak Ameli-Tehrani

Producer: C. Karim Chrobog, Afshin Molavi

Narrative Feature: "Choke"

Directed By: Clark Gregg

Narrative Feature World Cinema: "Captain Abu Raed"

Directed By: Amin Matalqa

Comedy Feature: "Summerhood"

Directed By: Jacob Medjuck

Best Cinematography: "The Fall"

Experimental Film: "Hawaiian Starlight"

Directed By: Jean-Charles Cuillandre

Ensemble Cast (tie): "The Great Buck Howard"

Directed By: Sean McGinly

and "Bottle Shock"

Directed By: Randall Miller

Documentary Short: "Guardians of the Sea"

by: Charles Annenberg Weingarten

Narrative Short: "Chief"

Directed By: Brett Wagner

Animation: "Hot Dog"

Green Cinema (tie): "The Humpback Code"

Cinematographer: Jason Sturgis, Florian Melzer, Daniel Opitz

and "Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai"

Directed By: Lisa Merton,

Alan Dater

KINGS OF THE EVENING, Directed by Andrew P. Jones is the Audience Favorite

The San Francisco Black Film Festival (SFBFF) celebrated its ten-year anniversary from June 4-8 and June 11-15, 2008. Befitting its milestone status, the theme of this year’s festival was “10 Years, 10 Days, more than 100 Films” as the SFBFF spanned the globe with works from Africa, Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States.

Ave Montague, SFBFF founder and director commented, “Screening at five venues presented its challenges, at the end of the day we were exhausted but thrilled with the number of new and repeat filmgoers and record breaking box office numbers.”

The festival got a jump start with the annual Urban Kidz Film Series at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco. Created with young viewers in mind, the annual film series is an offshoot of the San Francisco Black Film Festival and featured a striking assemblage of short and feature films, designed to spark the imaginations of the 5-to-12-year-old set. Audience favorites included The Don of Virgil Jr. High and African Academy Award winner, Do You Believe In Magic?

Opening night kicked off on Wednesday, June 4th with Shoot the Messenger, a funny and sometimes controversial work from Nigerian-born British filmmaker Ngozi Onwurah about a Black British teacher who fights his way out of madness and stops blaming his own people only after losing his job. Our audience loved the film and folks are still talking about it. The opening night festivities continued with a standing room only party at Rasselas Jazz Club. The festival continued with non-stop films, receptions and workshops throughout the historic Fillmore District.

On Saturday, June 14, the first annual Awards Brunch was presented at the posh 1300 on Fillmore restaurant. Owners David Lawrence and Monetta White welcomed the film community as they sipped mimosas and sampled the restaurant’s signature barbeque shrimp, grits, eggs and black-skillet fried chicken prepared by Chef Lawrence.

The Brunch sponsored by PG&E was followed with an awards program acknowledging the best works in screenplay, short, feature, documentary, student and Urban Kidz categories. The first St. Clair Bourne Award was presented for the best documentary. The overall winner received the Melvin Van Peebles Award, which honors an emerging filmmaker with a unique vision, singular style and uncompromising point of view.

Actress Taraji P. Henson (who currently plays attorney Whitney Rome on Boston Legal) received the first-ever Phoenix Award in honor of her swift rise to stardom. Taraji who stole all of our hearts as the pregnant “Shug” in Hustle and Flow and shined opposite Don Cheadle in last year’s Talk to Me, has four major releases approaching in the next few months. They include Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with Brad Pitt, Taraji stars opposite Forest Whitaker and Lil’ Wayne in Hurricane Season and opposite Morris Chestnut in Not Easily Broken.

The festival’s closing film was Tribute: Stanley Tookie Williams: 1953-2003 directed by Barbara Becnel. The documentary examined death row prisoner, Crips gang co-founder, children's book author, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Stanley Tookie Williams.

Here are the winners:

Each winner received a custom made plaque, the winner of the Melvin Van Peebles Award received two round trip tickets to South Africa courtesy of South African Airways.

2008 Melvin Van Peebles Award Winner and Best Feature

Something Is Killing Tate

Director: Leon Lorenzo

(Grand Prize: Round trip to South Africa)

2008 St. Clair Bourne Award Winner for Best Documentary

Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans

Directors Dawn Logsdon and Lolis Eric Elie

Best Short

Lifted

Director: Randall Dottin

Best Student

Keys

Director: Christopher Babers

Best Urban Kidz Winner

The Don of Virgil Jr. High

Director: Deon Hayman

Best Screenplay

American Dream

Olugbemiga Idowu

Audience Favorite

Kings of the Evening

Director: Andrew P. Jones

Festival sponsors include: San Francisco Grants For The Arts, Starbucks, Wells Fargo, Rainbow Cooperative and Comcast.

“We are so pleased to be able to present awards to these filmmakers who have displayed an amazing array of cinematic talent and vision,” said Tanya Kersey, Founder & Executive Director, HBFF. “The 2008 Hollywood Black Film Festival award-winners reflect the full breadth of talent, diversity, and evolution of independent black film.”

"Our filmmakers this year displayed an extraordinary range and depth to their storytelling, and I am pleased to know that HBFF continues to garner a well deserved reputation as being the premiere festival for discovering and showcasing the next generation of talented Black filmmakers,” added Kersey. “We are thrilled how the Hollywood Black Film Festival has continued to grow in attendance, local and national awareness and acclaim from filmmakers, writers and directors.”

Leon Lozano’s feature film SOMETHING IS KILLING TATE took the top audience prize at the 9th Annual Hollywood Black Film Festival. SOMETHING IS KILLING TATE won the HBFF 2008 Audience Choice Award sponsored by Indieflix. In the film, Tate isolates himself in his apartment after surviving a suicide attempt. One by one, the players in his troubled life force him to face the demons of his past. Lozano won a cash prize courtesy of IndieFlix.

In the narrative feature film category, PANMAN, RHYTHM OF THE PALMS, directed by Sander Burger and produced by Ian Vatz, took top honors. THE PANMAN RHYTHM OF THE PALMS tells the story of the rise and fall of the steel drum pan player Harry Daniel. Harry is an icon of the Caribbean whose personal life suffers when he places his music above his family.

STREETBALLERS, written & directed by Matthew Krentz was the honorable mention.

The Short Film winner was THE DOLL, written & directed by Dante James. THE DOLL is set in the early 1900s and tells the story of Tom Taylor, the black proprietor of the Wyandot Hotel barbershop. Taylor’s humanity, his dignity, and his responsibility to family and community are severely challenged when it becomes apparent that he has an opportunity to avenge an injustice that was inflicted on his father decades earlier.

BLOOD OVER A BROKEN PAWN, written & directed by Chadwick Boseman took the short film honorable mention.

Roxana Walker-Canton and Tina Morton’s documentary BELLY OF THE BASIN earned first place honors in the documentary category while KEEPING THE FAITH, written and directed by Bobby Mardis was the honorable mention. BELLY OF THE BASIN asks New Orleans to tell its story through the voices of its ordinary residents. Through individual stories of survivors and volunteers of grassroots organizations, ‘Belly of the Basin’ poses questions about the value of human life in relationship to race, class, gender and politics.

In the student film category, the award was presented to CRENSHAW NIGHTS, written by Greg Navarro and directed by Peter Gelles. KEYS, written & directed by Christopher Babe, was the honorable mention.

OBARA & THE MECHANTS written by Michelle Bodden and directed by Manauvaskar Kublall won in the animation category. REVOLUTION, written by Trevor Parham, directed by Aled Ordu & Stefan Ruenzel won in the music video category.

The filmmaker winners receive prizes courtesy of Apple Final Cut Pro, Backstage, Baseline, Daily Variety, Film Specific, Final Draft, Fuji Film, Hollywood Creative Directory, Indieflix, Showbiz Software, Story Pointe and Writers Boot Camp. In addition to product prizes and in keeping with the festival’s motto: “ACCESS. OPPORTUNITIES. DEALS.” The winners also receive a series of meetings with agents, managers, development, acquisition and distribution executives.

The 1st place winner in the HBFF Storyteller Competition was THE NIGGA written by Derek Lively. In THE NIGGA, an out-of-work Shakespearean actor transforms into a gangsta rapper and becomes a star. 419 written by Michael Ajakwe took 2nd place honors. In 419, a third World Internet scammer tricks an unsuspecting, lonely White American male into falling in love with his Internet alter-ego – a beautiful Nigerian princess – and then convinces the dupe to bring her/him to the United States. 3rd place went to MUDDY WATERS written by Corey Moore. In MUDDY WATERS, A young, opportunistic land agent sets his sights on the biggest promotion of his career by attempting to score a lucrative deal with his estranged, alcoholic father. RUNNIN FROM THE DEVIL written by Travolta Cooper earned the honorable mention.

The Storyteller Competition winners receive product prizes courtesy of Final Draft, Hollywood Creative Directory and Story Pointe and Writers Boot Camp. Their scripts are also distributed to a number of studios and production company executives. The HBFF Storyteller Competition was designed to promote and support new talent and continue the festival’s pledge of creating opportunities for talented black screenwriters. The main goal is to give new screenwriters industry exposure and help introduce them to Hollywood.

“The diverse storytelling styles of this year’s Storyteller Competition semi-finalists is impressive,” said Alexia Ryan, HBFF Storyteller Director. “We are pleased to be able to bring these talented, diverse voices to the attention of Hollywood’s leading talent buyers.”

HBFF 2008 attendees enjoyed a whirlwind of six days hustling to see films, attending panels and workshops at the adjunct Infotainment Conference, and partying into the wee hours of the night.

A special thanks to the official sponsors of the 2008 Hollywood Black Film Festival, who helped sustain the festivals programming for the inspiring filmmakers and artists of today. Sponsors comprise of: 20th Century Fox, Ambi Skincare, Apple iTunes, Kodak and One Village Entertainment. Participating sponsors include the UK Film Council, Daily Variety, Basquiat Vineyards of California, Soft Sheen-Carson, bSide, Codeblack Entertainment, EURweb.com, Hennessy, Bombay Sapphire, Uncle Moki’s, Emerson College, Heineken, Carnivo, HER Energy Drink. The 2008 HBFF prize sponsors are Apple Final Cut Pro, Backstage, Baseline, Film Specific, Final Draft, Fuji Film, Hollywood Creative Directory, Production HU, Showbiz Software, and Writers Boot Camp. Promotional and donor partners include Black Talent News, Black HollywoodUniversity.com, Bleu Entertainment PR, A Juke Join Promotions, Southern Girl Desserts, Tagg Team DJs, Def Jam, and Celebrity Nightlife Publicity.

About the Hollywood Black Film Festival

The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF), dubbed “The Black Sundance,” is an annual 6-day celebration of black cinema drawing together established and rising filmmakers, popular film and television stars, writers, industry executives, emerging artists and diverse audiences from Southern California and around the world. The festival has become a hotbed for the Black Hollywood creative community. HBFF was founded in 1998 by its executive director, Tanya Kersey, with a mission focused on fostering and developing the vision of independent filmmakers by bringing their films to the attention of the industry, media and public through a public exhibition and competition program. Since its inception, HBFF has screened a total of 596 independent films from all across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and the Caribbean and has hosted 203 world premieres. The festival’s adjunct Infotainment Conference features 20+ panels and workshops and 100+ speakers, and covers a broad range of entertainment industry topics. Over 40,000 people have attended and enjoyed the diversity of Black cinema through the festival. The 2008 festival will be held June 3-8, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California, and will showcase the artistic expression of more than 120 black filmmakers from around the world.

In keeping with its commitment to support the creative community, in addition to the annual film festival, HBFF has created complementary platforms to showcase and develop filmmakers' projects -- the HBFF Cinema Lounge and HBFF Film Finance & Distribution Summit. The HBFF Cinema Lounge is a casual monthly networking and screening program that screens 4 to 5 short films followed by audience feedback and Q&A with the filmmakers. The annual HBFF Film Finance & Distribution Summit boasts a senior roster of seasoned industry professionals offering their insights on a broad range of film finance and distribution topics.

OVER $80,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES AWARDED TO FILMMAKERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Presented by TELUS, CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival (June 10th – 15th) proudly presented 10 awards and over $80,000 in cash and prizes to this year’s top filmmakers at the 2008 CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival Awards Picnic.

Offering one of the largest prize packages for short film in the world, the WSFF honoured this year’s exceptional filmmakers in the presence of over 400 industry delegates and filmmakers from around the globe.

One of only three Canadian festivals accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®, WSFF Canadian award winners are eligible for Genie Awards, while winners of the awards for Best Live-Action Short and Best Animated Short become eligible for the Academy Awards®.

“This year's selection of award-winning shorts showcases the incredible vision, talent and creativity of emerging and established filmmakers at home and from around the world,” said Eileen Arandiga, Festival Director.

"The CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival is proud to honour these exceptional creators and we thank them for their contribution in making the 2008 Worldwide Short Film Festival nothing short of remarkable."

The highly anticipated Award for Best Canadian Short Film, presented by Bravo!FACT, was awarded to CFC Alumna Sarah Galea-Davis with a $10,000 cheque, for the expertly crafted dramatic short CAN YOU WAVE BYE-BYE? The film, about a single woman overwrought with postpartum depression tackled a complex and often taboo subject with sensitivity and subtlety.

CFC Alumna Audrey Cummings received The Jackson-Triggs Award For Best Emerging Canadian Filmmaker and a cash prize of $5,000 for her direction of BURGEON AND FADE, the mother/daughter drama of aging and love, produced through the 2007 CFC Short Dramatic Film Program.

The C.O.R.E Digital Pictures Award For Best Animated Short was awarded to Jay White (Canada), for his hilarious and inventive BOAR ATTACK garnering him $5000 in cash and eligibility for the 2009 Academy Awards®. An Honourable Mention was handed out to Rune Christensen (Denmark) for DOWN THE ROAD, a stylish animated road thriller.

Best Live-Action Short and a Sony Digital Camcorder was captured by director Elizabeth Marre and Olivier Pont (France) for the arresting drama MANON ON THE ASPHALT (MANON SUR LE BITUME).

An Honourable Mention went to director Asaf Korman (Israel) for his emotionally affecting family drama DEATH OF SHULA.

The Best Experimental Short honour along with a Sony digital video camcorder, went to François Bégin and Miryam Bouchard (Canada) for the dance love story ROASTBEEF.

An Honourable Mention went to director Jean-Gabriel Periot (France) for UNDER TWILIGHT.

The Kodak Award for Best Cinematography in a Canadian Short was presented to Cinematographer Brendan Steacy for the visually stunning THE ANSWER KEY along with a digital camera package valued at $800. An Honourable Mention went to Cinematographer Geneviève Perron (France) for L’ASTRONAUTE.

Best Documentary Award, presented by Stella Artois with a $2,500 cash prize and $1,000 of Stella Artois for the filmmaker’s next production, went to director Bartosz Blaschke (Poland) for his quirky, artful documentary ZIETEK.

CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival is pleased to introduce the inaugural award for Best Performance in a Live-Action Short. The prize goes to Yosef Corman-Korman from Israel’s DEATH OF SHULA, who brought to life so vividly the sadness a father experiences when his expectations of family life have changed. Honourable Mentions go to Kim Kold as “Dennis” in Denmark’s DENNIS and to Chloe Jager Berger in France’s TOMBOY.

A Special Jury Prize for Best Comedy was awarded to director Rob Meyer (USA) for AQUARIUM. An Honourable Mention went to Dmitry Povolotsky (Poland) for PAL/SECAM

Announced at the packed Awards screening at the Cumberland 4 Cinemas on Sunday evening, this year’s festival goers voted for OUT OF SPAJALD (VAEK FRA SPAJALD), directed by Thomas Glud and Lars Wass (Denmark) to win the TELUS Audience Choice Award and a $5,000 cash prize.

Chosen out of all 268 films in the festival, the TELUS Audience Choice Award is the only prize in which all films, in both competition and non-competition screenings are eligible to win.

And finally, the Screenplay Giveaway Prize, a package of goods and services worth over $50,000 was awarded to Kris Elgstrand for his script “Big Head” to be directed by CFC Alumnus Dylan Akio Smith. The prize includes post-production services at Deluxe Laboratories and studio rental from Centennial College @Wallace Studios, along with film stock from Kodak, two programming passes to WIFT-T, and legal advice from Heenan Blaikie Barristers and Solicitors.

