2018 Tribeca Film Festival Awards: ‘Diane,’ ‘Smuggling Hendrix,’ and More Take Top Honors

NEW YORK, NY:  Mustafa ÖNDER

Alia Shawkat was named best actress in a US narrative feature for Duck Butter, while best actor honours went to Jeffrey Wright for O.G. Best Cinematography in a US narrative feature Film went to Wyatt Garfield for Diane.

The Nora Ephron Award awarded a $25,000 prize to writer-director Nia DaCosta for Little Woods. The award was created six years ago to honor excellence in storytelling by a female writer or director embodying the spirit and boldness of the late filmmaker.

Tribeca honored innovation in storytelling with its Storyscapes Award, which went to Hero. Square’s For Every Kind of Dream series was honored with the third annual Tribeca X Award, which recognises excellence in storytelling at the intersection of advertising and entertainment.  

In the international competition, best international narrative feature went to Smuggling Hendrix (Cyprus-Germany-Greece) by Marios Piperides, and acting awards went to Joy Rieger in Virgins (France-Israel-Belgium), and Rasmus Bruun in The Saint Bernard Syndicate (Denmark).

This year’s festival included 99 feature length films, 55 short films, and 35 immersive storytelling projects from 46 countries.

NEW YORK, NY:  Mustafa ÖNDER

Chloe wine is served during the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival awards night after partyat Gallery at Dream Downtown on April 26, 2018 in New York City. Photo © Mustafa Önder

Photo © Mustafa Önder

Guests enjoy the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival awards night after partyat Gallery at Dream Downtown on April 26, 2018 in New York City. Photo © Mustafa Önder

Mustafa ÖNDER

Here are some highlights from the 2018 Maryland International Film Festival! 

#MDIFF18

The Maryland International Film Festival handed out their awards on Sunday, April 29, at the Grand Piano Ballroom. Awards were given for Best Feature, Short, Animation, Student, Local, Documentray, and Foreign films. Festival Director, Tracie Hovey said, "This year has been jam packed with some of the best films on the circuit. We are always thrilled to host such amazing talent in Hagerstown. It gives residents a chance to see films that are about to be seen on Netflix and other distribution chanels before other audiences. And the filmmakers always seem to enjoy the quality festival experience we provide so it is a win-win for everyone!" 

Films were screened at four venues this year, the historic Maryland Theater, the Grand Piano Ballroom, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Washington County Free Library. The red carpet opening night feature was Butterfly Kisses which won the Best Local Film award and the Saturday night feature was 20 Weeks staring Amir Arison and directed by Lenna Pendharka.

Amir Arison, was awarded the Mendez Award at the Maryland International Film Festival in Hagerstown, Maryland on April 27, 2018. Executive Director Tracie Hovey said, “The Mendez Award is awarded to someone who has succeeded in the tv/film industry or has supported film and who also gives back to the community. Amir Arison is such an amazing talent. His work on NBC’s “The Blacklist” has really catapulted his career. Not only is he a tremendous talent, but we want to recognize him for all that he does for non-profits. Arison believes in giving back and continues to support causes that he loves.” 

 The Nora Roberts Award. Shelly Strong, was chosen as the 2018 Nora Roberts Foundation Award winner. The prestigious award is given to the person who has had a successful career in the film and television industry and has Maryland ties. Executive Director Tracie Hovey said, “We could not think of anyone more deserving than Shelly Strong. Shelly hails from Western Maryland and quickly climbed to the top of Dream Works Studios to be the only woman as Head of Physical Production at any major studio. She truly embodies all that the Nora Roberts Award is and we are thrilled to celebrate her and all of her accomplishments.” 

