(MENAFN- Arab Times) The winners of the Palm Springs International ShortFest were announced Sunday, with Rafael Haider's "Carry On" taking home the best of festival award.
Other notable wins include Haider's "Submarine," which received the future filmmaker award, with Marc Fouchard's "The Way of Tea," David Darg's "Body Team 12" and Gabriel Osorio's "Bear Story" winning audience awards.
"It's been a spectacular success on all fronts for ShortFest this year, with a uniformly ecstatic response from audience and filmmakers alike for the screenings, the panels and seminars and the special events the Festival mounted," said festival director Darryl Macdonald in a statement. "With record numbers of attendees and filmmakers, the Festival lived up to its growing reputation as one of the most important events of its kind in the world."
330 short films screened at the festival, which runs from June 16-22, along with more than 3,000 filmmaker submissions available in the film market. More than $115,000 in prizes were awards in 21 categories.
Winners
Jury awards
n Best of Festival award: Winner received $5,000 cash prize courtesy of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Final Cut Pro X courtesy of Apple Computer. The winner of this award may be eligible to submit their film to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar consideration.
Carry on (Esel) (Austria), Rafael Haider
This sublime tale focuses on an elderly couple who tend to what's left of their once-thriving farm with the help of an aged donkey on its last legs. But when the time comes to face reality, can the farmer do what is called for?
n Grand jury award: Winner received $2,000 cash prize
Over (UK), Jorn Threlfall
What has happened in this quiet, suburban neighborhood? Has there been a murder, a hit-and-run, an accident? The reality is both profound and deeply unexpected, and unfolds in reverse in this quiet mystery that rewards the patient viewer.
n Future filmmaker award: Winner received a $2,000 cash prize.
Submarine (Brazil), Rafael Aidar
Love and loneliness waltz in this slow reveal of a man whose connection to his lover keeps him finding new ways to re-ignite his past.
n Panavision best North American short: Camera package valued at $60,000 courtesy of Panavision.
Marta Rosa (USA/Mexico), Barbara Cigarroa
In the aftermath of a tragedy, a mother is forced to deal with her own internal grief as well as the harsh realities of the world around her.
n Best student film award (From a US Film School): $1,000 cash prize courtesy of KQED San Francisco and camera package valued at $10,000 courtesy of Radiant Images
It's Better in Italian (USA/Italy), Jordan Ledy
A delightful look behind the scenes at the world of dubbing American movie stars in films for the Italian market.
Honorary mentions
n Exceptional Performance by an Actress: Miriam Zohar, Paris on the Water (Paris Al Amayim) (Israel)
n Exceptional Cinematography: August (Poland), Tomek Slesicki
Audience Awards
n Best live action short: The Way of Tea (les fremissements du the) (France), Marc Fouchard
Set in a small town in northern France, The Way of Tea explores the meeting of Alex, a young skinhead, and Malic, an Arab shopkeeper, who meet one fateful night that tests the mettle of both men. An eloquent statement about prejudice and stereotypes.
n Runner-up - Contrapelo (Mexico/USA/ UK), Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer
n Best documentary short: Body Team 12 (Liberia), David Darg
A glimpse into the work of a group of courageous people tasked with the removal and disposal of bodies during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia. Both gut wrenching and inspiring, the film focuses on the sole woman on the team, and her perspective on the crisis in her country.
n Runner-up - It's Better in Italian (USA/Italy), Jordan Ledy
n Best animation short: Bear Story (Historia de un Oso) (Chile), Gabriel Osorio
Through the magical prism of a marionette theater, a world-weary bear tells his life story.
n Runner-up - SOAR (USA), Alyce Tzue
Shortfest online audiene award: The Deadman (Peru), Franco Finocchiaro
A young man who everyone assumed was dead reappears at his parent's house mysteriously after seven years, shortly followed by two detectives with more questions than answers.