Now in its 14th year, CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival is the leading venue for the exhibition and promotion of short film in North America and is one of the premier short film festivals in the world. The WSFF Short Films, BIG IDEAS Symposium offers renowned professional development, while the WSFF Business Centre is home to the largest short film marketplace in North America.

Kim Cattrall was on hand to receive the NBC Universal Award of Distinction, and producer Jon Plowman accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Grand Prize was given to:

“White Light/Black Rain: The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki”.

Children's Programs – In partnership with DECODE/halifaxfilm/Studio B – DHX Media Companies:

"How the Gimquat Found Her Song"

Producer: Trace Pictures/Oz Media

Country: Canada

Animation Programs – In partnership with: KBS (Korean Broadcasting System):

"Charlie and Lola Series 3: I can dance like a dancer"

Producer: Tiger Aspect Productions Ltd.

For: Cbeebies

Country: UK

Youth Programs – In partnership with Shaftesbury:

"The Baby Borrowers on Holiday"

Producer: Love Productions

Country: UK

Lifestyle Programs and Light Information– In partnership with Searchlight:

"How to Look Good Naked"

Producer: Maverick

For: Channel 4

Country: UK

Reality Format Programs – In partnership with CBC/Radio-Canada:

"Intervention"

Producer: GRB Entertainment in association with A&E Television Network

For: A&E Television Network

Country: USA

Arts Documentaries – In partnership with The Banff Centre:

"What Remains: Life and Work of Sally Mann" (Cinemax Reel Life):

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Stick Figure Productions, BBC, and Cactus Three

Country: USA

Performance Programs – In partnership with CTV Television Inc.:

"Car Men"

Producer: NPS/ARTE/ESKá Televize

For: NPS

Country: Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany

Interactive Program Enhancements – In partnership with Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co.:

"Odd Job Jack"

Producer: Smiley Guy Studios

Country: Canada

Internet Only Programs - In partnership with: Alberta Film, Calgary Economic Development, Edmonton Tourism - Edmonton Film Commission:

NFB Filmmaker in residence

Producer: The National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Country: Canada

Mobile Programs & Enhancements – In partnership with Penguin Films:

"The Border: Interactive"

Producer: White Pine Pictures with Stitch Media

For: CBC

Country: Canada

Comedies – In partnership with Just for Laughs:

"Extras: Episode 9 - Daniel Radcliffe"

Producer: BBC and HBO Entertainment

Country: UK, US

Lifetime Achievement:

Jon Plowman, Producer

Social & Humanitarian Programs - In partnership with: History Makers: Summit of International History and Current Affairs Producers:

"Jerusalem is Proud to Present"

Producer: Bador Productions in association with Yona Production

For: Chennel 8-Noga Communications & Channel 2- Keshet

Country: Israel

Political Documentaries – In partnership with Documentary Organization of Canada:

"Iron Ladies of Liberia"

Producer: Just Media in association with Gabriel Films and Independent Television Service (ITUS) and Steps International.

For: ARTE

Country: Liberia, USA, South Africa, Denmark

History & Biography Programs – In partnership with Rogers Communications Inc.:

"White Light/Black Rain: The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki"

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Farallon Films

Country: USA

Investigative & Current Affairs Programs - In partnership with: A&E Television Networks:

"Dispatches: Meeting the Taliban"

Producer: October Films

For: Channel 4

Country: UK

NHK Best Asian Program – In partnership with NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation):

"White Light/Black Rain: The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki"

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Farallon Films

Country: USA

Popular Science & Technology Programs – In partnership with SAIT Polytechnic:

"My Brilliant Brain"

Producer: Windfall Films In association with FIVE

For: National Geographic Channels International

Country: UK/USA

Environmental Programs – In partnership with Canwest:

"The Human Foot Print"

Producer: Touch Prods

For: E4 (Channel 4)

Country: UK

Wildlife & Natural History Programs – In partnership with WGBH:

"Four Wings and a Prayer"

Producer: Primitive Entertainment Inc. in association with Filmes a Trois,

The National Film Board of Canada, and NHK

For: The Documentary Channel

Country: Canada, France, Japan

Best Canadian Program – In partnership with Playback:

"Ghosts of the Yangtze" (Up the Yangtze)

Producer: EyeSteelFilms in association with National Film Board of Canada

For: National Geographic Channels International

Country: China, USA, Canada

Best Canadian Program – In partnership with Playback:

"The Real Superhumans and the Quest for the Future Fantastic"

Producer: Bird Plane Productions Inc. in association with Proper Television Inc.

For: Discovery Channel

Country: Canada

Telenovela & Serial Programs – In partnership with Shure Incorporated:

"Turkish for Beginners: Season 2"

Producer: Hofmann &Voges Entertaiment GmbH

For: ARD / BR

Country: Germany

Made-for-TV Movies – In partnership with Sony of Canada Ltd.:

"Stuart, A Life Backwards"

Producer: Neal Street Productions

For: BBC/HBO

Country: UK

Mini-Series – In partnership with Deluxe Vancouver | Toronto:

"Cranford"

Producer: BBC Drama Production / WGBH Boston in association with Chestermead Ltd.

Country: UK, US

Continuing Series – In partnership with the Independent Production Fund:

"Skins"

Producer: Company Pictures

For: E4 (Channel 4)

Country: UK

Special Jury – Best Documentary:

"Iron Ladies of Liberia"

Producer: Just Media in association with Gabriel Films and Independent Television Service (ITUS) and Steps International.

For ARTE

Country: Liberia, USA, South Africa, Denmark

Special Jury – Feature Length Documentary:

"What Remains: Life and Work of Sally Mann" (Cinemax Reel Life)

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Stick Figure Productions, BBC, and Cactus Three

Country: USA

Special Jury – Best Drama:

"Stuart, A Life Backwards"

Producer: Neal Street Productions

For: BBC/HBO

Country: UK

Special Jury – Best Entertainment:

"Extras: Episode 9 - Daniel Radcliffe"

Producer: BBC and HBO Entertainment

Country: UK, US

Special Jury – Best Overall:

"Top Gear"

Producer: BBC

Country: UK

Special Jury – Best Overall

"51st Birch St."

Producer: Copacetic Pictures New York in Association with HBO, ZDF, and ARTE

Country: US, Germany

NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction:

Kim Cattrall

Grand Prize:

"White Light/Black Rain: The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki"

Producer: HBO Documentary Films in association with Farallon Films

Country: USA

The Banff World Television Festival is a not-for-profit event produced by Achilles Media Ltd., an international events management company serving the television and digital media industries. Achilles Media Ltd. events include: History Makers: International Summit of History & Current Affairs Producers, nextMEDIA events, Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) and NATPE Mobile++.

Productions from England, Japan and the United States took Best of Show “Grand Prix” honors at the 41st annual U.S. International Film And Video Festival.

Winning in the Corporate category was “KPMG Graduate Recruitment Film,” from Jack Morton Worldwide, London. Tops in Education was “Mathematica II: Squaring the Circle,” from NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.), Tokyo. The Documentary winner was a PBS production, “NATURE: Unforgettable Elephants,” from Thirteen/WNET, New York City.

The KPMG film demonstrates the global network of auditing, tax and advisory services of KPMG in a lively format designed to attract new college graduates to the firm. “Mathematica” uses animated and real world techniques – such as a comparison of a round cake and a square cake – to teach the pi formula. “Nature: Unforgettable Elephants” represents more than 15 years of work by photographer Martyn Colbeck, who documented the lives of African elephants in Kenya.

Other nominees for the Best of Festival in Corporate were:

“Gebrűder Heinemann Orchestra Film,” BM8 GmbH, Hamburg, Germany, which was made to demonstrate the strength of Gebrüder Heinemann in distribution of goods with respect to security sensitive environments;

“IBM Hermitage Film,” Jack Morton Worldwide, New York City, highlights the IBM project to put the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, online and explains how by promoting access to art helps build a bridge across cultures.

Nominated in Education was “Role of Platelet Production in ITP,” created by Shaw Science Partners, Atlanta. Ga., USA, to explain to hematologists a new drug from GlaxoSmithKlne that will be used to treat immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The other nominees for Documentary were “J.M.W. Turner,” a profile of the famous 18th century British artist from National Gallery of Art, Landover, Md., USA; and “The Pagan Christ,” created by David Brady Productions, Sandhurst, Ontario, Canada, based on the controversial book by Tom Harpur, “The Pagan Christ: Rediscovering the Lost Light.”

The winners and nominees also won First Place Gold Camera Awards in the competition, which had winners from 23 countries.

Director: Danielle Bernstein

Best Spiritual Film: PURPLE STATE OF MIND

Director: Craig Detweiler, John Marks

Best Documentary: THE BIG QUESTION

Director: Vince DiPersio

Best Student Film: Muhammad Ali Hasan for RABIA

Best Drama: CRAZY

Director: Rick Bieber

Best Short Drama: BENEATH THE TIDES

Director: Jacqueline Archer

Best GLBT: TRU LOVED

Director: Stewart Wade

Best Comedy: THIS IS NOT A TEST

Director: Christopher Angel

Best Short Comedy: STRUCK

Director: Taron Lexton

Best Original Score: MARIONETTE

Director: Yo Kohatsu

Best Screenplay: Kevin Allen Jackson & Andres Faucher in EL PASAJERO

Director: Andres Faucher

Best Special Effects: THE FLYBOYS

Director: Rocco DeVilliers

Best Animation: OUTSOURCE

Director: Daniel Trezise

Best Director: Rocco DeVilliers for THE FLYBOYS

Best Actress: Najarra Townsend in TRU LOVED

Director: Stewart Wade

Best Actor: Waylon Payne in CRAZY

Director: Rick Bieber

Best Supporting Actress: Michelle Clunnie in LEAVING BARSTOW

Director: Peter Paige

Best Supporting Actors: Dan McCabe & Luke Grimes in WAR EAGLE, ARKANSAS

Director: Robert Milazzo

Best Ensemble Cast: Jorge Palacios & Dimas Gonzales in EL PASAJERO

Director: Andres Faucher

Best Cinematographer: Yo Kohatsu for MARIONETTE

Director: Yo Kohatsu

Audience Awards

#1 COURTHOUSE GIRLS FROM FARMLAND

Director: Norman Klein

#2 ACT YOUR AGE

Director: Robin Christian

#3 THE FLYBOYS

Director: Rocco DeVilliers

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.

KINGS OF THE EVENING, Directed by Andrew P. Jones is the Audience Favorite

The San Francisco Black Film Festival (SFBFF) celebrated its ten-year anniversary from June 4-8 and June 11-15, 2008. Befitting its milestone status, the theme of this year’s festival was “10 Years, 10 Days, more than 100 Films” as the SFBFF spanned the globe with works from Africa, Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States.

Ave Montague, SFBFF founder and director commented, “Screening at five venues presented its challenges, at the end of the day we were exhausted but thrilled with the number of new and repeat filmgoers and record breaking box office numbers.”

The festival got a jump start with the annual Urban Kidz Film Series at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco. Created with young viewers in mind, the annual film series is an offshoot of the San Francisco Black Film Festival and featured a striking assemblage of short and feature films, designed to spark the imaginations of the 5-to-12-year-old set. Audience favorites included The Don of Virgil Jr. High and African Academy Award winner, Do You Believe In Magic?

Opening night kicked off on Wednesday, June 4th with Shoot the Messenger, a funny and sometimes controversial work from Nigerian-born British filmmaker Ngozi Onwurah about a Black British teacher who fights his way out of madness and stops blaming his own people only after losing his job. Our audience loved the film and folks are still talking about it. The opening night festivities continued with a standing room only party at Rasselas Jazz Club. The festival continued with non-stop films, receptions and workshops throughout the historic Fillmore District.

On Saturday, June 14, the first annual Awards Brunch was presented at the posh 1300 on Fillmore restaurant. Owners David Lawrence and Monetta White welcomed the film community as they sipped mimosas and sampled the restaurant’s signature barbeque shrimp, grits, eggs and black-skillet fried chicken prepared by Chef Lawrence.

The Brunch sponsored by PG&E was followed with an awards program acknowledging the best works in screenplay, short, feature, documentary, student and Urban Kidz categories. The first St. Clair Bourne Award was presented for the best documentary. The overall winner received the Melvin Van Peebles Award, which honors an emerging filmmaker with a unique vision, singular style and uncompromising point of view.

Actress Taraji P. Henson (who currently plays attorney Whitney Rome on Boston Legal) received the first-ever Phoenix Award in honor of her swift rise to stardom. Taraji who stole all of our hearts as the pregnant “Shug” in Hustle and Flow and shined opposite Don Cheadle in last year’s Talk to Me, has four major releases approaching in the next few months. They include Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with Brad Pitt, Taraji stars opposite Forest Whitaker and Lil’ Wayne in Hurricane Season and opposite Morris Chestnut in Not Easily Broken.

The festival’s closing film was Tribute: Stanley Tookie Williams: 1953-2003 directed by Barbara Becnel. The documentary examined death row prisoner, Crips gang co-founder, children's book author, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Stanley Tookie Williams.

Here are the winners:

Each winner received a custom made plaque, the winner of the Melvin Van Peebles Award received two round trip tickets to South Africa courtesy of South African Airways.

2008 Melvin Van Peebles Award Winner and Best Feature

Something Is Killing Tate

Director: Leon Lorenzo

(Grand Prize: Round trip to South Africa)

2008 St. Clair Bourne Award Winner for Best Documentary

Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans

Directors Dawn Logsdon and Lolis Eric Elie

Best Short

Lifted

Director: Randall Dottin

Best Student

Keys

Director: Christopher Babers

Best Urban Kidz Winner

The Don of Virgil Jr. High

Director: Deon Hayman

Best Screenplay

American Dream

Olugbemiga Idowu

Audience Favorite

Kings of the Evening

Director: Andrew P. Jones

Festival sponsors include: San Francisco Grants For The Arts, Starbucks, Wells Fargo, Rainbow Cooperative and Comcast.

Director/Writer: Daniel Barnz

Producer: Lynette Howell

Starring: Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman, Campbell Scott

Narrative, US, 2008, 96 minutes

Audience Award Winner - Documentary: "Autism: The Musical"

Director/Producer/Cinematographer: Tricia Regan

Producers: Sasha Alpert, Perrin Chiles

DOCUMENTARY, US, 2007, 93 minutes

Outstanding Performance in Acting: Mark Webber for "The Good Life"

Director: Stephen Berra

Outstanding Performance in Acting: Joe Mantegna for "Elvis and Anabelle"

Director: Will Geiger

Outstanding Performance in Acting: Lake Bell for "Still Waters"

Director: Andrew Ford

Outstanding Performance in Acting: Shelly Cole for "The Village Barbershop"

Director: Chris Ford

Breakout Performance: Chris Klein for "The Good Life"

Director: Stephen Berra

Breakout Performance: Blake Lively for "Elvis and Anabelle"

Director: Will Geiger

Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking: "Lie to Me"

Director: John Stewart Muller

Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking: "Elvis and Anabelle"

Director: Will Geiger

Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking: "The Art of Travel"

Director: Thomas Whelan

Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking: "What We Do Is Secret"

Director: Rodger Grossman

Outstanding Achievement in Directing: Richie Mehta for "Amal"

Humanitarian Vision Award: "Camp Woz: The Admirable Lunacy of Philanthropy"

Director: Jarrad Kritzstein, Drew J. Foster

Humanitarian Vision Award – "For Tomorrow"

Director: Kenneth Kokin

Outstanding Achievement in Documentary: "Hollywood Singing and Dancing"

Director: Mark McLaughlin

Outstanding Achievement in Documentary - "Flow: For Love Of Water"

Director: Irena Salina

Outstanding Achievement in Documentary - "Trying To Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon"

Director: Penny Peyser and Doug Mcintyre

Outstanding Achievement in Documentary - "Beautiful Losers"

Director: Aaron Rose

Outstanding Achievement in Action Sports Filmmaking: "Under The Sun"

Director: Cyrus Sutton

Outstanding Achievement in Family Filmmaking: "The Adventures of Food Boy"

Director: Dane Cannon

Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking Cinematography: "Night"

Director: Lawrence Johnston

Outstanding Achievement in Short Documentary Filmmaking: "On Great White Wings"

Director: Joshua Colover

Laszlo Kovacs Cinematography Award: "Red Like the Sky"

Director: Cristiano Bortone

Feature Films Best Film: "Fugitive Pieces"

Director: Jeremy Podeswa

Best Actor: Nadim Sawalha, for "Captain Abu Raed"

Director: Amin Matalqa

Best Actress: Rana Sultan, for "Captain Abu Raed"

Director: Amin Matalqa

Best Director: Jeremy Podeswa, for "Fugitive Pieces"

Best Cinematographer: Gregory Middleton, for "Fugitive Pieces"

Director: Jeremy Podeswa

Best Screenplay – Jeremy Podeswa, for "Fugitive Pieces"

Best Documentary Film – "Mardick: From Baghdad to Hollywood"

Director: Ramy Katrib and Evan York

Short Films Best Narrative Short Film – "The Angel"

Director: Paul Hough

Best Animated Short Film – "Yoga Noga Reyoga"

Director: Kengo Kurimoto

Best Short Documentary Film – "Carissa"

Director: David Sauvage

AUDIENCE WINNERS

Audience Winner - Feature: "Leaving Barstow"

Director: Peter Paige

Audience Winner- Foreign Feature: "Red Like the Sky"

Director: Cristiano Bortone

Audience Winner – Documentary (TIE): "Trying to Get Good"

Director: Penny Peyser and Doug Mcintyre

and "Sliding Liberia"

Director: Britton Caillouette

Audience Winner- Shorts: "Father Taken"

Director: Jonathan Ingalls

“We are extremely proud of these directors’ accomplishments and we are honored to have had these films as part of the Festival,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival.

