PROVIDENCE – Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival announced the award winners from the 15th annual festival, held Aug. 9-14 at various venues statewide, including the Best Short film that will now be considered for an Oscar.
“It’s simply been a sensational year for us,” said George T. Marshall, RIIFF’s executive director, in a release issued Wednesday. “We had films screened from all over the world along with many of the filmmakers in attendance. This year the festival registered more than 200 filmmakers from countries across the globe, including Australia, Greenland, New Zealand and Norway.”
The festival received a record 4,537 submissions from filmmakers representing 60 countries, with 18 world and 21 North American/United States premieres.
Winner of the grand prize in Best Short was “Sailcloth,” directed by Elfar Adalsteins of the United Kingdom, which tells the story of an elderly man, played by British actor John Hurt, who escapes from his nursing home to embark on one final journey on his beloved sailboat. The film was shown at RIIFF’s opening night and will now be considered for an Academy Award, which are presented in February 2012.
Individuals honored this year were: Paul Sorvino, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Federico Castelluccio, actor/director, who was presented with the Creative Vision Award; Rupert Friend, actor/director, the Crystal Image Award; George M. Cohan Ambassador Award, and Steven Feinberg, executive director of the R.I. Film & Television office.
Films that won the grand prizes in these categories were:
Best Feature: “As If I’m Not There,” directed by Juanita Wilson;
Best Feature Documentary: “Marathon Boy,” directed by Gemma Atwal;
Best Documentary Short: “Incident in Baghdad,” directed by James Spione;
Best Comedy Short: “Tooty’s Wedding,” directed by Frederic Casella;
Best Animation: “The Maker,” directed by Christopher Kezelos;
Best Experimental Film: “Snovi,” directed by Resad Kulenovic;
Best Director: Terry George, “The Shore;”
Best Female Actress: Melissa Leo, “The Sea is All I Know;”
Best Male Actor: Andrew Simpson, “All That Way for Love;”
Directorial Discovery Award: “Happy New Year,” directed by K. Lorrel Manning;
Best Cinematography: “Pillow,” directed by Gabe Mayhan;
Best Editing: “Brot [Bread],” edited by Ahmet Tas;
Best Screenplay: “Face to Face,” directed by Michael Rymer;
Rising Star Award, college: “Jerremy,” directed by Brian Faye; and high school, “Onion Skin,” directed by Joseph Procopio;
International Ambassador Award: “A Balloon for Allah,” directed by Nefise Ozkal Lorentzen;
International Humanitarian Award: “Hand Held,” directed by Don Hahn;
Providence Film Festival Award: “Leh Wi Tok,” directed by John Lavall;
RIIFF’s 15th Anniversary Award: “The Wholly Family,” directed by Terence Vance Gilliam;
Alternative Spirit Award: “The Green,” directed by Steven Williford;
Best Original Musical Composition: “Jealous of the Birds,” composed by Aleksy Igudesman and Hans Zimmer;
“Kidseye” Award: “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,” directed by William Joyce;
Vortex Sci-Fi & Fantasy Award: “Digital Antiquities,” directed by J.P. Chan;
Filmmaker of the Future: Rob Sorrenti, director of “Hollow.”
Winners of the RIIFF Youth Jury Awards were:
Best Documentary: “With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story,” directed by William Hess;
Best Feature Film: “Broken Kingdom,” directed by Daniel Gillies;
Best Short Film: “Hollow,” directed by Rob Sorrenti;
Honorable Mention: “Judas Kiss,” directed by J.T. Tepnapa.
The Viola M. Marshall Audience Choice Awards went to:
Most Popular: “Atomic Mom,” directed by M.T. Silvia;
Best Documentary: “Family Band: The Cowsills Story,” directed by Louise Palanker and Ian Broyles;
Best Feature: “Inuk (Le Voyage d’Inuk),” directed by Michael Magidson;
Best Short: “La Historia de Siempre (The Same Old Story),” directed by Jose Luis Montesinos.
More information is available on RIIFF’s website, www.RIFilmFest.org.