Shelly Strong hails from Western Maryland and attended Smithsburg High School and Towson University.  She got her start working in film right out of college by landing a job on “He Said, She Said” as a director’s assistant, followed by a stint as an office P.A. on David Mamet’s “Homicide”.  Packing up her Chevy S-10 she moved to Los Angeles in 1991. There she landed some low budget work as a Production Coordinator but quickly moved on to producing independent films and toured the festivals. After several years of the indie/festival circuit she landed an executive job at Stratus and Bullseye where she worked on titles including “Crash,” “The Illusionist,” “The Painted Veil” and “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.” Her big break into the majors happened in 2006 when she was hired as VP of Production at DreamWorks Studios (now Amblin Partners) where she was recently promoted to Head of Physical Production. Her credits include: “Tropic Thunder,” “The Help,” “I Love You, Man,” “Girl on a Train,” and the upcoming “The House with a Clock in its Walls.”            

Check the list of Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum awards and Special Jury prizes.

Hunter says the next Lucas, Spielbergor Coen brothers mightbe in this year's selection of fine winners.

I had submitted more than 10 films which I represent as their festival agent. Two received top awards: Living in the Future's Past received Special Jury Award, Living among us received a platinum award.

Carla Simón receives award worth € 10,000 for her summer coming-of-age drama Estiu 1993 / Summer 1993

choices Audience Award goes to the documentary A Woman Captured by Bernadett Tuza-Ritter

The 35th International Women's Film Festival Dortmund | Cologne came to an end on Sunday evening with a festive prize-giving ceremony after six very successful days. In the outdoor performance area of Schauspiel Köln / Britney, four film awards worth a total of € 16,000 were presented to the winners.

The departure of Silke Johanna Räbiger - director of the Women's Film Festival for over 25 years - added an emotional note to the finale of a festival that has repeatedly captivated Cologne audiences with the rich diversity of its programme.

Spanish director Carla Simón impressed the international jury with her easygoing, summery yet deeply poignant debut ESTIU 1993 (SUMMER 1993), which will be shown at German cinemas with the title FRIDAS SOMMER in July (distributed by Grandfilm). The jury panel was made up of directors Muriel Coulin (France) and Ildikó Enyedi (Hungary) and actress Ursula Strauss (Austria). They explained their decision as follows:

"The first prize for a director's debut goes to a film that takes us through the precarious phases of a child's grieving. The dialogue of love in all its cruelty, rejection and reconciliation is so truthful and tender and is about a subject rarely seen in the cinema."

ESTIU 1993 is about the summer of 1993. Six-year-old Frida is sent to live with her uncle in the countryside after the death of her mother. Although his family welcomes her with love and kindness, Frida takes a long time to adapt to her new home. Moments of innocent gaiety alternate with contemplative detachment in this "cheerful drama", which sensitively examines the consequences of an unpredictable illness.

The jury also honoured the Latin American co-production MEDEA by Alexandra Latishev Salazar with a special mention. The story of a young woman who – completely disconnected from her environment – consistently denies her pregnancy, impressed the members of the jury who praised the film "for its brave minimalism, showing the chilling loneliness of a young woman in an extreme personal situation and giving the protagonist the opportunity for an amazingly powerful performance."

The winners of the National Competition for Young Womnen Cinematographers were already recognised prior to the award ceremony:

Paola Calvo received the prize in the Documentary Film category for VIOLENTLY HAPPY, which she also directed. Marie Zahi received the award in the Feature Film category for HOW I LOST MYSELF, by Sarah Weber. The € 2,500 prizes were awarded by a jury made up this year of the cinematographers Sophie Maintigneux, Eva Testor and Katharina Diessner.

After the final ballot papers were counted, the Audience Award, worth € 1,000 and sponsored by the magazine choices, went to the Hungarian-German documentary A WOMAN CAPTURED by Bernadett Tuza Ritter. Sponsored by the Film und Medienstiftung NRW, the film tells the story of a European woman who is held captive by a family as a house slave for ten years. The film was co-produced by the Cologne-based company Corsofilm. The prize was presented to producer Martin Roelly on the evening of the award ceremony by choices Head of Projects Rüdiger Schmidt-Sodingen.