“It’s especially gratifying and exciting to see that the members of our juries selected an extremely diverse group of films – in terms of both their themes and their countries of production – and that the majority of the prizes are going to filmmakers and performers who are all at an early stage of their careers,” said Peter Scarlet, Artistic Director of the Festival.

In addition to cash awards and in-kind services provided by sponsors including American Express, Apple, Cadillac, Delta Air Lines, Edelman Studios, The New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development, The New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting the Festival presented the winners with original pieces of art created by 13 acclaimed artists.

Following are the awards and their winners:

* The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – “Let the Right One In” (Lat den rätte komma in)

directed by Tomas Alfredson (Sweden).

Winner receives $25,000 cash and the art award "Maternal Nocture: Clearing Storm” created by Stephen Hannock.

Jury Comments: “For its mesmerizing exploration of loneliness and alienation through masterful reexamination of the vampire myth.”

* Best New Narrative Filmmaker – “My Marlon and Brando” (Gitmek)

directed by Hüseyin Karabey (Turkey, Netherlands, UK). Winner receives $25,000 cash, sponsored by American Express, and the art award “Bonfire,” created by Ross Bleckner.

Jury Comments: “For its skillful blending of documentary style with a classic love story and ultimate creation of a truly modern and unlikely international heroine.”

* Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Film – Thomas Turgoose and Piotr Jagiello in “Somers Town”

directed by Shane Meadows (UK).

Sponsored by Delta Air Lines. Each winner receives a business elite ticket voucher for anywhere Delta travels.

Jury Comments: “For an extraordinary and exhilarating rendering of a friendship found, the Narrative Feature Jury is awarding the Best Actor prize to this magical team.”

* Best Actress in a Narrative Feature Film – Eileen Walsh in “Eden”

directed by Declan Recks (Ireland).

Sponsored by Delta Air Lines. Winner receives two business elite ticket vouchers for anywhere Delta travels.

Jury Comments: “For her exquisite rendering of a lonely wife aching to be seen and heard.”

* Best Documentary Feature – “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”

directed by Gini Reticker (USA).

Winner receives $25,000 cash and the art award “Liza Minnelli,” created by Timothy White.

Jury Comments: “In a relentless pursuit of peace, the women of Liberia show us how community, motherly love and perseverance can change the fate of a society. Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a reminder that we have the power to say “Enough!” to the atrocities of our world.”

* Best New Documentary Filmmaker – “Old Man Bebo” directed by Carlos Carcas (Spain). Winner receives $25,000 cash, sponsored by American Express, and the art award “Maquette for Primary Compass,” created by Don Gummer.

Jury Comments: “We the jury feel that Carlos Carcas showed us that if you truly have art in your body and soul it will find its way out into the world. We applaud the filmmaker for bringing Old Man Bebo into our consciousness.”

* “New York LOVES Film” – “Zoned In”

directed by Daniela Zanzotto (USA,UK).

Winner receives $5,000 cash, sponsored by New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development, and the art award “Table Odeon,” created by Donna Ferrato.

Special Mention: “Hotel Gramercy Park” directed by Douglas Keeve (USA).

Jury Comments: “This was a challenging and spirited discussion with two clear favorites: both films are very different and the jury felt that both should get equal mention even though only one gets the prize. We thought Hotel Gramercy Park was a highly entertaining and moving story about a New York family and a New York institution coming to terms with a changing city, but in the end we felt Zoned In deserved the prize for having the bravery to tell a seemingly typical story that ends up revealing bold and difficult truths.”

* “Made In NY” – Narrative – “The Caller”

directed by Richard Ledes (USA).

Winner receives $5,000 cash, sponsored by The City of New York Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, and the art award “Nude on Guitar” created by Ralph Gibson.

Jury Comments: “The Caller superbly uses its New York locations – from the sleek mid-town high-rises to the desolate Brooklyn Bridge piers – to create a chilling and finally stirring suspense movie; an unusual thriller whose mysterious plot finally exposes the mysteries of the heart.”

* Best Narrative Short – “New Boy”

directed by Steph Green.

Sponsored by Edelman Studios. Winner receives $5,000 cash and the art award “Air” created by Francesco Clemente.

Jury Comments: “New Boy took us on a complete emotional journey. It was moving, funny and powerful.”

* Best Documentary Short – “Mandatory Service” directed by Jessica Habie.

Sponsored by Edelman Studios. Winner receives $5,000 cash and the art award “The Screamer,” created by John Alexander.

Jury Comments: “Mandatory Service, a perspective of war and conflict from participants themselves. The Israeli’s empathy for the Palestinians is not a perspective we glimpse too often in Western Media.”

* Student Visionary Award – “Elephant Garden”

directed by Sasie Sealy.

Sponsored by Apple. Winner receives an Apple Mac Pro Desktop with a 15" Display and Final Cut Studio 2 and the art award "Harmonium" created by Clifford Ross.

Jury Comments: “Elephant Garden captured the “inner-life” of a beautiful young girl; her confusion as she becomes a young adult. Wonderful visual story telling and the performance of Kelley Mack is stellar.”

* Cadillac Award – Winner to be chosen by the Audience and will be announced on WNBC-TV on Saturday, May 3rd. Winner receives $25,000 cash and the art award “Peripheral Drift Illusion,” created by Ryan McGinness, as well as a trophy created by Cadillac.

2008 Tribeca Film Festival Jurors

A distinguished and diverse panel of jurists selected the winning films in this year’s Festival. Jurors included:

World Competition Categories:

The jurors for the 2008 World Narrative Competition were Peter Hedges, Gregory Hoblit, Callie Khouri, Oliver Platt and Christine Vachon.

The jurors for the 2008 World Documentary Competition were Jared Cohen, Whoopi Goldberg, Ross Kauffman, Padma Lakshmi and Jose Padilha.

New York Competition Categories:

The 2008 “Made in NY” Narrative Feature Award jurors were Peter Dinklage, Fred Durst, Greg Mottola, Stephen Schiff and Annabella Sciorra.

The 2008 “NY Loves Film” Documentary Feature Award jurors were Liya Kebede, Doug Liman, Esther Robinson, Josh Schwartz, Jay McInerney and Andre Leon Talley.

Short Film Competition Categories:

The 2008 Narrative Short jurors were Mario Batali, Christine Lahti, Molly Shannon, Lili Taylor and Zac Posen.

The 2008 Documentary and Student Short jurors were David Bowie, Red Burns, Matthew Modine, Lee Schrager and David de Rothschild.

World Narrative Feature Competition:

* Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature: 12 films

* Best New Narrative Filmmaker: 7 filmmakers

* Best Actress in a Narrative Feature: 12 actresses

* Best Actor in a Narrative Feature: 13 actors

World Documentary Feature Competition:

* Best Documentary Feature: 12 films

* Best New Documentary Filmmaker: 12 filmmakers

New York Films:

* “NY Loves Film” – Documentary: 9 films

* “Made In NY” – Narrative: 7 films

Short Films in Competition:

* Best Narrative Short: 36 films

* Best Documentary Short: 19 films

* Student Visionary Award: 20 films

Grand Jury Prize Narrative: "BALLAST"

directed by Lance Hammer

Special Jury Prize: "MOMMA’S MAN"

directed by Azazel Jacobs

Grand Jury Prize Documentary: "SONG SUNG BLUE" directed by Greg Kohs

Special Jury Prize Documentary: "SECRECY"

directed by Robb Moss and Peter Galison

Grand Jury Prize Short Film: "MAN"

directed by Myna Joseph

Special Jury Prize Short Film: "GLORY AT SEA!"

directed by Ben Zeitlin

Programmer’s Choice Award: "GOLIATH"

directed by David & Nathan Zellner

IFFBoston 2008 Audience Awards

Narrative: "MY WINNIPEG"

Documentary: "LIFE.SUPPORT.MUSIC."

Short: "TONY ZOREIL" (TONY ZEAR)

New Directors Award: "Vasermil"

Directed by: Mushon Salmona (Israel, 2007)

Winner receives a $10,000 cash prize and AVID Xpress Pro software courtesy of AVID.

New Directors Special Jury Mention: "Wonderful Town" Directed by: Aditya Assarat (Thailand, 2007)

FIPRESCI Prize: "Ballast"

Directed by: Lance Hammer (USA, 2007)

FIPRESCI Special Jury Mention: "Glasses"

Directed by: Naoko Ogigami (Japan, 2007)

Chris Holter Humor in Film Award: "Time to Die"

Directed by: Dorota Kedzierzawska (Poland, 2007)

Winner receives a $2,500 cash prize.

Golden Gate Awards

Documentary Feature: "Up the Yangtze"

Directed by: Yung Chang (Canada, 2007)

Winner receives a $15,000 cash prize and Final Cut Studio software courtesy of Apple.

Documentary Feature Special Jury Prize: "Forbidden Lie$"

Directed by: Anna Broinowski (Australia, 2007)

Bay Area Documentary Feature: "Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans"

Directed by: Dawn Logsdon (USA, 2008)

Winner receives a $10,000 cash prize, Final Cut Studio software courtesy of Apple and $2,000 worth of lab services from EFILM Digital Laboratories.

Documentary Short: "The Ladies"

Directed by: Christina A. Voros (USA, 2007)

Winner receives a $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Stella Artois.

Bay Area Short, First Prize: "Cabinet"

Directed by: Todd Herman (USA, 2007)

Winner receives a $2,000 cash prize.

Bay Area Short, Second Prize: "On the Assassination of the President"

Directed by: Adam Keker (USA, 2007)

Winner receives a $1,500 cash prize.

Narrative Short: "Thick Skinned"

Directed by: Jean-Bernard Marlin, Benoit Rambourg (France, 2007)

Winner receives a $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Stella Artois and $1,700 worth of Kodak film stock.

Animated Short: "Madame Tutli-Putli"

Directed by: Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski (Canada)

Winner receives a $2,000 cash prize.

New Visions: "Cabinet"

Directed by: Todd Herman (USA, 2007)

Winner receives a $1,500 cash prize and $1,700 worth of Kodak film stock.

Work for Kids and Families: "When I Grow Up"

Directed by: Michelle R. Meeker (USA, 2007)

Winner receives a $1,500 cash prize.

Youth Work: "Writing History with Lightning: The Triumph and Tragedy of America’s First Blockbuster" Directed by: Charlotte Burger (USA, 2007)

Winner receives a $1,500 cash prize and Scheduling and Budgeting software courtesy of Entertainment Partners.

Previously announced Golden Gate Award winners (Television)

TV Documentary Long Form: "Calavera Highway"

Directed by: Renee Tajima-Peña (USA/Mexico, 2007)

TV Documentary Short Form: "The Mystery of the Second Painting"

Directed by: Muriel Edelstein (France, 2007)

TV Narrative Long Form: "Operation Turquoise"

Directed by: Alain Tasma (France, 2007)

Capital Focus Award

The Capital Focus Award is a juried competition of selected films deserving of increased recognition. Films in competition were selected by the Festival's Programming Committee and the winner was determined by a jury of accomplished film professionals. This year's winner is "Paloma Delight" by Nadir Mokneche (Algeria, France). Additionally, a Special Jury Award goes to "La Zona" by Rodrigo Plá (Spain, Mexico).

Circle Audience Award

Founded by Ted and Jim Pedas, Washington's Circle Theatres set the standard for innovative quality film programming. Filmfest DC presented an award to the feature film voted the most popular by our audience. The top 5 films are:

1. "Katyn"

Directed by Andrzej Wajda (Poland)

2. "Late Bloomers"

Directed by Bettina Oberli (Switzerland)

3. "We Are Together"

Directed by Paul Taylor (United Kingdom)

4. "Empties"

Directed by Jan Sverak (Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Denmark)

5. "Beyond the Call"

Directed by Adrian Belic (USA)

Images Prize: Presented by the Images Festival and sponsored by NOW Magazine, this is our grand prize, awarded in recognition of the Best Canadian Media Artwork in the festival. The recipient receives a $500 cash prize.

WINNER: Daniel Barrow (Winnipeg) for "Everytime I See Your Picture I Cry"

National Film Board of Canada Award: This prize is awarded by the NFB to the Best Emerging Canadian Film or Video Maker in the festival. The winner receives $5,000 in services through the NFB Filmmaker Assistance Program.

WINNER: Christine Negus (London, Ontario)

Technicolor Cinematic Vision Award: A new award in 2008 presented by Technicolor, this award honors excellence and innovation in the visual realization of a work by a Canadian film or video artist. The recipient receives $2,500 of 35mm lab or post-production services in the Toronto office donated by Technicolor.

WINNER: Marianna Milhorat (Montréal)

Best International On Screen (film) Award: Presented by the Images Festival, this award honours the strongest new international film in the festival. The recipient receives a $250 cash prize.

WINNER: Redmond Entwistle (UK) for "Paterson-Lodz"

HONOURABLE MENTION: Jeanne Liotta (USA) for "Observando el Cielo"

Best International On Screen (video) Award: Presented by the Images Festival, this award honors the strongest new international video in the festival.

The recipient receives a $250 cash prize.

WINNER: Kamal Aljafari (Palestine/Germany) for "The Roof"

Best Off Screen Award: Presented by the Images Festival, this award honors the strongest new Canadian or international installation or new media work in the festival. The recipient receives a $250 cash prize.

WINNER: Isabelle Pauwels (Vancouver) for Triple Bill @ Blackwood Gallery

HONOURABLE MENTION: Nelson Henricks (Montréal) for "the Sirens" @ Gallery 44

Steam Whistle Homebrew Award: Presented by Steam Whistle Brewing, this award honours excellence and promise in a local artist. The recipient receives a $500 cash prize.

WINNER: Christina Battle

Overkill Award: This award was established by the Images Festival in 2000 to honour former Executive Director Deirdre Logue, (1996 through 1999 festivals) This award is presented annually to a film, video or installation artist whose work approaches extremes of incorrigibility through form and/or content and challenges our notions of edgy, experimental practice. Sponsored by an anonymous donor, the recipient receives a $300 cash prize.

WINNER: Greg Pope (Oslo/UK) for "Light Trap" (Live Images 1)

Marian McMahon Award: Presented by the Images Festival with support from Kodak Canada and sponsored by Images, this award is given to a woman filmmaker each year to honor strong work in autobiography, the complexity of "subject" and the spirit of Marian McMahon. The recipient is invited to attend the Independent Imaging filmmaking retreat, held every each June in Mount Forest, Ontario facilitated by Philip Hoffman.

WINNER: Jennifer Reeves (USA) for "Light Work Mood Disorder"

York University Award for Best Student Film: Presented by York University's Department of Film and Video, the recipient receives a $300 cash award generously donated by the Department of Film and Video, a Gulf Islands Film and Television School scholarship covering tuition for any one-week Media Intensive Program of their choice and $250 worth of Super-8 to video transfer services from Frame Discreet. The recipient is determined by audience vote.

WINNER: Josiah Aiken-Drake (USA, Hampshire College) for "Countdown"

Vtape Award for Best Student Video: This longstanding award is presented by Vtape, Toronto's video art distributor and includes a $300 cash prize generously donated by Vtape, and $250 worth of Super-8 to video transfer services from Frame Discreet. The recipient is determined by audience vote.

