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)