n Jury category awards: Awards in the non-student and student categories were selected by ShortFest jury members David Ansen (Writer), Gregg Kilday (Film Editor at The Hollywood Reporter), Steve Greene (Assistant Editor of Indiewire's Criticwire Network), Dan Ireland (Writer/Director/Producer), Roberta Munroe (Writer/Director/Producer), Barry Primus (actor), Kim Waltrip (Independent Film Producer). All first place winners in the non-student categories received a cash award of $2,000. First place winners in the non-student Animation and Live Action categories may be eligible for Academy Awards consideration. Second place recipients received a $500 cash prize.
n Best animation short: First Place ($2,000) - Bear Story (Historia De Un Oso) (Chile), Gabriel Osorio
Through the magical prism of a marionette theater, a world-weary bear tells his life story.
Second Place ($500) - The Orchestra (Australia), Mikey Hill
n Best live action short over 15 minutes: First Place ($2,000) - The Good Life-Over There (Det Gode Livet, Der Borte) (Norway), Izer Aliu
Sami, an Albanian immigrant to Norway, spends the day babysitting his boss' spoiled adolescent son who teaches him a surprising lesson about the sacrifices he's made for his family back home.
Second Place ($500) - Submarine (Brazil), Rafael Aidar
Special Mention - Brothers (UK), Thordur Palsson
n Best live action short 15 minutes and under: First Place ($2,000) € August (Poland), Tomek Slesicki
A teenage boy hangs out with a pretty girl and a young boy and his dog in the fields. Over his shoulder is slung a bag with unknown contents, which will eventually prove the cost of first love.
Second Place ($500) - Over (United Kingdom), Jorn Threlfall
Special Mention - Ave Maria (Palestine/France/Germany), Basil Khalil
n Best documentary short: First Place ($2,000) - Pink Boy (USA), Eric Rockey
This remarkable documentary introduces us to Jeffrey, a young, 'gender non-conforming' boy being raised by his lesbian moms in conservative rural Florida who provide him with exactly the kind of support and guidance he needs to make his way in a potentially hostile world.
Second Place ($500) - Pebbles At Your Door (Denmark), Vibeke Bryld
n Student Categories: All first place winners in these categories received a 1-year download membership to Videoblocks, AudioBlocks or GraphicStock.
n Best Student Animation: First Place - SOAR (USA), Alyce Tuze
A precocious young girl makes a new friend when a tiny boy pilot drops out of the sky on a broken flying machine. Now she must race against time to return him home, before her new friend becomes stranded on Earth forever.
Second Place - After the End (UK), Sam Southward
Honorable mention - The Present (Germany), Jacob Frey
n Best student live action short over 15 minutes: First Place - Paris on the Water (Paris Al Amayim) (Israel), Hadas Ayalon
Bathya and Michel - both actors - have been married for 50 years, and while Michel has continued to have a successful career in a TV medical drama series, her once-thriving career has gone dormant. Then Bathya finds herself up for a potential key role in a new movie, bringing her hopes for a career revival, but on the morning of her audition, something happens that forces her to reassess her priorities in life.
Second Place - The Little Death (Den Lille Doden) (Norway), Simon Tillaas
n Best student live action short 15 minutes and under: First Place - Marta Rosa (USA/Mexico), Barbara Cigarroa
In the aftermath of a tragedy, a mother is forced to deal with her own internal grief as well as the harsh realities of the world around her.
Second Place - Zelos (USA/Iceland), Thoranna Sigurdardottir
n Best student documentary short: First Place - It's Better in Italian (USA/Italy), Jordan Ledy
A delightful look behind the scenes at the world of dubbing American movie stars in films for the Italian market.
Second Place - The Tour Guide (Ha Madricha) (Israel/Germany), Amos Geva
n Additional prizes: Alexis Award For Best Emerging Student Filmmaker - The Alexis Award is selected by the Festival's programming team and was created in honor of Alexis Echavarria, a young filmmaker, whose talent as a budding filmmaker and gift for inspiring excellence among his fellow students were cut short suddenly in 2005 at age 16. The recipient received Final Cut Pro X courtesy of Apple Computer.