WINNER: Zak Tatham (OCAD) for "Drawn Close"

Ryerson University Award for Best Emerging Canadian Film/Videomaker from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): A new award in 2008 sponsored by Ryerson University's G. Raymond Chang School for Continuing Education includes $500 toward a Continuing Education course in Film Studies at Toronto's Ryerson University.

WINNER: Dylin North (OCAD) for "Memory Thief"

Images/Charles Street Video Residency Award: The Images Festival and Charles Street Video are pleased to offer a new residency in 2008-2009. Up to five Emerging and Established artists will be commissioned to create a new project. Artists were invited to submit a proposal for jury consideration in March 2008 to create a short work that will premiere at the 2009 Images Festival. Each artist receives a package valued at approximately $10,000* (emerging) or $18,000* (established), which includes high or standard definition video production and post-production services, an artist fee and a membership at Charles Street Video. The artists selected for this inaugural year-long residency will be announced at this year's Images Festival awards ceremony on Saturday April 12, 2008. *Estimated value at industry rental rates.

RESIDENTS: Guillermina Buzio, Lesley Loksi Chan, Penny McCann, Steev Morgan, Sarah Shamash

Tom Berner Award: This award, sponsored by LIFT, (The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto) commemorates the late Tom Berner, who for many years supported and nurtured Canadian filmmakers. The award is presented annually to an individual who has provided extraordinary support to the cause of independent filmmaking in Toronto. In 2008 we present the Tom Berner Award to Sebastjan Henrickson.

"Sebastjan has supported independent filmmakers on an individual basis, but also through frequent and extensive collaboration with artist-run organizations such as LIFT, TAIS and numerous local festivals, as well as by processing work by student filmmakers at film schools across the country. His lab's flexibility, its willingness to undertake unusual processes, also increases the range of options available to artist-filmmakers. – Chris Gehman

The NBC Universal Award of Distinction acknowledges an individual's outstanding career in the broadcast industry. The award will be presented to Ms. Cattrall on Monday June 9th at the Banff World Television Awards. On Tuesday June 10th, Ms. Cattrall will sit down with Bill Carter of the New York Times to discuss her life and career.

Cattrall was a leading force in turning the ground-breaking HBO series Sex and the City into a global phenomenon. Portraying femme fatale Samantha, Cattrall won over the hearts of every woman, by playing it honest and impulsive, bringing out the inner vamp in us all. Cattrall has been highly praised by the critics and recognized with a Golden Globe and 2 Screen Actors Guild awards, plus 5 additional Golden Globe, 4 Emmy and 3 Screen Actors' Guild nominations. With the worldwide syndication of Sex and the City, her portrayal of Samantha is known around the globe.

Cattrall will be seen this summer in John Boorman's The Tiger's Tail with Brenden Gleeson for Sony Classics. Most recently Kim starred in "My Boy Jack," opposite Daniel Radcliffe and David Haig. The film, which aired in the U.K. on ITV, was highly praised by critics and will be airing in the U.S. on April 20th on PBS Masterpiece Theater. She is currently reprising her role as the infamous Samantha Jones, in "Sex and the City: The Movie," which will be released by New Line in May.

"It is with great pleasure that we bestow the NBC Universal Award of Distinction on Kim Cattrall," says Ron Suter, Senior Vice President and General Manager, NBC Universal Television Distribution, Canada. "Having grown up in Vancouver and starred in many films and television programs that have originated in Canada, Kim's distinguished acting career is a prime example of what this award was meant to stand for."

“Ms. Cattrall has an incredibly prolific and successful career in both films and television,” says Jennifer Harkness, Executive Director, BANFF. “It’s a thrill to welcome her to this festival that celebrates the best in the industry.”

The Banff World Television Festival is a not-for-profit event produced by Achilles Media Ltd., an international events management company serving the television and digital media industries. Achilles Media Ltd. events include: History Makers: International Summit of History & Current Affairs Producers, nextMEDIA events, Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) and NATPE Mobile++. For more information, visit www.achillesmedia.com. The Banff World Television Festival takes place June 8-11 amid the spectacular Canadian Rockies at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Alberta, Canada. To register, please visit www.banff2008.com

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.

The night of the festival the audience is asked to vote for their favorite film or video with a ballot they receive on their program. Votes are counted that night and the next day we announce that years "LeBlanc Audience Choice Award." The "LeBlanc Audience Choice Award" is dedicated to former ASU Art Museum Security Officer Steve LeBlanc, whose life was taken from us tragically prior to the 1998 festival. He was a great friend to everyone and a major reason the festival was a big success in its first year. Everyone loved Steve and that is why we found it appropriate to dedicate this award to his memory.

Maurice Chauvet for "Three-Fifty"

The winners of this year's Challenge are:

Best Film of the 2008 International Documentary Challege ($1,000 cash award) CLICK WHOOSH

Team: Reel Grrrls

City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Genre: Historical

Team Leader: Reid Kuennen

American Documentary | P.O.V. Short Film Award ($1,000 Cash Award & featured on POV Website)

ARS MAGNA

Team: Juicebox

City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Genre: Biography/Character Study

Team Leader: Sean Roach

Doc Challenge Original Vision Award BEHOLDER

Team: Boss and Coder 34

City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA

Genre: First Person

Team Leader: Eric Daniel Metzgar

Best Directing

STICK AND POUND

Team: It Donned On Me

City/Country: Foster City, CA, USA

Genre: Art

Directed by: www.ItDonnedOnMe.com

Best Editing

I=ME2

Team: Year of the Rooster

City/Country: Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

Genre: Experimental

Edited by: Kevin Thomas

Best Cinematography

STICK AND POUND

Team: It Donned On Me

City/Country: Foster City, CA, USA

Genre: Art

Cinematography by: www.ItDonnedOnMe.com

Best Writing

BEHOLDER

Team: Boss and Coder 34

City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA

Genre: First Person

Written by: Eric Daniel Metzgar

Best Soundtrack

THE MIXTRESS

Team: Wideshot Studios

City/Country: Portland, OR, USA

Genre: Biography/Character Study

Arranged by: The Mixtress: Jules Bennett

Best Original Score

JETTY

Team: Fly On The Wall

City/Country: Portland, OR, USA

Genre: Social Issue/Political

Original Score by Bell Plaines & Arlen Kallunki

Best Use of "Change" Theme

PENNYWISE: THE CHANGING FACE OF CHANGE

Team: Lucky Shot

City/Country: Silver Spring, MD, USA

Genre: Social Issue/Political

Best Use of Date Stamp

RED LIGHT BLUES

Team: Abrahami-Netz Productions

City/Country: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Genre: Social Issue/Political

BEST USE OF GENRE AWARDS

Best Use of Art Genre

GHOST BIKE

Team: Go!

City/Country: Toronto, ON, Canada

Best Use of Character Study Genre

ARS MAGNA

Team Juicebox

City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Best Use of Experimental Genre

I=ME2

Team: Year of the Rooster

City/Country: Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

Best Use of First Person Genre

BEHOLDER

Team: Boss and Coder 34

City/Country: Brooklyn, NY, USA

Best Use of Historical Genre

CLICK WHOOSH

Team: Reel Grrrls

City/Country: Seattle, WA, USA

Best Use of Music Genre

OLD SOUL

Team: Reel Hard Workin Dogs

City/Country: Washington, DC, USA

Best Use of Nature Genre

FARM TO TABLE

Team: Smoke In Mirror Productions

City/Country: Rutland, VT, USA

Best Use of Social Issue/Political Genre

MEET THE FREEGANS

Team: Shields Films

City/Country: Portland, OR, USA

Best Use of Sports Genre

THE ART OF BALANCE

Team: Surge Media

City/Country: New York, NY, USA

SPECIAL JUDGES AWARDS

Best Use of Archival Footage

PENNYWISE: THE CHANGING FACE OF CHANGE

Team: Lucky Shot

City/Country: Silver Spring, MD, USA

Genre: Social Issue/Political

Best Social Commentary

FIERCELY INDEPENDENT

Team: Higher Rock & Downward Spiral Productions

City/Country: Moab, UT, USA

TAKING ROOT: THE VISION OF WANGARI MAATHAI (Director: Lisa Merton, Alan Dater; USA), the inspiring story of the Nobel laureate whose simple act of planting trees inspired Kenya’s environmental movement, protected the human rights of its people and defended the nation’s democracy, won the Hot Docs Audience Award. Sponsored by History Television, the award is decided by audience ballot.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Prize for best Canadian documentary on international development was awarded to SHOCK WAVES (Director: Pierre Mignault, Hélène Magny) for its courageous portrayal of a country and its people. The documentary shows the powerful impact that community-based radio has in affecting significant change throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The CIDA Jury commended the filmmakers for sharing the risks taken by the Radio Okapi journalists on the ground and for bringing a fresh perspective to this under-reported story. The CIDA Award comes with a $5000 cash prize.

The 2008 Hot Docs top 10, as determined by audience ballot, are:

1. TAKING ROOT: THE VISION OF WANGARI MAATHAI (Director: Lisa Merton, Alan Dater; USA)

2. PLANET B-BOY (Director: Benson Lee; USA)

3. DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER (Director: Kurt Kuenne; USA)

4. THE ENGLISH SURGEON (Director: Geoffrey Smith; UK)

5. TRIAGE: DR. JAMES ORBINSKI’S HUMANITARIAN DILEMMA (Director: Patrick Reed; Canada)

6. ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL (Director: Sacha Gervasi; USA)

7. THE BEETLE (Director: Yishai Orian; Israel)

8. DADDY TRAN: A LIFE IN 3-D (Director: Siu Ta; Canada)

9. STRANDED, I’VE COME FROM A PLANE THAT CRASHED IN THE MOUNTAINS (Director: Gonzalo Arijon; France)

10. ALL TOGETHER NOW (Director: Adrian Wills; Canada)

Honorable Mention: David Pomes, "Cook County."

Best Documentary Feature (Sponsored By Ground Zero): Peter Entell, "Shake The Devil Off."

Honorable Mention: Lisa Merton & Alan Dater, "Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai.

Audience Award For Best Narrative Feature (Sponsored By Curb Records): David Pomes, "Cook County."

Audience Award For Best Documentary Feature (Sponsored By The Documentary Channel): Barry Simmons, "Sons Of Lwala."

2008 Nashville Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award: Patricia Neal.

President's Award: Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

Governor's Award: William H. Macy.

Reel Current Award (Presented By Al Gore): Michael O'Connell, "Mountain Top Removal."

NPT Human Spirit Award (Sponsored By Nashville Public Television): Barry Simmons, "Sons of Lwala."

Best LGBT Film Award (Sponsored By Logo TV): Tie, Tom Gustafson, "Were The World Mine" And Sophie Gregg, "The Manual."

Women In Film & Television Award For Best Film Directed By A Woman (Sponsored By Women In Film & Television Nashville Chapter): Lisa Merton, "Taking Root: The Vision Of Wangari Maathai.

Rosetta Miller Perry Award for the Best Film By A Black Filmmaker (Sponsored By The Tennessee Tribune): Elvis Mitchell, "The Black List"

Lonely Seal Releasing Feature Film Award: Paul Leuer, "Eden Court."

Best Cinematography in a Feature Film (Sponsored By AC, Inc.): David Morrison, "Tracing Cowboys."

Tennessee Independent Spirit Award for the Best Feature-Length Film Directed By a Tennessee Resident (Sponsored By The Tennessee Film, Music And Entertainment Commission): Barry Simmons, "Sons Of Lwala."

Tennessee Independent Spirit Award for the Best Short-Form Directed By a Tennessee Resident (Sponsored By The Tennessee Film, Music And Entertainment Commission): Drew Langer, "Blindsided."

Honorable Mention: Rachel Lawson, John Edgerton, Terrie Lawrence, “A Child Shall Lead Them.”

Best Music In A Narrative Feature Film (Sponsored By Naxos of America): Jessica Fogle, Cory James Krueckeberg and Tim Sandusky, “Were the World Mine.”

Impact of Music Award: Stephen Walker, "Young@Heart"

Honorable Mention: Denny Tedesco, "The Wrecking Crew."

Honorable Mention: Robbie Cavolina and Ian McCrudden, "Anita O'Day: The Life A Jazz Singer."

Best Documentary Short (Sponsored By Ground Zero): Daniel Robin, "my olympic summer."

Honorable Mention: Tim O'Hara, "Swim For Life."

Best Narrative Short: Spencer Susser, "I Love Sarah Jane."

Honorable Mention: Brett Wagner, "Chief."

Honorable Mention: Nash Edgerton, "Spider."

Golden Opportunity Award For Best College Student Short (Sponsored By Vanderbilt University): Wyatt Garfield & Ed Yonaitis "The Execution Of Solomon Harris."

Honorable Mention: Daniel Robin, "my olympic summer."

Honorable Mention: Sam Goetz, "Bruno."

Best Animated Short: Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowksi, "Madame Tutli-Putli."

Honorable Mention: Josh Raskin, "I Met the Walrus."

Best Experimental Short: Olivo Barbieri, "Sevilla --> ∞ 06."

Young Filmmaker Scholarship Award (Sponsored By Watkins College of Art & Design/Film School): Joseph Procopio, "Western Spaghetti."

Honorable Mention: Roman Dent, "South Africa: From the City, To the Slum, To the Savannah."

Honorable Mention: Ben Clark, Victoria Whitaker, Chris McKie, Andrew Arwood and Andy Fannon, "A Love Story...Kind Of...Well...Not Really."

"It's been a wonderful year for Sprockets," said Allen Braude, Co-Director, Learning. "With a diverse selection of films, guests from all over the world and engaging on-site film-craft activities, Sprockets has been a huge success."

Co-Director, Learning, Elizabeth Muskala, added, "We would like to thank our enthusiastic audiences, and our devoted volunteers and sponsors, both public and corporate, for their ongoing support. We look forward to seeing you all again at next year's festival."

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS

Sprockets' two Audience Choice Awards are voted on by all festival-goers who attend the Family Program.

The Sprockets Audience Choice Award - Best Feature Film went to Ole Bornedal's "The Substitute" (Denmark), a thrilling film about a class of Grade 6 students who become convinced that their substitute teacher is an alien. When their "alien" claims are dismissed by their parents, the students must take matters into their own hands to save themselves.

Sprockets' festival-goers selected Devin Bell's "Crank Balls" (USA) for the Audience Choice Award - Best Animated Film. This imaginative animated short concerns the crabby "Crank Balls" who live in a colorless void until infectious happiness changes their world forever.

GOLDEN SPROCKETS AWARDS

The Young People's Jury Awards reflect Sprockets' continued commitment to the belief that critical assessment of children's films should be made by the children themselves. The two feature film juries and one short-film jury presented the following awards:

Best Feature Film

Jury 1 (ages eight to 10): Ari Kristinsson's "No Network" (Iceland) is a thrilling adventure set in the natural and supernatural worlds that brings together two children who must overcome their differences and begin to see each other as family. Honorable mention went to The "Three Robbers" (Germany). Jury 2 (ages 11 and 12): "In Ben Sombogaart's Crusade: A March Through Time" (The Netherlands/United Kingdom/Germany), 15-year-old Dolf secretly uses the time machine his scientist mother is working on and accidentally transports himself back to the 13th Century, where he joins a Crusade of thousands of children. Honorable mentions went to "SOS - Summer of Suspense" (Norway) and "Wild Chicks in Love" (Germany).

Best Short Film

Jury (ages nine to 12): "In Len Simon's Rindin the Puffer" (USA), a blowfish who is teased for being different proves that it doesn't matter what size or shape you are when it comes to friendship. Honorable mentions went to "Crank Balls" (USA) and "My Happy End" (Germany).

STUDENTS CHOICE AWARD

The Students Choice Award, as voted on by high school students attending the School Program, went to Todd Kessler's "Keith" (USA). The consequences of high school's social hierarchies are explored when popular girl Natalie is partnered with social outcast "Keith" in chemistry class and a friendship develops.

JUMP CUTS YOUNG FILMMAKERS SHOWCASE

The Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase offers young Ontario filmmakers in Grades 3 through 12 a chance to have their short film shown on the big screen at Sprockets. There are three Jump Cuts awards decided by a jury of film-industry professionals. This year's jury consisted of Shaun Hatton, Interactive Producer at TELETOON Canada inc.; Joan Prowse, a documentary filmmaker with more than 15 years of industry experience; and Heather Findlay, a television producer and director.