Reactions to the Festival were exceptionally positive both among audiences and in the media with sold-out cinemas and lively discussions. After the screening of the documentary MONIKA HAUSER – A PORTRAIT, for example, medica mondiale founder Monika Hauser impressed viewers in a full house with her in-depth analyses of issues relating to sexualised violence against women. Berlin hip hopper sookee received rapturous applause for her short performance after the premiere of the documentary SOOKEE – VON SEEPFERDCHEN UND SCHRÄNKEN. This year's focus ABOUT GERMANY prompted some heated debates, and the many musical performances and special acts in the Panorama section turned the Festival centre in the Altes Pfandhaus, in particular, into a lively centre for exchange and discussions.

The next Festival will take place in April 2019 in Dortmund.

For more information, photos or film material, please contact: Stefanie Görtz, Maxi Braun, 0231-5025480, 0170-2037198, presse@frauenfilmfestival.eu

PHOTOS




 

As part of a new alliance announced in January at Sundance, the 14 semi-finalists for the fifth annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge were announced and screened at a live event today from the Bentonville Film Festival to promote disability awareness and inclusion throughout the entertainment industry.

“With a record number of entries — including submissions from 12 countries around the world — this has been the steepest competition yet,” said Nic Novicki, Film Challenge founder and Easterseals Southern California board member. “Thanks to the Bentonville Film Festival and our other entertainment partners, the Film Challenge has grown in prominence and is accelerating change within Hollywood. Together, we are changing the way the world views and defines disability.”

The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge gives filmmakers — with and without disabilities — the opportunity to collaborate to tell unique stories that showcase disability in its many forms. Held April 13-15, filmmakers were given a span of 55 hours to write and produce a short film (three-to-five minutes) using this year’s genre, “buddy comedy.”  Films must include a person with a disability either in front of or behind the camera and are judged by a panel of noted and diverse entertainment industry professionals. Top prizes include mentorships with industry leaders; cash grants; film festival screening opportunities; and other awards.

On May 10, the nominated cast and crew members will participate in a special panel discussion hosted by agents from United Talent Agency (UTA), a leading talent and literacy agency representing many of the world’s top actors, writers, directors, producers and recording artists. Winners will be announced at a red carpet event later that evening at UTA’s headquarters in Beverly Hills.

SCREENED AT BENTONVILLE:  Ain’t Woke, Best Enemies, Check Mate, Committed, Footloose, Gia and Dragon, Hit On, Jordan’s Cake, Limited Space, Rivals or Friends, The #1 Fan, Uncommon Ground, Visibility, Woody’s Beans

ANNOUNCED FINALISTS:

BEST FILM:  Best Enemies (Emily Hopper), Check Mate (Carl Hansen), Committed (Rachel Handler), Visibility (Scott Rosendall)

BEST FILMMAKER:  Cory Reeder (Ain’t Woke), Day Daniells (Hit On), Keenan O’Reilly (Visibility), Joel Blacker (Woody’s Beans)

BEST ACTOR:  Eric Graise (Limited Space), Tamara Mena (Rivals or Friends), Dennis “Scooby” Willoughby (The #1 Fan), J.B. Abajian (Visibility)

BEST AWARENESS CAMPAIGN:  Footloose (David Tenenbaum), Gia and Dragon (John Lawson), Jordan’s Cake (Shanalyna Palmer), Uncommon Ground (Lori Saux)

VIEW FINALIST FILMS AT:  https://bit.ly/2rhvxlz

One-in-five Americans is living with a disability, making it today’s largest minority population, yet far too often their important and varied stories go untold. Per the GLAAD report “Where We Are on TV,” 1.7% of TV roles feature a character with a disability … and of those roles, more than 95% of the characters are portrayed by actors without a disability (Ruderman Family Foundation).  Of the top 900 films since 2007, just 2.7% of characters were portrayed as having a disability, according to the USC Annenberg report, “Inequality in 900 Popular Films.” 