First Place - Zelos (USA), Thoranna Sigurdardottir
As a modern woman you have an endless to-do list. Between your family, your career, and your hobbies, you want to do it all, and do it all well. With Zelos, YOU CAN "
n HP bridging the borders award presented by cinema without borders € The winner received the award's diploma and an HP ZBook Mobile Workstation with a color critical HP DreamColor display and ThunderboltTM 2, an approximately $3000 value. The runner received a certificate for an upcoming Method Acting Intensive Workshop provided by The Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute with a value of $2000
First Place - Ave Maria (Palestine/France/Germany), Basil Khalil
A Jewish family's car breaks down outside a nunnery during Shabat, inadvertently knocking off the head of the Virgin Mary. The driver's mother and wife are eager to return home. After exhausting all options they turn to the nuns for help.
Special Jury Prize - Rangan 99 (Iran), Tiyam Yabandeh
Also:
LOS ANGELES: French director Pierre Jolivet's "The Night Watchman" was Sunday named best film and winner of the Golden Goblet (Jin Jue) award at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Actor Marc Zinga accepted the prize on behalf of Jolivet.
The 18th edition of China's premier film festival ran June 13-21. Prizes were decided by a jury headed by Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev ("Leviathan").
Organizers reported that the festival screened 391 films a total of 1,275 times on 51 screens in 45 movie theaters across 17 Shanghai districts. They reached an audience of over 300,000, and earned nearly RMB18 million at the box office.
Poland's "Carte Blanche," directed by Jacek Lusinski, claimed the jury grand prize. Otherwise Chinese film "The Dead End" made the next biggest awards night splash. The film earned Cao Baoping the best director award, while three of his cast, Deng Chao, Duan Yihong and Guo Tao, jointly drew the actor award.
"Watchman" (aka "Jamais de la Vie") is the tale of a former skilled worker, whose life has turned to drudgery as a shopping mall security guard, and who siezes a chance to take control of his life again. It stars Olilier Gourmet, Marc Zinga and Valerie Bonneton.
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LOS ANGELES: "Krisha" by US first-time director Trey Edward Shults won the top nod at Italy's Taormina Film Festival, which wrapped on a positive note Saturday, having hosted a robust contingent of Hollywood and Italo A-listers along with more movies, which helped boost attendance for the scenic event held under Sicily's active Mt Etna volcano.
"Krisha," a drama about a sixtysomething alcoholic attempting to reconnect with her family over a turbulent Thanksgiving weekend, previously won the grand jury award for narrative features at SXSW.
At Taormina, pic was part of a selection of US indie titles picked by Variety critics in tandem with fest organizers. "Krisha" won the fest's reintroduced international competition, judged by young Italian film buffs.
Taormina's innovative World Wide Web Series section nod went to the crowdfunded "Vegan Chronicles," an ironic take on being vegan conceived and co-directed by Italy's Andrea Morabito and Claudio Colica.
Susan Sarandon, Richard Gere, Patricia Arquette, Rosario Dawson and James Marden are among Hollywood stars who made the trek to receive tributes at Taormina in various capacities. Warner Bros president of worldwide marketing and international distribution Sue Kroll was also feted with a Taormina Arte Award.
Italian marketing guru Tiziana Rocca, now in her fourth year as the fest's general manager, has stepped up efforts to woo Hollywood studios back to Taormina's 8,000-seat open-air ancient Greek Theatre, where more than 18,000 people attended nightly screenings between June 13-20.
Fest's 61st edition opened with Disney/Pixar's 3D "Inside Out" playing in the spectacular arena on June 13, ahead of its June 19 release in US.
Universal's 3D "Jurassic World" screened June 11 in the Greek theater as a pre-opening event.
Taormina has turned into a mix of film fest and charity galas, with a strong glam humanitarian aspect which this year included an event for the UN's Fashion for Development charity, hosted by Vogue Italy editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani.
But compared with last year the movie side has been beefed up with a stronger and heftier selection.
"The audience response to our reintroducing the competition went beyond our wildest expectations," enthused Rocca. "This year the real winner - and we can say this without a doubt - is the programming," she added.
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