The Frederick Simpson Award for Best Film Grade 3 to 6 went to Greed, by Saskia van Es. The Veronica Herman Award for Best Film Grade 7 to 9 was awarded to "Peace of Mind" by Ryan He. Honorable mention went to "From Tucker's to Luc's," by Tucker McLachlan and Luc Palombo. The Gertrude Löwengren Award for Best Film Grade 10 to 12 was presented to "Take Out the Garbage," by Nathanael Shelton-Richards.

The Frederick Simpson, Veronica Herman and Gertrude Löwengren Awards are generously supported by Garrett Herman.

Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children offers children and youth the opportunity to learn about film and cultural perspectives from around the globe. Through the power of film, Sprockets is helping to transform the way children and youth see the world. The 11th annual Sprockets ran from April 12-18, 2008, and included a Family Program (April 12-13) for ages three and up, on-site activities and a week-long School Program (April 14-18) for students in Grades 1 through 12. For more information visit sprockets.ca

“Our awards are an integral part of ReelWorld. It’s an opportunity to give back something really tangible to the filmmakers…not only a trophy honoring them, but in many cases resources to sustain their dreams,” says Tonya Lee Williams, ReelWorld founder and president. “These prizes would not be possible without the support of our sponsors Cineplex Media, TD Bank Financial Group, Pierre Laurent Timepieces, Audio Vision, Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging, Movieola, Star! TV, Stoltz family, National Film Board (NFB) a big thanks to all of them”

The Tonya Lee Williams Award for Outstanding Canadian Feature was awarded to “The Limits”, Directed by Ben Mazzotta, Produced by Maria Kennedy and Drazen Baric presented by Chantelle Nicholls, District vice-president, on behalf of proud Closing Night sponsor TD Bank Financial Group. Honorable Mention “Freaky Useless Spicy Story” (Faltu Utpatang Chutpati Kahani) Directed and Produced by Kalpesh Patel.

ReelWorld Award for Outstanding Canadian Short Film went to “Souvenirs from Asia" Directed by Joyce Wong, Produced by S. Brent Martin;

Honorable Mention goes to “Darkness Calls in Gitxsan” Directed by Anthony Wong, Produced by Sean Muir, Presented by Sasha Stoltz, Publicist.

ReelWorld Award for Outstanding Canadian Documentary went to “Midnight Ballads” Directed by Diego Briceno-Orduz, Produced by Yanick L’etourneau, presented by Anita Lee, National Film Board Producer.

Star! ReelChoice Audience Award went to “Ocean of Pearls” Directed by Sarab S. Neelam, Produced by Jim Burnstein, Jeff Dowd, Sarab S. Neelam, and Jaspal K. Neelam; Runner Up: “This is the Life” Directed by Ava DuVernay, Produced by Ellene V. Miles presented by Star! TV’s Husein Madhavji.

ReelWorld Award for Outstanding Canadian Music Video was awarded to “Compton to Scarboro” by The Carps, Directed by Marc Ricciardelli. Honorable Mention: “Haven't Seen U Smile” by Imann Faith, Directed by Gobi; Presented by Diego Fuentes, ReelWorld Music Video Programmer.

ReelWorld Award for Outstanding International Feature Film went to “Namibia” Directed by Charles Burnett, Produced by Abius Akwaak, Steve Gukas, and Uazuva Kaumbi. “Namibia” is a visually compelling film that examines the Namibian people’s long struggle for independence with brutal honesty. Award presented by Rob Trimbee, Audio Vision Canada.

ReelWorld Award for Outstanding International Short went to “Pariah” Directed by Dee Rees, Produced by Nekisa Cooper. “Pariah” is a poignant drama that explores the duality between who you are and who you are thought to be. Presented by Rob Trimbee, Audio Vision Canada

ReelWorld Award for Outstanding International Documentary was won by “Welcome To Nollywood”, Directed by Jamie Meltzer, Produced by Cayce Lindner and Henry S. Rosenthal. Honorable Mention “Nosaltres” Directed by Moussa Toure, Produced by Les Films du Crocodile. “Welcome To Nollywood” takes place in the Nigerian Film Industry. Presented by Hayet BenKara, ReelWorld Programming and Industry Series Director.

Well respected Broadcaster, journalist, television program director and administrator, and a radio television and feature film producer Fil Fraser received this year’s Tony Stoltz ReelWorld Visionary Award. Presented by Lynne Stoltz, Author and screenwriter, Producer for Have Faith Productions. The Tony Stoltz award recognizes organizations and individuals who pioneer to create opportunities for others, to open doors and to make change happen.

Accomplished artist Charles Burnett received the ReelWorld Award of Excellence. Director Charles Burnett has risen to the top of the film industry and has established himself as a strong voice in the American Cinema. Presented by Salah Bachir, President, Cineplex Media.

Also recognized at the ceremony were the 2008 ReelWorld Trailblazers. Presented by Actress, Producer and Founder of the ReelWorld Film Festival Tonya Lee Williams

Andre Beraud, TF1, Artistic Director of Fiction, KC Collins, Actor, Jani Lauzon, Freelance Artist, CO-Managing Artistic Director for Turtle Gals Performance Ensemble; CO-chair of ACTRA Toronto and ACTRA National Diversity Committees; Actor

Lisa Mahal, National Communications Manager, Directors Guild of Canada

Austin Wong, Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, Rhombus Media

Feature Narrative:

Audience Award: "Dakota Skye"

Best Director: Ron Berrett for "An American in China"

Best Actor: James McDonald in "Fissure"

Best Ensemble Cast: "Dakota Skye"

Feature Documentary

Audience Award: "Two Million Minutes"

Best Educational Film: "Two Million Minutes"

Best Environmental Film: "Who's Got the Power?"

Short Narrative

Audience Award: "Looking Up Dresses"

Best Ensemble Cast: "A Day's Work"

Best LA Insider Film: "Partially True Tales of High Adventure!"

Best Male Performance: Ron Rifkin in "Pivot"

Best Performance by a Child: Tolan Aman in "Pumpkin Hell"

Best Female Performance: Hanieh Jodat in "Rabia"

Best Comedy: "Looking Up Dresses"

Best Dark Comedy: "Feeding"

Best Cinematography: "Persona"

Best Thriller: "The Colony"

Best Director: Ramaa Mosley for "The Brass Teapot"

Best Satire: "Orion Slave Girls Must Die!!!"

Best Action Film: "R.I.P. Tide"

Best Visual Effects: "Hank’s Auto Repair"

Shorts Too

Audience Award: "The Light"

Best Director: "No Middle Ground"

Best Thriller: "Abingdon"

Best Historical Film: "The Light"

Best Concept: "Lucky 10"

Best Supernatural Film: "Messages"

Best Horror Film: "The Butcher"

Best Comedy: "Mr. Gnobody"

Mini-Docs

Audience Award: "The Beanie Baby Soldier"

Best Historical Short Film: "Pilgrimage"

Best Current Events Short Film: "The Beanie Baby Soldier"

Best Social Awareness Short Film: "Get On The Bus For Mother's Day"

Animation

Audience Award: "Simulacra"

Best Short Animation: "Simulacra"

Best Short Animation Philly: "Sam and Piccolo"

Music Videos

Audience Award: "GLARING AT THE SUN"

Best Group Performance: "GLARING AT THE SUN"

Best Solo Performance: "Lies"

Best Philly Music Video: "Gone"

Student Shorts

Audience Award: "The Legend of Rosalie"

Best Documentary: "The Legend of Rosalie"

Best Narrative: "All She Wants to Do"

AND FINALLY THE GRAND PRIZE...

The Best of Fest Award: "DAKOTA SKYE"

The jury for the 13th PBIFF consisted of: Director Dan Wolman (winner of PBIFF’s 2007 Best Feature, Tied Hands) and Joan Robbins, Sr. VP, Talent Relations, Entertainment Studios, who judged Feature Films; Emmanuel Itier, film producer, and Debbie Frank, COO of the Frank Theatres, who voted on Documentaries; Conrad Bachmann, former governor of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences judged the Short Films. The jury was particularly appreciative of the effort each filmmaker put into their projects and felt they should be commended for the creative energy that went into each film! The winning films were:

The Award for Best Feature Film went to the heartwarming and inspirational Italian film "Rosso Come Il Cielo" (Red like the Sky) directed by Cristiano Bortone. “Red Like The Sky” recounts the incredible true story of early life of blind sound editor Micro Mencacci, the victim of a childhood accident which robbed him of his sight. The film shows how the imaginative and creative boy not only changes the lives of everyone around him, but contributes to change the country’s misguided treatment of children with disabilities.

The Award for Best Director of a Feature Film subsequently went to Cristiano Bortone for his film "Rosso Come Il Cielo" (Red like the Sky). Said jurors Wolman and Robbins, “It was very difficult for us to decide who will be Best Director among the almost equally deserving men and women in this category, but we chose Cristiano Bartone for his emotional and cinematically powerful direction.

The Features Jury awarded a Special Jury Prize to Lachen Zinoun, the world-famous dancer-choreographer for his directorial debut, “Our Al Ward (The Lost Beauty).” “Zinoun, who succeeds in giving his film a fairy tale, almost classical feel, shows great imagination and talent,” commented Wolman and Robbins.

After viewing nine worthy competitors, the jury decided not to give the prize for “Best Performance” to an individual, but rather to the entire ensemble cast of the engrossing Irish film, “Kings,” for their touching portrayal of Irish emigrants in England – a performance rich in humanity and emotion. The cast was led by Colm Meaney, Donal O’Kelly, Brendan Conroy, Donncha Crowley, Barry Barnes, Seán O’Tarpaigh and Peadar O’Treasaigh.

The Award for Best Documentary Feature went to "D'une Seule Voix" (With One Voice), directed by de Lauzanne Xavier. Long-time music vagabond Jean-Yves Labat de Rossi invited musicians from Israel and Palestine to join together on an extraordinary tour that would unite them in France for three weeks. On stage it was a triumph, but tempers flared backstage. But this inescapable proximity forced them to communicate. The stresses from the exhausting tour and political rivalries slowly developed into close ties, sustained and driven by the music.

Documentary juror Emmanuel Itier commented, “This year, again, was such a rich and diverse year with inspirational movies that truly touched the heart and made a political statement."

A Special Jury Prize was awarded to Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit’s “Saving Luna,” about a lost baby orca whale. Seeking friendship from humans, he is both beloved and feared. Tragedy makes him a symbol of wild beauty…wonderful to know, hard to save. Commented juror Debbie Frank, “It was a phenomenal and touching story that showed just how similar humans are to wild beings…it broke down the fundamental barrier of mutual fear and ignorance that normally exists.”

The Award for Best Short Film went to Shalini Kantayya’s “A Drop of Life.” Shorts juror Conrad Bachmann commented, “Never before has the saying ‘A drop in the bucket’ become more monumental than the impact of this film. Crafted with precision, it has all the impact of our future. Shalini Kantayya takes us on a journey of society’s class system and the world of profit. In 17 minutes this film will change your life.”

The Voices of Local Films winners were:

Best Picture: "Valentino’s Day," directed by Joel Barham and Nick De Palo

Best Original Screenplay: "Sweet Jesus," directed by Swati Kapila

Best Director: Joel Rodriguez for "Undocumented"

At the center of the Film Festival were the filmmakers. Randi Emerman, PBIFF Director, commented, “This year, for me, it was refreshing and inspiring to have had the honor to discover so many wonderful filmmakers from the corners of the earth. The films unveiled a wide swath of experiences…they entertained and dazzled us, they made us laugh and cry, but more importantly, they made us think!”

Directed by: The Deagol Brothers

Documentary Feature: "At the Death House Door"

Directed by: Peter Gilbert and Steven James

Pink Peach Award Presented by Turner: "XXY"

Directed by: Lucia Puenzo

Narrative Short (Academy ® Award Qualifying): "Aquarium"

Directed by: Rob Meyer

Animated Short (Academy ® Award Qualifying): "But Some Are Brave"

Directed by: Grace Channer

Documentary Short: "Africa's Daughters"

Directed by: Natalie Halpern

Rapid i Movement Grand Prize: "Done in One"

Directed by: Jay D Zimmerman and Pat Clark

Special Jury Prize For Excellence in Direction: "My Effortless Brillance"

Directed by: Lynn Shelton

Special Jury Prize For First Documentary: "Land of Confusion"

Directed by: Jeremy Zerechak

Special Jury Prize For Pure Documentary Entertainment: "Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story"

Directed by: Jeffrey Schwarz

Special Jury Prize Pink Peach Award: "The Elevator"

Directed by: Ben Hakim

Audience Award Winner Feature: "Young @ Heart"

Directed by: Stephen Walker

Audience Award Winner Short: "Mexican in the Closet"

Directed by: Chuck Moore

Feature Jury:

Erik Jambor (Indie Memphis)

Craig Zobel (GREAT WORLD OF SOUND)

Documentary Jury:

Ray Barry (AFI Silver)

Karin Hayes (MISSING PIECE)

Bill VanDerKloot (VanDerKloot Productions)

Shorts Jury:

Paul Rachman (Slamdance, AMERICAN HARDCORE)

Peter Knegt (IndieWIRE)

Linda Dubler (High Museum of Art)

Pink Peach Jury:

Dave Hayward (Touching Up Our Roots)

Melissa Carter (Q-100)

Randal Luckow (TurnOut)

Rapid i Movement Jury:

Janet Smith (Red Bull)

Lon Slack (Multimedia Services)

Walker Anderson (Comcast)

Christopher Holland (B-Side)

The awards were introduced by Festival Director of Programming, Tom Hall and Festival Programmer, Holly Herrick and were presented by each of the competition category jurors. The Audience Awards were presented by Hall and Herrick.

The 2008 Sarasota Film Festival presented three competitions, Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, and Independent Visions, each showcasing some of the finest films at the festival. Each of the competition awards carries a $5,000 cash prize for the filmmaker. In addition, the Bombay Sapphire Audience Awards will also be presented in the categories of Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, World Cinema Feature, and Short Film, and each category carries a $1000 cash prize.

The Jurors for the 10th Sarasota Film Festival’s Narrative Feature Competition include John Kochman, President - UNIFRANCE USA; Writer/Producer Ligiah Villalobos (La Misma Luna); Alison Wilmore (IFC.com). The Jurors for the 2008 SFF Best Documentary Feature Competition include Head of Red Envelope Entertainment, Liesl Copland; Matt Dentler, Festival Producer, SXSW Film Festival and Filmmaker AJ Schnack, (Kurt Cobain: About A Son). The 2008 SFF Independent Visions Competition Jury includes Marc Mauceri, VP, First Run Features; David Nugent, Director of Programming, Hamptons International Film Festival and Nick Dawson, Filmmaker Magazine.

The 2008 Best Narrative Feature Competition Award: “Munyurangabo”

by Lee Isaac Chung.

The 2008 Best Documentary Feature Competition Award sponsored by Sky Sotheby’s: “Stranded: I Have Come From A Plane That Crashed On The Mountains”

by Gonzalo Arijon.

A Special Documentary Jury Prize : “To See If I’m Smiling”

by Tamar Yarom.

The 2008 Independent Visions Competition Award, sponsored by Heineken: “The Pleasure of Being Robbed” by Joshua Safdie.

An Independent Visions Special Jury Prize for Cinematography: “Medicine For Melancholy”

by Barry Jenkins, Cinematography by James Laxton.

Sponsored by Bombay Sapphire, special recognition goes to winners of our Audience Favorite Awards for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, Excellence in World Cinema, and Best Short Film. Each category carries a $1,000 cash prize presented to the filmmaker.

Bombay Sapphire Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature: “Fugitive Pieces”

by Jeremy Podeswa.

Bombay Sapphire Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature: “Of All The Things”

by Jody Lambert.

Bombay Sapphire Audience Award for Best in World Cinema: “Christmas Story” (Finland)

by Juha Wuolijoki.

Bombay Sapphire Audience Award for Best Short Film: “La Corona”

by Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega.