Earlier today, Novicki participated in a panel discussion to explore tangible ways that filmmakers, writers, directors and casting agents can broaden their projects to be more inclusive and bring more employment opportunities to address underrepresentation of people with disabilities in film.  A disability advocate, the actor/comedian (Boardwalk Empire, Gotham Comedy Live) is a little person who has successfully navigated the challenges of a working actor in Hollywood with a disability. 

About the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge

Since the Challenge launched in 2013, aspiring filmmakers from around the world have created more than 150 short films (35 submitted last year) which have been viewed online and at festivals. Supported by a who’s who of Hollywood from both in front of and behind the camera, winners have included Jamie Brewer, who won Best Actor in 2017 for Whitney’s Wedding, has been acclaimed for her role on American Horror Story and was the first model with Down Syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week; Dickie Hearts, Best Filmmaker winner in 2015, who went on to win an HBO Project Greenlight digital series competition; and Jenna Kanell, winner of Best Film in 2015 who went on to give a TEDx Talk about her experience.

About the Bentonville Film Festival

Co-founded by Academy Award® winner Geena Davis & Inclusion Companies CEO Trevor Drinkwater, the Bentonville Film Festival is a one of a kind annual event that champions inclusion in all forms of media. BFF is a yearlong platform culminating with an annual six-day festival, in partnership with founding sponsor Walmart and presenting sponsor Coca-Cola. The Bentonville Film Festival is held the first week of May of every year in Bentonville, Arkansas and includes an impactful Inclusion, Research and Content Summit. Connecting engaged entertainment industry leaders and major corporate changemakers with a diverse array of storytellers affords BFF the unique opportunity to amplify commercially viable content, solutions and initiatives that adequately represent the world around us. Because if they can see it, they can be it! www.bentonvillefilmfestival.com

About the Bentonville Film Festival Foundation

Bentonville Film Festival Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on promoting underrepresented voices in the entertainment industry through research, education, mentoring and industry partnerships. The primary partner of the Foundation is the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media (GDIGM). The Foundation believes that by convening the media ecosystem - advertisers, content creators and content distributors - in support of media that accurately reflects the gender balance and diversity of our country, it can create a seismic change in how we inspire young minds to do great things. The Foundation also hosts events throughout the year in multiple locations and in collaboration with other likeminded organizations.

About Easterseals Southern California

For nearly 100 years, Easterseals has been an indispensable resource for individuals and families with developmental disabilities or other special needs. The services provided by Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) – in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties – make profound and positive differences in people's lives every day, helping them address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals so that they can live, learn, work and play in our communities. With 2,500 employees, 60+ service sites and hundreds of community partnership locations, ESSC assists more than 10,000 people, providing adult/senior day services; autism therapy; child development/early education; employment services, veteran employment support; independent living options; and more. At Easterseals, 88% of our income is spent on services. Join us in changing the way the world defines and views disabilities.  more at:  Easterseals.com/SouthernCal

Grand Remi Winner NINE TO NIRVANA, Directed by Evan Lu, Starring Snow Li

ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival announces "Best European Independent Film 2018"

 Europe's premier event for independent cinema, ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival - announces its 2018 award-winning films, including its highest honour, "Best European Independent Film 2018."

After showcasing 81 films from 37 countries, ÉCU 2018 ended its indie-packed weekend with a dazzling final ceremony recognizing 26 award winners in 14 categories. Winners included: WREN BOYS, directed by Harry Lighton (UK) for Best European Independent Dramatic Short; MERRICK, directed by Benjamin Diouris (France) for Best European Independent Dramatic Feature; and PLASMA VISTA, directed by Harriet Fleuriot, Sara Faulkner nad Sarah Cockings (UK) for Best Independent Experimental Film. Martijn Winkler took home Best Director for #TAGGED (Netherlands). The award for Best European Independent Film 2018 went to THE BOX (Slovenia), directed by Dusan Kastelic.