Later that evening, at the gala 10th Anniversary Ball held at the Longboat Key Club & Resort, Board President Ian Black, Festival Executive Director, Jody Kielbasa, Master of Ceremonies, radio personality Cliff Rowles, and special honored guest Florida Governor Charlie Crist paid tribute to its Award Winners and Special Honorees. This year we were thrilled to have a stellar group of honorees including 2008 Regal Entertainment Group’s Career Achievement Award recipient, Charlize Theron; 2008 Renaissance Award in honor of his work as a Writer/Director/Actor, Stanley Tucci (presented by his friend, and 2007 SFF World Cinema Honoree, Steve Buscemi. The Producer award was presented (by Florida Film Commissioner Lucia Fishburne) to Ted Hope and Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (introduced by SFF Honorary Co-Chair and CEO of United Artists Paula Wagner) received the Festival’s Breakthrough Award.

The evening also found the awarding of the Heineken Red Star Award. Heineken is partnering with the SFF, and select other festivals, in presenting the Heineken Red Star Award to independent filmmakers who embody the ideals of innovation, originality and vision in the process of outstanding film achievement.

The award, selected by SFF’s Independent Visions Jury: “The Pleasure of Being Robbed”

by Joshua Safdie.

Earlier in the Festival, at the Luncheon Under the Banyans event, Michael Barker, (Co-President of Sony Pictures Classics) presented the international acclaimed actress/director, Liv Ullmann, with the “Master of World Cinema Award.”

Also, at the Awards presentation at the Longboat Key Club and Resort, The Youth Awards were presented by Outreach & Education Director Hans Wohlgefahrt.

This year’s Kids Jury consists of 18 aspiring film critics from New Gate School. Instructed on how to critique film by local reviewers, they preview the shorts films and provide theater introductions during the Festival. This year, the Kids Jury selected:

Kids Jury: KidsFest Best Short Film Award: “Lucky Oli” Directed by Saschka Unseld and Johannes Weiland, Germany

Young Filmmakers' Showcase: Neil D. McCurry Scholarship for Best Direction: “Virulent”

Directed by Kasey Hettig-Rolfe, USA

Young Filmmakers' Showcase: Gerd Petrik Scholarship for Best Screenplay: “Mouse Trap”

Directed by Vincent Dale, USA

Young Filmmakers' Showcase: Honorable Mention: “Pits In Paradise”

Directed by Harrison Sanborn and Nick Roberts, USA

Dr. John Welch Scholarship: “The Wall”

Directed by Michael Lloyd Green, USA

The 10th Annual Sarasota Film Festival, ended on Sunday, April 13th after 10 days of films, parties, seminars, education and excitement. This year’s program, coordinated by festival director of programming Tom Hall, was a celebration of diversity and internationality. From the Opening Night kick off on April 4th with the presentation of “The Deal” with stars William H. Macy, Jason Ritter, Fiona Glascott and Director Steven Schacter in town, through to the Gala Tribute celebration for our Filmmaker Honorees & Special Guests, Charlize Theron, Stanley Tucci, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Ted Hope, Governor Charlie Crist, Paula Wagner, Steve Buscemi, our Competition and Audience winners, and our Closing Night Film, Stuart Townsend’s “Battle in Seattle,” in with his cast, Ms. Theron, Michelle Rodriguez and Martin Henderson the festival was a beehive of activity. SFF presented over 225 narrative, documentary and short films in programs including World Cinema, youthFEST!, Industry Spotlight, Narrative Features, Documentaries, Shorts and Independent Visions.

The festival presented two special sidebars during the event. Face To Face: The Films of Liv Ullmann and Ingmar Bergman. In honor of Liv Ullmann, our 2008 Master of World Cinema Award winner, we presented the complete retrospective of the twelve film collaboration between Ms. Ullmann and the director Ingmar Bergman, one of the most fruitful relationships in the history of cinema. She also joined us for our Conversation Series at the Historic Asolo Theater moderated by Sony Pictures Classics Co-President Michael Barker. In partnership with the Sarasota Manatee Jewish Federation, The Sarasota Film Festival was proud to present Israel@60: The Nation, The Diaspora and Beyond a selection of contemporary films that explore Jewish history, culture and identity as well as the complex diversity of art and life in Israel.

Among the other guests appearing at the festival were Nora Dunn, Rosemary Harris, Jennifer Ehle, Jeremy Renner, Michael Badalucco, Norman Lloyd, Mark Burton, Ian Ziering, Juha Wuolijoki, Bela Fleck, Elvis Mitchell, David Darcy, Joe Sirola, Ry Russo-Young, Michael Tully, Alex Karpovsky, Azazel Jacobs, Todd Rohal, Ben Kasulke and a terrific array of filmmakers, actors, journalists and industry folk. And, most exciting, all the area students who passed through the festival and experienced the art of filmmaking via production programs, backstage theatre visits, and screenings as well as many of our filmmakers visiting and talking out in their classrooms.

Following is the complete list of the remaining awards and mentions announced last night at the Festival’s Official Closing Ceremony.

* Asociación Cronistas Cinematográficos Argentinos (Association of Argentine Film Journalists)

Special Mention: “Construcción de una ciudad”

Directed by Néstor Frenkel

First Prize: “süden”

Directed by Gastón Solnicki

* ADF Award

Special Mention: Peng Jung Liao for “Help Me Eros”

Award: Jing Song Dong for “Night Train”

* SIGNIS Award

Mention: “Correction”

Directed by Thanos Anastopoulos

For its careful construction, conceived to avoid revealing any details of the plot, as it guides us through a process of identification with the protagonist, a Greek ex-convict facing the meaning and consequences of his crime, in a context of football violence and xenophobia.

Mention: “Cochochi”

Directed by Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán

For the narration, told with great simplicity, of a trip taken by two children from a Mexican indigenous community to take medicines to a relative, which evolves into a lesson on the responsibility of decisions made.

Award: “Ballast”

Directed by Lance Hammer

For its realistic, austere style, which opposes in a superb way the complexity of the plot. And for showing how an African-American family in the Mississippi delta, struggles to overcome extreme circumstances, opening to the possibility of unconditional forgiveness and reconciliation.

* FIPRESCI Award

“Ballast”

Directed by Lance Hammer

* Human Rights Award

Ex Aequo: “Mi vida dentro”

Directed by Lucía Gajá

and “Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind”

Directed by John Gianvito

* Short Film Official Selection: the three award-winners, with no distinction of importance or order are:

“El contrabajo”

Directed by Alejo Franzetti

“Ahendu nde sapukai”

Directed by Pablo Lama

“Fedra o la desesperación”

Directed by Gustavo Galuppo.

* Future Film: “Llavallol”

Directed by Grupo Tierra en Trance

* Revista Ñ and Cinecolor People’s Choice Award

Best Argentine Film: “Historias Extraordinarias”

Directed by Mariano Llinás.

ARCHIE AWARD FOR BEST FIRST-TIME DIRECTOR:

Daniel Barnz for "Phoebe in Wonderland"

JURY AWARD WINNERS:

Best Feature Film: "Nothing to Lose"

director Peiter Kulijpers

Best Documentary: "Song Sung Blue"

director Greg Kohs

Best First Film: "In A Dream"

director Jeremiah Zagar

Best Director: Rahmin Bahrani for "Chop Shop"

Best American Independent: "Choose Connor"

director Luke Eberl

Best Animation Feature: "Vexille"

Fuihiko Sori

Best Animation Short: "Breakout"

Armand Demuynck

AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS:

Best Documentary: "Body of War"

director Ellen Spairo and Phil Donahue

"Danger After Dark: Timecrimes"

director Nacho Vigalondo

Best Feature Film: "Universal Signs"

director Ann Calamia

FESTIVAL OF INDEPENDENTS' AWARD WINNERS:

Best Feature Film: "The New Year Parade"

Tom Quinn

Best Documentary: "First Person"

director Ben Herrold

Best Narrative: "Figure Study #7"

director Jena Serbu

Best Animation: "Hedgehug"

director Dan Pinto

Best Experimental: "AYND"

director Lindsay Kovnat

DIVE Technical Achievement Award: "In A Dream"

Also presented was the SCION First Time Director Award to Ben Herold for "First Person."

BEST NARRATIVE FILM

"Time to Die" (Pora Umierać)

directed by Dorota Kędzierzawska

Poland, 2007, 104 mins

"Time to Die" is the story of elderly Aniela, the owner of a once beautiful, now run-down, wooden villa. After many years, she is finally “freed” of the last tenant in that mansion, forced upon her by the Communist government after World War II. She is once again the master of her own house. But this beautiful, long-awaited moment is far from what she had hoped. Her only son wants to sell the house, and there are now noisy neighbors (although they are fun to spy on with her binoculars). Shut off from the world, Aniela’s only companion is her (quite wonderful) dog, at least until a kid from the youth center start sneaking through the fence onto her property. Shot in luminous black-and-white and written especially for the actress Danuta Szaflarska, who was 91 years old at the time, the film is a “stunning visual universe created by Kędzierzawska and her cinematographer Arthur Reinhart. They are indeed true magicians of the eye, unafraid to let the camera paint pictures in front of us. This is the special and particular terrain of this film: the thoughtful depiction of the inner life of an elderly person. Kędzierzawska and Reinhart’s series of stunning images and the unforgettable dignity of Aniela combine to make Time to Die a unique film.” — Piers Handling, Toronto International Film Festival.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM (watch on PBS May 27)

"New Year Baby"

directed by Socheata Poeuv

USA, 2007, 75 mins

presented by the UW Asian American Studies Program

Born in a Cambodia refugee camp and raised with her family in Texas, Socheata Poeuv learns the real story of her parent’s survival and of her own heritage: her sisters are really cousins, adopted after her aunt was killed by the Khmer Rouge, and her brother is the son of her mother’s never-mentioned first husband. The family returns to Cambodia in a journey that is remarkably engaging, thanks to Socheata’s onscreen appeal and her dedication to allowing her parents to gradually re-enter that time of their lives that was so harrowing. A multiple award-winner, “it’s a remarkable story with lump-in-throat impact.” —Variety.

Winners of the Wisconsin’s Own and Wisconsin Student Short Film awards

“Wisconsin’s Own” winners

"Alaska Far Away"

directed by Paul Hill and Joan Juster

"The Closing Hour"

directed by Grey Gerling

"The European Kid"

directed by Ian Martin

"Madison"

directed by Brent Notbohm

"Perceval"

directed by Tate Bunker

2008 Wisconsin’s Own jurors:

Ali Selim, director of Sweet Land (WFF06)

Jim Kreul, founder of the Wisconsin Film Festival, filmmaker, and professor at University of North Carolina-Wilmington

Brijetta Hall Waller, documentary filmmaker and lecturer at Columbia College, Chicago

“Wisconsin Student Shorts” winners

"Otto’s Day"

directed by Ji-Sun O

"Passing Through"

directed by Jonathan Bothun

"Them’s Trying Times to be a Canine"

directed by Joseph Kraemer

2008 Wisconsin Student Shorts jurors:

Katherine Turczan, filmmaker, Chair of the Media Arts Department, and Professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis.

Jim Stanger, film editor

Max Selim, filmmaker and screenwriter

Thomas Pope, screenwriter and lecturer and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Ali Selim, director of Sweet Land (WFF06).

Dark Coast Pictures

Directed By: Rocco DeVilliers

The Bud Abbott Award for Feature Length Comedy:

"The Sublet"

No Logik Films

Directed By: Georgiana Nestor

M. Carroll Raver Award for Cinematography:

"The Flyboys"

Directed By: Jim Orr

Short (TIE):

"Hold On"

Directed By: Doug Olear

&

"Hearts Of Desire"

Directed By: Loren Haynes

Lou Costello Award for Comedy Short:

"Driving Lesson"

May Sky Entertainment

Directed By: C. Fraser Press

International Short:

"Wednesday"

Future Time Pictures

Directed By: Rob Sorrenti

Family Short:

"Highlights"

Directed By: Mary Novak

International Family Short:

"Ruby Who?"

Directed By: Hailey Bartholomew

Student Short:

"The Windfisherman"

Directed By: Anna McRoberts

“The Dead Batteries Award” For Marketing Genius:

"The Ninja Always Rings Once"

Stoic Pictures, Inc.

Directed By: Christopher Genovese

The Emanuel “Manny” Berlingo Award For Feature Length Documentary Filmmaking:

"Nuremberg: The 60th Anniversary Edition"

Directed By: David Stein/Vanessa Arico

International Documentary - Feature Lengths:

"Orange Chronicles"

DK Productions

Directed By: Damian Kolody

Feature Length Documentary Broader Vision Award:

"The Road Home"

Tell Their Story Films, LLC

Directed By: Phil Hopper

Multi Media Award: "Dialogue"

EvolveArts, Inc.

Directed By: Michael Garabaldi-Frick

Documentary - Short (TIE):

"The Legends Behind The Comic Books"

Stonebridge Productions LLC

Directed By: Chip Cronkite

&

"4 Chosen"

Starline Films

Directed By: Jon Doscher

Family Documentary – Feature Length:

"Motown High"

Aarrow Productions, Inc.

Directed By: Barbara Hager

Cell Animation - short:

"Shuteye Hotel"

Plymptoons

Directed By: Bill Plympton

Animation CGI:

"Snowtime"

Axis Animation

Directed By: Dana Dorian

Music Video (TIE):

"I Dream In Stereo"

Directed By: Ken Glaser

&

"Can You See Us"

Directed By: Matthew Kosinski

International Music Video:

"Portuguese Skies"

Tu Meke Productions Ltd.

Directed By: Andrew Hunt

"Siempre Pude Ver"

LiveTribe Productions

Directed By: Gary Ravenscroft

Broader Vision Award – Music Video:

"The Cow Project: We Can Change Our World"

Directed By: Michael Licisyn

PSA:

"Clean Ocean Action"

Edvantage Media, Inc.

Directed By: Grace Hanlon

Commercial

"Snack Support"

Directed By: Sam Littenberg-Weisberg

Student - Animation:

"A Faery’s Tale"

Directed By: Sylvia Apostol

The Garden State Film Festival would like to recognize films shot in the State of New Jersey with the following winners in the “Home Grown Award” categories:

Home Grown Feature (TIE):

"Greetings From The Shore"

Directed By: Greg Chwerchak

&

"Rock The Paint"

Wren Court Films

Directed By: Dallas Mitchell Brennan

Home Grown Horror:

"Leeds Point"

Directed By: Santo Scardillo

Home Grown Short

"Escape From Fire"

Directed By: Joel Dunn

Home Grown Feature Length Documentary:

"The Flight of Emillio Carranza"

Directed By: Robert Emmons

Home Grown Documentary - Short:

"Roots Unknown"

Directed By: Zara Phillips

Home Grown Animation Short:

"Keep This Coupon"

Directed By: Bruce Knapp

Home Grown Music Video:

"Hipster Girl"

Mixed Nuts Productions

Directed By: Michael Licisyn

High School Student - Short:

"Contact"

Directed By: Matthew Caruso

High School Student - Short Documentary:

"How To Avoid Awkward Situations"

Directed By: Nick Chirumbolo

The Garden State Film Festival Movie Music Competition Winners:

BEST MUSIC IN A FEATURE

Juan Frances

Directed By: Amy French and Spencer John French

BEST VOCAL MUSIC IN A SHORT

Hearts Of Desire

BEST SHORT SCORE

KIYALA

KIMBERLY AND DEREK COLEMAN PRODUCERS

BEST SCORE IN A FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

Nuremberg

Michael St. John Composer

BEST INTERNATIONAL SCORE

La Regn Di Fanes

Susy Rottonara Writer

AND NOW THE HOME GROWN MUSIC AWARDS...