During the festival weekend, international audiences were exposed to film and their filmmakers from across a spectrum of experiences, cultures, and genres. The Director Q&A sessions provided a great informal setting for discussion between the audience and the directors on filmmaking, while after-parties throughout Paris extended these conversations into the music-fuelled early morning hours. ÉCU endeavours to provide a cultural platform not only for entertainment, but also for active networking across the independent film world.

For the last 13 years, ÉCU has been helping to launch and expand the careers of many talented independent filmmakers. The Festival is extremely proud to assist these passionately driven artists who create incredible cinema without the benefits of large production budgets. ÉCU's mission to discover and promote extraordinary independent films from around the world renders it a major European cultural event.

Scott Hillier, Academy Award-honoured filmmaker and ÉCU President, remarked that "it has been an incredible experience and a deep honour to showcase the wide variety of high-calibre constituting ÉCU's 2018 Official Selection this past weekend," adding that "these deeply insightful and highly well-crafted narratives reveal the profound promise that the next generation of filmmakers have to offer."

For a full list of ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival's 2018 award winners, please visit  www.ecufilmfestival.com.

Submissions open today for Sixth Edition of SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival NY 2019

 

SRFF 2019 - Submissions Open May 9

NEW YORK - May 8, 2018 - PRLog -- SR Socially Relevant Film Festival 2019 (SRFF 2019) submissions open May 9 on Cannes Film Festival Croisette. The sixth edition of SRFF will take place from March 15-21, 2019 at Cinema Village and neighboring venues. The Narrative Features, Documentaries, Narrative and documentary shorts, a script competition, VR/ 360º films and a number of Industry workshops and panels program offers filmmakers and audience members many opportunities.

SRFF favors the films submitted via Filmfreeway.com and WithoutaBox.com with a very small percentage of curated shorts in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and specifically SDG 5 (gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls). Some are from the UN Media Partnership, and others from organizations that advocate social issues.

The festival invariably programs Q&A sessions between visiting and local filmmakers and the audience immediately following the screenings, some of the filmmakers whose works are screened, experts and advocates of women's and other issues are also invited. The 'Vanya Exerjian - Empowering Women and Girls Award' is the festival's staple award and in addition to the award categories, it is presented to a film advocating the empowerment of women and girls preferably but not necessarily directed by a woman. The latest winner was Dr. Ruchira Gupta of Apne Aap.

The program strives to bring together prominent industry players who have supported the festival in the past, the women filmmakers in the past selections of the festival, and international advocates of women's rights of all genders. The 50/50 rule is respected not as a quota only but rather based on the quality of the work presented.

The rapidly-growing, social-issue based festival is now in its fifth year. SRFF is a multi-faceted event that embodies the cultural values of New York and the world. SRFF 2019 will showcase close to 70 films across an array of platforms from emerging, international and local filmmakers.

Festival Founder and Artistic Director Nora Armani says, "SRFF is always in the look out for new like-minded partners and sponsors. Every year we are surprised and awed by the quality of the work that is out there and the responsibility of the filmmakers resenting their socially relevant work to SRFF."

If interested to be involved as a sponsor of SRFF 2019 and please contact the SRFF team at ratedsrfilms@gmail.org putting SPONSOR in the subject line, or call +33 (0) 6 52 61 19 62 during the Cannes Film Festival requesting a meeting.

SRFF is proud to be supported by The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Fairways Law Firm - Paris, in addition to sponsorships from the German Consulate General of New York, The Dutch Consulate General, and organizations such as NAASR, St. Leon Armenian Church, AGBU Performing Arts, AIWA NJ and Armenian Network of America. Industry partners and sponsors include Cinema Libre Studio, Candy Factory, InkTip, Final Draft, Resolution rentals, UniFrance and more. Award trophies are by Michael Aram. Our hospitality partners are: Villanelle Restaurant, Westside Market, Pete's Coffee and La Colombe Coffee.