BEST MUSIC IN A FEATURE

Rock The Paint

Song: Hip Hop in the Morning

Alan Boxer and Carl Restivo Producers

BEST MUSIC IN FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY

Snake Hill

Song: Remembrance Lullaby

Matt Diamond Composer

BEST MUSIC IN A SHORT

Escape From the Fire

BEST MUSIC IN A MUSIC VIDEO

C.O.W. Project We Can Change the World

Deb Chamberlin, Eileen Lucarini & Robert Wynn

Garden State Screenplay Competition

Hat Trick

Robert Gately

Pick Of the Flicks (TIE)

Leeds Point

Directed By: Santo Scardillo

&

Greetings From The Shore

Directed By: Greg Chwerchak

Honorees:

Lifetime Achievement Award for Acting:

Lou Costello

Lifetime Achievement Award for Screenplay Writing:

Budd Schulberg

Broader Vision Award for Filmmaking Dedicated to the Greater Good:

Kate Carter, LifeChronicles

The Robert Pastorelli Rising Star Award for Acting:

Kevin Interdanoto

Best Feature: "August Evening"

Director: Chris Eska

Best CinematographyThe Gerald Hirschfeld A.S.C. Award:

Feature: "Chronic Town"

Director: Tom Hines

Best Acting Ensemble in a Feature: "The New Year Parade"

Director: Tom Quinn

Special Jury Mention: Dramatic Feature: "Superheroes"

Director: Alan Brown

Best Short: "I Want to Be a Pilot"

Director: Diego Quemada-Diez

Best Documentary- Short Subject: "A Son's Sacrifice"

Director: Yoni Brook

Best Documentary- Feature Length: "Please Vote for Me"

Director: Weijun Chen

Special Jury Mention- Documentary Feature: "One Minute to Nine"

Director: Tommy Davis

Best Student Film: "Pariah"

Director: Dee Rees

Best Animated Short: "Papiroflexia"

Director: Joaquin Baldwin

Lifetime Achievement Award: Albert Maysles

Rogue Award: Helen Hunt

Audience Awards

John C. Schweiger Audience Award- Dramatic Feature:

"The Cake Eaters"

Director: Mary Stuart Masterson

Audience Award- Best Short Film: "Aquarium"

Director: Rob Meyer

Rogue Creamery Audience Award- Documentary Feature:

"American Outrage"

Director: Beth & George Gage

ANIMATED EYE AWARD

$2,500

"LAVATORY LOVESTORY" Directed by: Konstantin Bronzit, Russia

BEST COMEDY

$2,500

"SPIDER"

Directed by: Nash Edgerton, (Australia)

BEST DRAMA

$2,500

"WAVES"

Directed by: Adrian Sitaru, (Romania)

BEST DOCUMENTARY

$2,500 (shared)

"ELEGY FOR THE ELSWICK ENVOY"

Directed by: Nancy Willis, (UK)

PETER AND BEN

Directed by: Pinny Grylls, (UK)

BEST SHORT SHORT

$1,000

"JOHN AND KAREN"(

Directed by: Matthew Walker, (UK)

BEST STUDENT

$2,000

"ON THE LINE"

Directed by: Reto Caffi,(Germany/Switzerland)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

$2,500 film stock sponsored by Kodak

"WAVES"

Directed by: Adrian Sitaru, (Romania)

HARD C HIGH-FIVE TO LO-FI

sponsored by Hard C, Aspen Shortsfest alumni

Jason Reitman and Daniel Dubiecki’s comedy production company

"SPIDER"

Directed by: Nash Edgerton, Australia)

SPECIAL JURY RECOGNITION

$500 each

"BRACKISH WATER"

Directed by: David Reiss-Andersen, (Norway)

"IT’S MY TURN"

Directed by: Ismet Ergün, (Turkey/Germany)

"RATTLESNAKES"

Directed by: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson, (Iceland)

"SALVADOR"

Directed by: Abdelatif Hwidar, (Spain)

OTHER JURY AWARDS

THE ELLEN

$2,500

"LIFE’S HARD"

Directed by: Gabriel Sirbu, (Romania)

THE ELLEN JURY SPECIAL RECOGNITION

$1,000

"THE WEDNESDAYS"

Directed by: Conor Ferguson, (Ireland)

BAFTA/LOS ANGELES AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

"SIKUMI" (ON THE ICE) Directed by: Andrew Okpeaha MacLean, (USA)

BAFTA/LOS ANGELES CERTIFICATES OF EXCELLENCE

"AQUARIUM"

Directed by: Rob Meyer, (USA)

"WAVES"

Directed by: Adrian Sitaru, (Romania)

YOUTH JURY PRIZE

$500

"CHERRIES"

Directed by: Tom Harper, (UK)

AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARD

$1,000 (shared)

"COME BACK TO SUDAN" Directed by: Daniel Junge, Patti Bonnet, (USA)

"ONE BRIDGE TO THE NEXT"

Directed by: Kim A. Snyder, (USA)

"Caramel," by Lebanese director Nadine Labaki, has won the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 11th Bermuda International Film Festival.

The award was announced at the festival’s Wrap Party and Awards Ceremony at Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel on Saturday night by the Features Jury of director Robert Favreau ("A Sunday in Kigali") and producer Charles Bishop ("Bowling for Columbine"). Ms. Labaki wins a $5000 cash prize.

"XXY," by director Lucia Puenzo of Argentina, was given a Special Jury Mention in the Narrative Features category.

“Caramel, in a very brilliant way, shows us a complex microcosmos where many stories and sub-stories take place,” Mr. Favreau said. “The stories are all well-developed and involve many characters to whom we become strongly attached. We also gave the award to Caramel for its great sense of humour, true tragic breath, for its authentic and subversive feminine perspective, and for its unforgettable scenes without dialogue that made us laugh and cry at the same time.”

The Documentary Jury of filmmakers Linda Hattendorf ("The Cats of Mirikitani") and Peter Raymont ("Shake Hands With the Devil: the Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman") announced co-winners of the Best Documentary prize. The award is shared by "Saving Luna" (d. Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm, Canada) and Souvenirs (d. Shahar Cohen and Halil Efrat, Israel). The Jury also gave a Special Mention to Steven-Charles Jaffe’s film, Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird.

“We gave the award to "Souvenirs" for its loving revelation of an intimate and evolving father-son relationship that brought laughter and tears,” Ms. Hattendorf said, “and also for its cinema verite, car-to-car and car mount shooting, and for its heart and terrific scored music.

“'Saving Luna' was an inspiring, mesmerising, spiritual and poetic story. It featured spectacular locations and beautiful cinematography. It was honest, had a grand, theatrical feel and gave us an inside look at filmmakers who became activists.”

The Shorts Jury of Al Seymour Jr. and Ted Bezaire gave the M3 Wireless Bermuda Shorts Award to "Toyland" (d. Jochen Freydank, Germany). Mr. Freydank wins a cash prize of $3000. Mr. Michael Beckles represented M3 Wireless. The Jury awarded Special Mentions to "Ark" (d. Grzegorz Jokajtys, Poland) and "The Legend of the Slow Man" (d. Armando del Rio, Spain).

“We gave the award to 'Toyland' for its beauty, fantastic sound, great acting, and a story that is complete and powerful,” Mr. Bezaire said.

The Bacardi Limited Audience Choice Award, which is voted on by filmgoers, was won by "Red Dust," director Tom Hooper, who receives a $3000 cash prize. Mr. Vernon Pemberton represented Bacardi.

“The performances this year in film at the festival exceeded anything we had seen before at The Method Fest. The overall quality of the films was also higher and some awards were almost impossible for the judges to determine," Don Franken, the festival's executive director, said. “More top quality films with breakout performances as well as career-defining performances by other actors made it the fiercest competition yet for awards. There are so many emerging new stars this year at The Method Fest and this really brought more energy and excitement at the festival".

The City of Calabasas Jury Award for Best Picture was presented to "Unfinished Sky," directed by Peter Duncan and starring William McInnes, Monic Hendrickx, Milo, Bille Brown, Christopher Sommers, and David Field.

The Christie Digital Audience Award for Best Picture was presented to "Chain Link," directed by Dylan Reynolds.

The LA.com Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film went to Danai Gurira, ("The Visitor"), and the Stockholm Krystal Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film went to John Saxon, ("God's Ears").

Tom McCarthy, who directed "The Visitor," was awarded the Modern VideoFilm Award for Best Director of a Feature Film.

The Daily News Award for Best Screenplay went to Rick Bieber, for "Crazy." Bieber also directed and produced the film.

The Prudential California Realty Award for Best Ensemble Cast was presented to the cast of "Familiar Strangers," directed by Zachary Adler, written by John Bell, and starring Shawn Hatosy, DJ Qualls, Cameron Richardson, Ann Dowd, Nikki Reed, and Tom Bower.

Special Recognition: Eduart. "Greece," directed by Angeliki Antoniou.

The Corona Maverick Award for High Quality in Low Budget Filmmaking went to "Harrison Montgomery," directed by Daniel Dávila.

Other winners included:

The jetBlue Airways Award for Best Short – "Indecent" directed by Matt Cavanaugh

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Award for Best Foreign Film – "Corpo" (Body), Brazil,

directed by Rubens Rewald and Rosanna Foglia, produced by Rubens Rewald.

Special Recognition: "This Beautiful City"

directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly

The Viewpoint School Award for Best Actor in a Short – Colin Cunningham, ("Centigrade").

The Motion Picture and Television Fund Award for Best Actress in a Short – Vanessa Born, ("Sky").

The Bernards Award for Best Student Short – "A Day's Work"

directed by Rajeev Dassani from the University of Southern California.

The Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Audience Award for Best Short Film – "Psycho Hillbilly Cabin Massacre!" directed by Robert Cosnahan

Special Recognition Awards

The Valley of the Stars Festival Director's Award for Excellence – "Chronic Town"

directed by Tom Hines

The Barefoot Winery Festival Director's Award for Breakthrough Acting – Octavio Gomez Berrios "Harrison Montgomery"

The Award for the Best Ensemble Cast in a Short Film – "Last Day of Limbo" starring Ian Abercrombie, Roby Bessent, Johnny Holiday, Matt Malloy, Patrick Thomas O'Brien, Mark Pellegrino, Joseph Rigano, Rico Simonini, and Vinny Vella.

Special Awards presented before and during the festival:

Career Achievement Award: Richard Jenkins

Maverick Award: Melissa Leo

Future Filmmaker Audience Awards

Sony Future Filmmakers Award for Best Picture – Michael Fishbein for "Chope."

Final Draft Future Filmmakers Award for Best Screenplay – Mike Toomy and Kevin Murphy for "Chope."

Indieprinting.com Future Filmmakers Award for Best Acting – Aaron Moody for "Chope."

Special Recognition: "Winter's Hero" by Alexi Scuitto

Feature Film

Best Documentary: "Cosmonaut Polyakov"

Directed by: Dana Ranga (Germany)

Short Film

Best Documentary: "Moujarad Raiha/Merely a Smell"

Directed by: Maher Abi Samra (Lebanon)

Brazilian Competittion

Feature Film

Best Documentary- CPFL-Energia/It’s All True Award "Window To The Contemporaneous" - "Permanent Pan-Cinema"

Directed by: Carlos Nader

Honorable Mention: "Simonal – You Don’t Know How Tough It Was"

Directed by: Claudio Manoel, Micael Langer, and Calvito Leal

Honorable Mention: "The Abortion Of Others"

Directed by: Carla Gallo

Short Film

Best Documentary: "Remo Usai – A Composer For the Screen"

Directed by: Bernardo Uzeda

Honorable Mentionable: "Rê Bordosa Dossier"

Directed by: César Cabral

Canal Brasil Award: "Remo Usai – A Composer For the Screen"

Directed by: Bernardo Uzeda

Megacolor and Estúdios Mega Award: "Remo Usai – A Composer For the Screen"

Directed by: Bernardo Uzeda

TARGET TEN NARRATIVE FEATURE:

"MERMAID"

DIR: Anna Melikyan (Russia)

Cast: Mariya Shalayeva, Yevgeni Tsyganov, Mariya Sokova

HONORABLE MENTION:

"BAD HABITS"

DIR: Simón Bross (Mexico)

Cast: Ximena Ayala, Elena de Haro, Marco Antonio Treviño

TARGET TEN DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

"IRON LADIES OF LIBERIA"

DIR: Daniel Junge (USA)

CURRENT ENERGY EARTH FRIENDLY:

"FIELDS OF FUEL"

DIR: Josh Tickell

MPS STUDIOS TEXAS:

"COOK COUNTY"

DIR: David Pomes

Cast: Anson Mount, Xander Berkeley, Ryan Donowho, Polly Cole

HONORABLE MENTION:

"CIAO"

DIR: Yen Tan (USA)

Starring: Adam Neal Smith, Alessandro Calza, Ethel Lung

HDNET FEATURE:

"TRACING COWBOYS"

DIR: Jason Wulfsohn (USA)

Starring: Eileen Dietz, Megan Edwards, Sacha Grunpeter

SHORT:

"THE SECOND LINE"

DIR: John Magary (USA)

HONORABLE MENTION:

"A CATALOG OF ANTICIPATIONS"

DIR: David Lowery (USA)

STUDENT SHORT:

"THE VULNERABLE ONES" (LES VULNERABLES)

DIR: Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt (Congo/USA)

HONORABLE MENTION:

"A DAY’S WORK"

DIR: Rajeev Dassani (USA)

ANIMATED SHORT:

"KEY LIME PIE"

DIR: Trevor Jimenez (Canada)

AUDIENCE AWARDS

NARRATIVE:

"AMAL"

DIR: Richie Mehta (Canada)

Cast: Rupinder Nagra, Naseeruddin Shah, Seema Biswas, Koel Purie

DOCUMENTARY:

"THE BLACK LIST"

DIR: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (USA)

Featuring: Chris Rock, Lou Gossett Jr., Vernon Jordan, Thelma Golden

SHORT:

"A DAY’S WORK"

DIR: Rajeev Dassani (USA)

AFI DALLAS STAR AWARDS

The AFI DALLAS International Film Festival also honors individuals for the major role they have played and continue to play in shaping the face of modern cinema and the advancement of the art of film. The AFI DALLAS Star Award, designed from Steuben crystal, is courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

THE 2008 STAR AWARD RECIPIENTS:

Helen Hunt

With roles in more than 80 films and television series, Helen Hunt is one of the most recognized actresses of our time. She is one of only three women to have won a Golden Globe, an Academy Award and an Emmy in the same year. She was nominated seven consecutive times for the Emmy for her work on Mad About You, winning four years in a row, 1996-1999 — the only person ever to do so.

Hunt was born into a film industry family in Los Angeles and began her acting career as a child in the 1970s, making appearances on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bionic Woman. In the ’80s she had a recurring role on St. Elsewhere and made a splash in the TV movie Bill: On His Own, which co-starred another AFI DALLAS Star Award recipient, Mickey Rooney.

But it was her role as the feisty, independent Jamie on Mad About You that caught the public’s eyes — and hearts. Her work in the sitcom propelled her to starring roles in Twister and her Academy Award-winning performance in As Good as it Gets. She has since split her time between film and Broadway, appearing onstage in The Twelfth Night and Life x 3 and onscreen in Dr. T & the Women, Cast Away and The Curse of the Jade Scorpion among others.

She co-owns the Hunt/Travel production company, and she makes her directorial debut with Then She Found Me screening at AFI DALLAS.

Helen Hunt will accept her AFI DALLAS Star Award at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, at the Majestic Theatre.

Mickey Rooney

After making his stage debut at 15 months of age, Mickey Rooney hasn’t stopped. He effortlessly made the jump from silent films to talkies, giving memorable performances in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939) and National Velvet (1944). He was born Joe Yule Jr. to parents who were vaudeville performers. Two weeks later he was on the circuit with his folks, and soon after that he was onstage.

His break came in 1927 when he was cast for Mickey ‘Himself’ McGuire, a series of fi lms based on a comic strip. A few years later, he caught the attention of legendary producer David O. Selznick who created a role for him in Manhattan Melodrama, which led to a long-term contract with MGM. He starred in 15 Andy Hardy films and began his longtime association with Judy Garland with 1937’s Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry. In 1938, he made Boys Townwith Spencer Tracy. All this before his 18th birthday.

In his remarkable career, Rooney has worked on more than 240 films and more than 70 television shows. He has earned four Emmy nominations — winning once — and four Oscar nominations. He received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Lifetime Achievement award in 1983. Rooney is an icon of Hollywood movie-making and the epitome of the word “entertainment.”

Mickey Rooney will accept his AFI DALLAS Star Award at

Jack Lemmon

Starting with 1949’s The Lady Takes a Sailor and ending

with 2000’s The Legend of Bagger Vance, Jack Lemmon’s

film career included 61 titles, including such acclaimed films as The Apartment, Some Like it Hot, Glengarry Glen Ross and Grumpier Old Men. He was nominated for eight Oscars and won twice, once for his supporting role in Mr. Roberts (1956) and again for Best Actor in Save the Tiger (1973). In 1988, he received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award.

A Harvard grad and Navy veteran, Lemmon worked in television, radio and film beginning in the mid-’40s. He worked with many of Hollywood’s iconic leading ladies, including Betty Grable, Doris Day, Kim Novak, Rita Hayworth and Sophia Loren. His pairing with Marilyn Monroe in Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot, screening at AFI DALLAS, is one of his most loved works.