ABOUT SR SOCIALLY RELEVANT FILM FESTIVAL NY: www.ratedsrfilms.org

SR Socially Relevant ™ Film Festival New York is a 501(c) 3 non-profit film festival founded by actress Nora Armani. The Mission of the SR Film Festival is to shine the spotlight on filmmakers who tell compelling, socially relevant™, human interest stories, across a broad range of social issues. During its first five years, the festival showcased 277 films from 35 countries. Submissions are received from all over the world and they open May 9.

For more information about SRFF 2019 sponsorship possibilities, as well as past festival editions and partners, visit www.ratedsrfilms.org.

CONTACT:
Nora Armani
(during the Cannes Film Festival at)
+33 (0) 6 52 61 19 62   France
(And after at)
+1 (917) 318 2290   US

Contact
Nora Armani
ratedsrfilms@gmail.com

Photo:
https://www.prlog.org/12707188/1

Zurich Film Festival Launches New Award for Best Series

The Zurich Film Festival’s new 'ZFF Series' competition section presents between six and eight of the world’s most innovative series. Series of all genres are eligible for nomination as along as they comprise a minimum of four episodes at 40-60 minutes per episode and celebrate their Swiss premiere at the ZFF. A jury will award the Golden Eye for "Best International TV Series" endowed with a CHF 10’000 cash prize during the festival.

The Zurich Film Festival celebrated its 10-year anniversary by launching the 'ZFF TVision' section. This out-of-competition line-up continued ever since to present series and mini-series that drew global TV-world attention or were on the verge of success. Talk at the time was of a “golden age of television entertainment”, which has since led to a blurring of the line between TV and cinema. It is no longer surprising that such Hollywood greats as David Fincher, David Lynch, Andrea Arnold and Jane Campion, as well a whole host of character actors and actresses, are getting in on this once-shunned act. According to estimates by industry insiders, approximately 1000 new series are created annually.

In order to keep abreast of the ever-increasing importance of the TV series, Zurich Film Festival launches its new 'ZFF Series' competition line-up. Eligible to compete are series made specifically for TV or streaming channels, including existing series, comprising four episodes or more (including the pilot episode). Each episode must be between 40 and 60 minutes in duration and the first season of the series must not yet have been aired in Switzerland. The Zurich Film Festival will appoint a jury comprising a minimum of three experts from the film industry to award the Golden Eye for 'Best International TV Series' endowed with a CHF 10’000 cash prize. The prize money will be split between the creator and producers. The festival will also present in this section an out-of-competition line-up of (mini)series that signal new trends and/or have garnered attention within the global TV world.

2018 AMSTERDAM FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARDS

It is with great pleasure that we announce at this time the award winners of the 2018 Amsterdam Film Festival Van Gogh Awards. The contest received a wide variety of submissions representing top storytellers from over 20 countries around the world. The quality of the work that we had the honor of reviewing was simply astounding. Judging from among this exceptionally high caliber of filmmaking talent proved to be extremely difficult as there were so many unique, well-made and worthy projects. After several months of careful consideration, we present to you the very best of the 2018 competition.