His partnership with Wilder extended to several more films, including The Apartment, The Fortune Cookie and Buddy Buddy. However, it’s his work in the latter two films, and most famously in The Odd Couple with Walter Matthau, that is regarded as one of the best comedic pairings of all time. Lemmon never fell out of favor with Hollywood, because audiences never could pass him up. Whether in comedies like Days of Wine and Roses or thrillers like The China Syndrome, he had a charm that couldn’t be ignored.

Todd Wagner

Chief executive officer of 2929 Entertainment and founder of the Todd Wagner Foundation, Todd Wagner began his ascension in the business world in 1995 as co-founder and CEO of Broadcast.com. Wagner’s passion for entertainment and business led to his current venture, the Wagner/Cuban Companies. This vertically integrated group of media entities spans content creation, distribution and exhibition: 2929 Productions, HDNet Films, Magnolia Pictures, Landmark Theatres, HDNet and HDNet Movies.

As CEO, he has executive produced Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Akeelah and the Bee (showing at AFI DALLAS) and Good Night, and Good Luck., which also earned several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Two more fi lms, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson and What Just Happened? also screen at this year’s Festival.

The Todd Wagner Foundation has developed numerous programs dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children and inner-city entrepreneurs, including MIRACLES, a structured after-school program focusing on technology, education and life skills for children grades 6-12.

The Foundation’s other involvements include serving on the national board of directors of the After-School All-Stars, which offers year-round technology, academic, sports and cultural programs for inner-city children. The Foundation was also instrumental in providing funding to bring the nationally recognized KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) charter school to Dallas in 2003.

Charlize Theron

In her relatively short 12-year cinema career, Charlize Theron has made a profound impact. Her roles in Monster (for which she won the 2004 Best Actress Oscar), The Cider House Rules, North Country (for which she received an Academy Award nomination) and Battle In Seattle show that she relishes non-traditional parts and inhabits them with gusto.

An only child who grew up on a farm near Johannesburg, South Africa, Theron worked as a model and trained at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York before moving to Los Angeles at 19. There, she started her acting career with a small role in Children of the Corn III, but captured the attention of then first-time director Tom Hanks and landed a part in That Thing That You Do!

She moved on to bigger movies, such as The Devil’s Advocate, Mighty Joe Young and Cider House. Her portrayal of a lesbian serial killer in Monster caught the attention of the Academy and critics alike. It led her to the Oscar and made her one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. She received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for her fi lm North Country.

She stars in Battle for Seattle at AFI DALLAS, which was directed by her longtime companion Stuart Townsend.

Chris Wedge

From his work as a principal animator on Tron to his directing on Ice Age and Robots, Chris Wedge seems to always have his hand in a cutting-edge project that both critics and audiences adore. His short film, Bunny, took an Oscar in 1999, while his creative work on Joe’s Apartment and Alien:Resurrection shows he’s in touch with his creepy side, too. Wedge, a graduate of State University of New York at Purchase and Ohio State University, has taught animation at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He’s co-founder and Vice President of Creative Development at Blue Sky Studios, one of the country’s most prestigious computer animation studios and the producer of his films.

Kids and parents may know Wedge best, however, as the voice of Scrat, the saber-toothed squirrel from the Ice Age films who’s gone on to star in shorts of his own (that Wedge also executive produced): Scrat’s Missing Adventure and No Time for Nuts.

Wedge’s current project as an executive producer is Blue Sky’s take on the Dr. Seuss classic Horton Hears a Who!, which stars Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and Carol Burnett.

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

Integrado por: Natacha López, Matías Castro y Gerardo Minutti

Antes de detallar cuáles son los cortos ganadores en cadacategoría, el jurado quiere dejar constancia de algunas consideraciones importantes que se desprenden del material de la muestra.

Advertir sobre el bajo nivel que se encontró en la mayoría de los trabajos presentados, salvando algunas pocas excepciones. Tanto a nivel de ficción como de documental, la mayoría de los problemas están relacionados con el trabajo de guión y la posibilidad de contar una historia, definir un universo que sea coherente con sus personajes y ofrecer una estructura narrativa sólida, de principio a fin.

Lejos de que estas consideraciones se transformen en una voz de desaliento, y valorando el enorme esfuerzo de todos los realizadores, el jurado entiende que su opinión debe tomarse como una contribución para seguir avanzando y pensando en futuros cortometrajes.

Fallos:

Mejor Corto Documental

"Fulbito" de Ines Blixen, Matías Costa, Rodrigo Durañona, Santiago Echevarría y Matías Estévez.

Por acercarse de una forma cálida y atractiva a una realidad social como el Baby Fútbol. Por elegir un conjunto de personajes muy ricos narrativamente, y ofrecerle un cuidado desarrollo a sus historias, sus sueños y sus emociones.

Mejor Corto de Ficción

"La velocidad de los ceibos" de Pablo Aguirrezabal

Por contar una historia tan mínima como universal, entrañable, emocionante, curiosa y divertida. Por su cuidado trabajo de arte y edición, su buen cocktail de personajes y su audacia narrativa.

Mejor Corto de la Muestra

"La velocidad de los ceibos" de Pablo Aguirrezabal

Fallo del jurado de la Sección Documental:

Integrado por: Nelson Carro y Luis Elbert

Mejor Documental

Premio compartido para:

El mundo global visto de acá: "Milton Santos" de Silvio Tendler (Brasil)

Y

Rapsodias balcánicas: "Serbia y Kosovo" de Jeff Daniel Silva (Estados Unidos)

Fallo del Jurado de Signis-Uruguay (ex OCIC), Asociación Católica para la Comunicación.

Integrado por: Nils Helander, Enrique Crosignani y Carla Lima

Premio Signis:

"Luz silenciosa" de Carlos Reygadas (México)

Fallos del jurado de Fipresci (Federación internacional de Prensa de Cine)

Integrado por : Miguel Blanco, Andrés Caro Berta, Sergio Moreira, Fernando Palumbo, y Alberto Postiglioni.

Mejor película del Festival:

"El parque" de Yin Licuan (China)

Mejor filme iberoamericano:

"Luz silenciosa" de Carlos Reygadas (México)

Mejor Opera Prima:

"El parque" de Yin Licuan (China)

Mención:

"La muchacha de la laguna" de Andrea Malaioli (italia)

Fallo del Jurado de la Sección Largometrajes de Ficción

Integrado por: Jorge Jellinek, Carlos Oroño y Rosalba Oxandabarat

Mejor Ópera Prima:

"Medusas" de Edgar Keret y Shira Geffen (Israel).

Mejor Película Latinoamericana:

"Estomago" de Marcos Jorge (Brasil).

Premio especial a la calidad artística:

"Luz silenciosa" de Carlos Reygadas (México).

Mejor Película para:

"My Winnipeg" de Guy Maddin (Canadá).

Narrative Competition

The Best Narrative Award is presented to the best feature-length narrative film by or about Asian Americans and Asian Canadians, as selected by a three-person jury that included independent filmmaker and playwright Philip Gotanda, Gina Kwon, independent producer of projects including Miranda July’s "You and me and Everyone We Know," and Academy Award winning screenwriter Iris Yamashita.

This year’s Narrative Competition consisted of 9 exciting new films, including 5 world premieres, that took on issues ranging from love and sex to table tennis. These films provoke, entertain and exhibit some of the best in Asian American cinema.

Congratulations to "Amal," by director Richie Mehta, winner of this year’s Best Narrative Award.

In this remarkable film debut, the director demonstrates an uncannily mature command of craft, story-telling and direction. In telling this classic tale of morality, the director has created a perfectly pitched film, full of wonderfully understated performances and subtly beautiful moments.

For the Narrative Competition Special Jury Prize, the jurors felt there were two films equally deserving the award. Both presented the best of independent filmmaking: the telling of stories full of heart and honesty; the dedication to portraying authentic worlds; and the commitment to their specific visions.

Congratulations to "Always Be Boyz," directed by Johnny Kwon, and Santa Mesa, directed by Ron Morales, this year’s Special Jury Prize winners in the Narrative Competition.

Documentary Competition

The Best Documentary Award is presented to the best feature-length documentary film by or about Asian Americans or Asian Canadians, as selected by a three-person jury that included Kathryn Lo, Associate Director of Program Development and Independent Film at PBS, Stanley Nelson, Bay Area-based documentary filmmaker, and Celine Parrenas Shimizu, Associate Professor of Asian American, Film and Women’s Studies at UC Santa Barbara.

This year’s Documentary Competition included seven documentaries that explored some of the most pressing and intriguing issues in Asian America. Far-reaching, personal, uplifting and thought-provoking, these select films prove themselves heavy contenders in the genre of documentary filmmaking.

Congratulations to "Planet B-Boy," directed by Benson Lee, this year’s Best Documentary Award winner.

"Planet B-Boy" combines form and content to tell a story that is constantly entertaining and exciting. A story that gets at universal truths while dancing it’s way to our hearts.

For the Documentary Competition Special Jury Prize, the jury chose a film that tells the story of Kamikaze pilots during WWII in a way that is both universal and personnel. A film that brilliantly uses archival footage, animation and interviews to tell this harrowing and remarkable story.

Congratulations to "Wings of Defeat," directed by Risa Morimoto, winner of this year’s Special Jury Prize in the Documentary Competition.

The list of winners for each category are:

IBERO-AMERICAN FICTION FEATURE FILMS

BEST FILM: "14 KILÓMETROS"

Directed by: Gerardo Olivares (Spain)

SPECIAL JURY MENTION: Ishtar Yasin (Costa Rica) for "EL CAMINO"

SPECIAL JURY AWARD: "A OUTRA MARGEM"

Directed by: Luis Filipe Rocha (Portugal)

BEST FIRST FEATURE: "EL BAÑO DEL PAPA"

Directed by: César Charlone & Enrique Fernández (Uruguay/Brazil/France)

BEST DIRECTOR: Eliseo Subiela (Argentina) for "NO MIRES PARA ABAJO"

BEST SCREENPLAY: "MATAHARIS"

Directed by: Icíar Bollaín & Tatiana Rodríguez (Spain)

BEST ACTOR: Marlon Moreno (Colombia) for "PERRO COME PERRO"

BEST ACTRESS: María d’Aires (Portugal) for "A OUTRA MARGEM"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Pedro Farkas (Brazil) for "OS DESAFINADOS"

SELECTION FOR THE GOLDEN GLOBE® AWARDS 2009:

"EL BAÑO DEL PAPA"

Directed by: César Charlone & Enrique Fernández (Uruguay/Brazil/France)

"OS DESAFINADOS"

Directed by: Walter Lima Jr. (Brazil)

MEXICAN FICTION FEATURE FILMS:

BEST FEATURE FILM: "DESIERTO ADENTRO"

Directed by: Rodrigo Plá.

BEST FIRST FEATURE: "CONOZCA LA CABEZA DE JUAN PÉREZ"

Directed by: Emilio Portes.

BEST DIRECTOR: Fernando Eimbcke for "LAKE TAHOE"

BEST SCREENPLAY: Rodrigo Plá & Laura Santullo by "DESIERTO ADENTRO"

BEST ACTOR: Mario Zaragoza for "DESIERTO ADENTRO"

BEST ACTRESS: Dolores Heredia for "ENEMIGOS ÍNTIMOS, CONOZCA LA CABEZA DE JUAN PÉREZ" & "DESIERTO ADENTRO"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

Serguei Saldívar Tanaka for DESIERTO ADENTRO

MEZCAL AWARD: "DESIERTO ADENTRO" by Rodrigo Plá.

AUDIENCE AWARD: "DESIERTO ADENTRO" by Rodrigo Plá.

PRE-SELECTION FOR THE GOLDEN GLOBE® AWARDS -2009: "LAKE TAHOE"

Directed by: Fernando Eimbcke.

"DESIERTO ADENTRO"

Directed by: Rodrigo Plá.

DOCUMENTARY

BEST IBERO-AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY:"STRANDED: VENGO DE UN AVIÓN QUE CAYÓ EN LAS MONTAÑAS"

Directed by: Gonzalo Arijón (Uruguay/Spain/France).

SPECIAL JURY MENTION: "LUCIO"

Directed by: Aitor Arregi & José Mari Goenaga (Spain)

BEST MEXICAN DOCUMENTARY: "TRAZANDO ALEIDA"

Directed by: Christiane Bukhard.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION: "NIÑO FIDENCIO… DE ROMA A ESPINAZO"

Directed by: Juan Farre.

SHORT FILMS

BEST IBERO-AMERICAN SHORT FILM: "DIENTE POR OJO"

Directed by: Eivind Holmboe “Salmón” (Spain).

BEST MEXICAN SHORT FILM: "CAFÉ PARAÍSO"

Directed by: Alonso Ruizpalacios.

BEST ANIMATION: "JACINTA"

Directed by: Karla Castañeda (Mexico).

SPECIAL MENTION IBERO-AMERICAN SHORT: "UN RAMO"

Directed by: Juliana Rojas & Marco Dutra (Brazil).

SPECIAL MENTION MEXICAN SHORT: "PRIMER MOVIMIENTO PARA 20 HOMBRES EN UN CUARTO VACÍO"

Directed by: Gabriel Herrera.

TVE AWARD: "LATINOS"

Directed by: Víctor Gaviria (Colombia)

FEISAL AWARD: "SIETE INSTANTES"

Directed by: Diana Cardozo (Mexico).

FIPRESCI AWARD: "EL CAMINO"

Directed by: Ishtar Yasin (Costa Rica)

AUDIENCE OF THE FUTURE AWARD: "ÁNGELES S.A."

Directed by: Eduard Bosch (Spain)

GUADALAJARA CONSTRUYE:

NEW ART DIGITAL PRIZE: "VEDADO"

Directed by: Asori Soto & Magdiel Aspillaga (Cuba).

SWISS EFFECTS PRIZE: "CRÓNICAS CHILANGAS" Directed by: Carlos Enrique Enderle Peña (Mexico).

LATINOFUSION PRIZE: "CRÓNICAS CHILANGAS"

Directed by: Carlos Enrique Enderle Peña (Mexico).

ASTRO ESTUDIO PRIZE: "CRÓNICAS CHILANGAS"

Directed by: Carlos Enrique Enderle Peña (Mexico).

CHURUBUSCO PRIZE: "CRÓNICAS CHILANGAS"

Directed by: Carlos Enrique Enderle Peña (Mexico).

SIGNIS-OCLACC PRIZE: "VEDADO"

Directed by: Asori Soto & Magdiel Aspillaga (Cuba).

THE LIFT PRIZE: "CRÓNICAS CHILANGAS"

Directed by: Carlos Enrique Enderle Peña (Mexico).

"VEDADO"

Directed by: Asori Soto & Magdiel Aspillaga (Cuba).

TITRA CALIFORNIA PRIZE: "CRÓNICAS CHILANGAS"

Directed by: Carlos Enrique Enderle Peña (Mexico).

"VEDADO"

Directed by: Asori Soto & Magdiel Aspillaga (Cuba).

directed by: Amor Hakkar [Algeria]

Best Director: Zoltan Kamondi for "Dolina" [Hungary]

Best Actor: Jan Decleir for "A Perfect Match" [Belgium]

Best Actress: Minnie Driver for "Take" [US]

Best Documentary: "Behind Forgotten Eyes" directed by:

Anthony Gilmore [US/Korea/Japan]

Best Cinematography: Lazlo Kovacs for "Torn from the Flag" [Hungary]

Humanitarian Award: "Welcome Europa"

directed by: Bruno Ulmer [France]

Best Musical: "The Samba Poet"

directed by: Ricardo Van Steen [Brazil]

Best Short: "Julieta"

directed by: Raul Antonio Caballero Carreto [Mexico]

Best Music Video: "Gone"

directed by: Andrew Watson [US]

Best Dance Short Film: "The Rain"

directed by: Pontus Lidberg [Sweden]

Best Animation: "One Night in a City"

directed by: Jan Baledj [Czech Republic]

Best Sports Film: "Row Hard, No Excuses"

directed by: Luke Wolbach [US]

Federico Fellini Award: Miaoyan Zhang for "Xiaolin Xiaoli" [China]

Orson Wells Award: "In the Name of the Son" directed by: Harun Mehmedinovic [US]

Best Experimental Film: "Agnieszka 2039"

directed by: Martin Gauvreau [UK]

Best Student Film: "The Vaudevillian"

directed by: Bryan Nest [US]

Best Comedy: "American Fork"

directed by: Chris Bowman [US]