De grote Prijs van de Jury: Land Divers directed by Peter Hsui
Cinematic Vision Award: The World Is Mine directed by Ann Oren
Van Gogh Award: The Shady Lady directed by Guy Bordin &  Renaud De Putter
Prodigy Auteur Prize: Living In The Futures Past directed by Susan Kucera
Grand Jury Prize: Ballad Of A Righteous Merchant directed by Herbert Golder
Grand Jury Prize: Twin Cities directed by David Ash
Grand Jury Prize: Cetaceans directed by Florencia Percia
Dramatic Directing Award: Rosemarie directed by Adonis Florides
Documentary Directing Award: Manchurian Sleepwalkers directed by Thomas Lahusen
World Cinema Directing Award: Dad Where Are You I Am Lost directed by Ahmet Karaman
World Cinema Directing Award: Hidden Light directed by Aaron Kamp
World Cinema Directing Award:  Stories Of Destroyed Cities directed by Sêro Hindê
Excellence in Cinematography Award: One Man's Trash directed by Chad Servidio
Excellence in Cinematography Award: Astrid directed by Luigi Abanto Varese
Excellence in Cinematography Award: Ruined directed by Glad Moss
Excellence in Cinematography Award: It Comes From The Heavens directed by Oldren Romero
World Cinema Cinematography Award: Limbo directed by Jean-Luc Julien
World Cinema Cinematography Award: The Rhythm In Blue directed by Toni Parker
World Cinema Cinematography Award: The Golden Age directed by Justin Connor
World Cinema Cinematography Award: Whoever Was Using This Bed directed by Andrew Kotatko
Best Documentary Film Editing: All Appliance directed by Chuka Umunna
Best Dramatic Film Editing: Waiting Patient directed by Kelly Amis
Best Feature Film Screenplay: Rice directed by Alex Vargas
Best Short Film Screenplay: Love, Gwen directed by Amanda Young
World Cinema Documentary Editing Award: Aurora Bioscope directed by Anjan Bose
World Cinema Screenwriting Award, Feature Film: Eni directed by Ashvin Meshram
World Cinema Screenwriting Award, Short Film: Rye On The Island directed by Stefano Raspa
Special Jury Prize, World Cinema Documentary Feature: Invisible Hands directed by Shraysi Tandon
Special Jury Prize, World Cinema Documentary Short: Fire & Light directed by Dana Johnson
Special Jury Prize, World Cinema Dramatic: Love Is Dead directed by Eric Capitaine
Special Jury Prize, World Cinema Short: Maestro directed by Nemanja Mladenovic
Special Jury Prize, World Cinema Music Video: Soul By Femdot directed by Zack Gregory
Special Jury Prize, World Cinema Animation: Unexpected Discoveries directed by James Mabery
Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Independence: Mahasatta 2035 directed by Ramprabhu Nakate
Special Jury Prize: International Short Filmmaking: Woodman directed by Mike Jackson
World Cinema: Music Video - Dancing In Place directed by Navied Setayesh
World Cinema: Student -In Beating Cells directed by Richard Kranzin
World Cinema: Documentary Feature -Madhattan directed by Carolyn Constantine
World Cinema: Documentary Short- Hotel Everest directed by Claudia Sobral
World Cinema: Experimental Film Award: Rivers directed by Graciela Cassel
World Cinema: Animation:Mark Of A Free Society directed by Robert Grieves
Best Animation:Empty View directed by Ali Zare Ghanatnowi
Best Comedy: The Florist directed by Andrew Ryan
Best Documentary Feature: Livingston Taylor - Life Is Good directed by Tracey Anarella
Best Drama: Gold Fortune  directed by Rhyme Lu
Best Feature: Youth On The March directed by Mike Retter
Best Sci-Fi: Project Reformers directed by Doizel
Best Romance: Bennett’S Song directed by Harley Wallen
Best Fantasy: The Dreamcatcher directed by Arnaud Husson
Best Experimental:My Heart Is A Lure directed by Patrick Moser
Best Family Film: Poke directed by Alico Roviralta
Best Documentary Short:The Path To Nidaros directed by Hilse De Groote
Best Music Video: Silent Whish directed by Liv-K. Nome
Best Short:  Mariposas directed by Adrian Carey
Best Thriller: The Whistler directed by Jennifer Nicole Stang
Best First Time Director: Compatriot directed by Mahtab Soleimani
Best Student: To Pluto directed by Yen-Ju Lee
Best TV Pilot: Little Hope  directed by Jacqueline Dow
Best Web Video: End Unsung directed by Rolf Lindblom

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS: 

Feature Screenplay Competition

First Place: Naughty & Nice written by Scott Gray
Second Place: Look In My Eyes written by Eddie Baca
Third Place: The White Death written by Brian Sachson &  Alex Hoyt & Rurik Peterson

Official Finalists
Origami written by Ludrik Hooi
Sardis The Merciful written by Christian Thomas
Rosa And The Black Tulip written by Gena Ellis
Soucouyant - Feature written by Sean Michael Field
She Knows written by Landon Nemoto
Stabat Mater written by Gianni Cardillo, Mohsen Melliti, Edoardo Rossi
The Island Of Blooming Stones written by Russell Beneke
The Doll written by Serge Adam
The Fledgling written by Tara Brenninkmeyer
Change Of Heart written by Mark Ingle

Short Screenplay Competition Winners: 
First Place: Mirza's Friend Ghalib written by Anupam Sen Gupta & Abhijit Sengupta Bappa
Second Place: The Coffin written by Emanuele Pesoli
Third Place: Paradigm Shift written by Katherine Fitzgerald

Official Finalists
American Mother written by Andrew Fleming
Mr. Happy written by Sydney Lloyd Smith
The Most Interesting Man In Dave's Mind written by Amanda R. Martinez
Cherry Glazed written by Christine Sherwood
Grace Screenplay written by Alex Holmes

First Time Screenwriter Competition Winners:
First Place: Chloe's Claire written by Fielding Thomas
Second Place: Moonflower written by Beth Curry
Third Place: Perfect Contrition written by James Palmer

Official Finalists
The Knot written by Ashish Pant
I Am Arzé written by Sam Shaib & Louay Khraish
1000 - The Sword In The Stone Series (Episode #1: The Druid, The Sword And The Raven) written by Guido Maria Giordano
Mad Dash written by William Leonard
Seeds  written by Natalie van der Meulen
The Journey written by Dave Thomas
Nour written by Maitha Alawadi
Family Secrets written by Neda Davarpanah
Tales Of Toverud: A Mockumentary Pilot (Script) written by Liba Vaynberg & Allison Minick

Stage Play Competition Winners: 

First Place: Two-Bit Taj Mahal written by Paul D'Andrea
Second Place: Err written by Rahul Kumar Srivastava

Television Script Competition Winners: 

First Place: White Water Rescue Original Television Movie written by Harold L. Brown
Second Place: .The Reset written by Kate Traill 
Third Place: Sol written by James Fox

Another prize has been added to Carla Simon’s shelf for her film “Estiu 1993”. Already having received a Golden Biznaga for best Spanish film at the Malaga Spanish Cinema Festival, “Estiu 1993” continues to garner international acclaim. Overall, “Estuik 1993” has won over 30 prizes from competitions across the world. This past year, it represented the country of Spain at the 2018 Oscars award ceremony and was shown at the International Film Festival of Berlin.

Ms. Simon’s work is familiar to the international festival scene. “Lipstick”, “Born Positive”, and “Las Pequenas Cosas” were all showcased at previous international events.  

With the Young Talent award comes a monetary prize of 50,000 euros for a future cinematographic project. After her success this year, it will be fascinating to see what Carla Simon will create next. 

Written by: Anna Mancino

The winner for the Semaine de la Critique's Distributor Award is "Sir" by Rohena Gera. Set in Mumbai, India the film follows the love story between a high class, successful architect and his hired help. Below are just a few things that the critics have to say about "Sir":

“An intelligent romance within the confines of upper-crust Indian society. Premiering in the Cannes Critics’ Week sidebar, the film could occupy the same slot that The Lunchbox did back in 2013, providing feel-good fodder for international markets. A warmly nuanced look at love in a place filled with constraints and contradictions, and where a broken heart could perhaps be the first step toward emancipation.”Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter