2010 Film Festival Award Winners Announced

The Fourteenth Annual Festival Concludes Attracting Extraordinary Films, and bestows honors on Well-Known Comedic Actor Jonathon Katz and Artists and Entrepreneurs Jon and Betty Jane Berberian

• Photos by Mary Hanley

(PROVIDENCE, RI • August 15, 2010) --- The 2010 Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) announced the winners in this year’s film competition at its annual Awards Ceremony held at the Renaissance Providence Hotel's Symphony Ballroom in downtown Providence, RI. George T. Marshall, RIIFF's Executive Director welcomed over 100 attending filmmakers at the ceremony. He was joined by Demetria J. Carr, RIIFF’s Managing Director.

"It's simply been a sensational year for us," said RIIFF Executive Director George T. Marshall, "We had films screened from all over the world along with many of the filmmakers in attendance. This year the festival registered more than 240 filmmakers from 51 different countries.”

The festival ran August 10th-15th and showcased over 200 cinematic works, including 35 World and 23 US/North American Premieres. Following months of adjudication and review, the films were selected from a record entry base of over 4200 international submissions.

For the first time, the Festival’s Opening Night festivities took place at the VMA Arts & Cultural Center, the elegant and historic 1,900-seat theater located in the heart of downtown Providence. Since RIIFF has been accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as an Oscar-Qualifying festival in the Short Film category, (one of only 65 festivals out of 7000 worldwide, and the only one in New England), the Opening Night has become a crowd-pleasing salute to the Art of the Short Film.

JONATHON KATZ RECEIVES A CREATIVE VISION AWARD

The festival presented a Creative Vision Award to Comedic Actor, Jonathon Katz, along with a screening of his recent short film, “Death Row Diet,” directed by Mike Salva.

JON AND BETTY JANE BERBERIAN RECEIVE A GEORGE M. COHAN AMBASSADOR AWARD The festival paid tribute to the work of local artists and entrepreneurs Jon and Betty Jane Berberian by presenting them with the George M. Cohan Ambassador Award for their long-time stewardship and preservation of the historic Columbus Theater on Broadway in Providence.

TOP PRIZES AT 2010 RIIFF GO TO: “TOUTE MA VIE” (France, 2009), “NORMAN” (USA, 2010), “AFGHANISTAN: DEFYING SILENCE” (USA/Afghanistan, 2009), “ONE THOUSAND PICTURES: RFK’S LAST JOURNEY” (USA/UK, 2009) and “WHITE LINES AND THE FEVER: THE DEATH OF DJ JUNEBUG” (USA 2010)

This year, the Grand Prize for Best Short Film went to the French thriller, “Toute Ma Vie (The Story of My Life),” directed by Pierre Ferriere. Jonathon Segal’s powerful indie drama, “Norman,” took home the Grand Prize for Best Feature Narrative. The searing and timely documentary, “Afghanistan: Defying Silence,” directed by Stacia Teele and Ed Robbins, won for Best Feature Documentary. And two films tied for Best Short Documentary: Jennifer Stoddart’s “One Thousand Pictures: RFK’s Last Journey” and Travis Senger’s “White Lines and the Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug.”

Honorary co-chairs for the 2010 edition of the Rhode Island International Film Festival were Providence Mayor David M. Cicilline and US Congressman James Langevin.

The Festival's 2010 original art and illustrations were created by Paula Baber, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design; the program book design by Adrienne Rubin; and the marketing and promotional campaign by Ron Tippe, William Smyth, and Eric Latek. The voice-over by Richard Donnelly of Trinity Repertory Company was featured in the campaign.

The Rhode Island International Film Festival is supported in part by the Providence Tourism Council, WJAR TV10, The Providence Phoenix, Stella Artois, Sony, HB Communications, NewEnglandFilm.com, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), Equity Action, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (RICH), The Rhode Island Film & Television Office, Amtrak, URI's College of Arts and Sciences, URI's Feinstein College of Continuing Education, the URI Film Media Program, Roger Williams University, PMA Industries, Rule Boston Camera, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and contributions from members and community supporters.

The RIIFF Awards 2010:

BEST SHORT

GRAND: Toute Ma Vie (The Story Of My Life), Directed by Pierre Ferriere FRANCE, 2009

First: Sometimes The Moon Is Velvet, Directed by Tom Phillips United Kingdom, 2010

Tied with: Natural Selection, Directed by Brett Foraker UNITED KINGDOM, 2009

Second: some boys don't leave, Directed by Maggie Kiley U S A, 2009

BEST FEATURE:

GRAND: Norman, Directed by Jonathan Segal, U S A, 2010

First: Cup Cake, Directed by Colin McIvor, Ireland/United Kingdom, 2010

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY:

GRAND: Afghanistan: Defying Silence, Directed by Stacia Teele & Ed Robbins, U S A / Afghanistan, 2009

First: Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel, Directed by Brigitte Berman, Canada, 2010

Tied with: Bhutto, Directed by Duane Baughman, U S A, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, 2010

Second: Blau Jeans, Directed by Meaghan Kimball, U S A / Germany, 2009

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

GRAND: One Thousand Pictures RFK's Last Journey, Directed by Jennifer Stoddart, U S A/United Kingdom, 2009

Tied with: White Lines and The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug, Directed by Travis Senger U S A, 2010

First: Rose Murray: Portrait of a Photographer, Directed by Aart Kramer, Netherlands, U S A / France, Jamaica, 2010

Tied with: De L’eau Glacée Dans Les Veines (Ice Water in the Veins), Directed by Cimon Charest, Canada, 2010

DIRECTORIAL DISCOVERY AWARD

GRAND: The Pond, Directed by Dan Hannon, U S A, 2010

First: Vivre, jusqu'au bout ... (Live, ‘til the end), Directed by Vincent Plaidy, France, 2010

Tied With: The Seminarian, Directed by Joshua Lim, U S A, 2010

INTERNATIONAL DISCOVERY AWARD

GRAND: Le bonheur de Pierre (A Happy Man), Directed by Menard Robert, Canada, 2009

First: White Buffalo, Directed by Gabriel Pac, United Kingdom, 2010

Tied With: Reunited, Directed by Richard Peters, U S A, 2010

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

GRAND: Kinshasa Symphony, Directed by: Claus Wischmann & Martin Baer, Germany / Congo, 2009

First: Wenn Bäume Puppen tragen (If trees carry dolls), Directed by Ismail Sahin, Germany / Tanzania, 2010

Tied with: Piano Fingers, Directed by Nicholas Carmen, 25 min. U S A, 2010

STUDENT FILMMAKER AWARD

GRAND: Signal, Directed by Chris Farrington, U S A, 2010

First: Perista, Directed by Kim Weiner, USA 2010

RIIFF DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AWARD

Queen of the Sun, Directed by Taggart Siegel, U S A / Australia, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, 2010

The Bag, Directed by Ray Nomoto Robison, Written by and starring Marlyn Mason, USA, 2010

RIIFF INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADOR AWARD

Just Like Us, Directed by Ahmed Ahmed, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, U S A, United Arab Emirates, 2010

“HELPING HAND” INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD

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

I Know a Woman Like that, Directed by Elaine Madsen, U S A, 2009

PROVIDENCE FILM FESTIVAL

GRAND: Old House Soul, Directed by Don Manley & Michel Schtakleff, U S A, 2010

First: One Shoe Blues, Directed by Sandra Boynton, U S A, 2009

BEST EDITING:

GRAND: Boy Wonder, Directed by Michael Morrissey, Edited by Ray Hubley & Douglas Fitch,U S A, 2010

First: Day Before Yesterday, Directed by Patricia Chica; Edited by Joe Bohot, Canada, 2009

BEST SCREENPLAY

GRAND: Ten Stories Tall, Written and Directed by David Garrett, U S A, 2009

First: Little Rock, Directed by Mike Ott, Screenplay: Mike Ott, Atsuko Okatsuka, Carl McLaughlin, USA, 2010

BEST EXPERIMENTAL

GRAND: TUB, Directed by Bobby Miller, U S A, 2009

First: The Chronoscope, Directed by Andrew Legge, Ireland, 2009

ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD

GRAND: Gen Silent, Directed by Stu Maddox, U S A, 2010

First: Bedfellows, Directed by Pierre Stefanos, U S A, 2010

Tied with: Loop Planes, Directed by Robin Wilby, U S A, 2010

Second: Agnes Moorehead is God! Directed by Tanya Meronk, U S A, 2008

BEST SOUNDTRACK

Das Beethoven-Projekt - Eine Musikdokumentation mit Paavo Järvi und der Deutschen Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (The Beethoven Project - A Music Documentary with Paavo Jaervi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen) Directed by Christian Berger Estonia/Germany, 2010

BEST ORIGINAL MUSICAL COMPOSITION (SCORE)

GRAND: Sudden Death! Directed by Adam Hall, Kenny Wood, Original Music/Compose, U S A, 2010

KIDSEYE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL KidsEye (Films Made for Kids):

GRAND: The Gruffalo, Directed by Max Lang & Jakob Schuh, United Kingdom, 2009

First: The MisInventions of Milo Weatherby, Directed by William Whirity, U S A, 2009

BEST COMEDY SHORT

GRAND: The Man Who Married Himself, Directed by Garrick Hamm, United Kingdom, 2010

First: F-Art, Directed by Nicole Sudhaus, U S A, 2010

Tied with: Mama always told him, Directed by Annabel Osborne, Australia, 2010

Second: Gayby, Directed by Jonathan Lisecki, U S A, 2010

BEST ANIMATION

GRAND: The Mouse That Soared, Directed by Kyle Bell, U S A, 2009

First: A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation, Directed by Stefan Leuchtenberg & Martin Wallner, GERMANY, 2010

Tied with: Zero, Directed by Christopher Kezelos, Australia, 2009

Second: Skylight, Directed by David Baas, Canada, 2009

BEST ACTING

Dan Byrd, Norman, Directed by Jonathan Segal, U S A, 2010

VORTEX SCI-FI & FANTASY

ONE HUNDRED MORNINGS, Directed by Conor Horgan, Ireland, 2009

RIIFF HORROR FILM AWARD

Remission, Directed by Greg Ivan Smith, U S A, 2009

FILMMAKER OF THE FUTURE AWARD

2AM, Directed by Joseph Procopio, Canada, 2010

________________________

RIIFF YOUTH JURY AWARDS

as presented by the Youth Jury Manager, Tim Mendonca & RIIFF Educational Director, Dr. J. Scott Oberacker

Best Documentary:

Queen of the Sun,

Directed by Taggart Siegel, U S A / Australia, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, 2010

Best Feature Film:

Little Rock,

Directed by Mike Ott, Screenplay: Mike Ott, Atsuko Okatsuka, Carl McLaughlin, USA, 2010

Best Short Film:

Natural Selection,

Directed by Brett Foraker UNITED KINGDOM, 2009

Honorable Mention:

Norman,

Directed by Jonathan Segal, U S A, 2010

Viola M. Marshall Audience Choice Awards

Most Popular
Grand Prize:
"Sleather" Directed by Anthony Ambrosino, USA, 2010

Best Documentary
Grand Prize:
"Wagner and Me" Directed by Patrick McGrady, United Kingdom, 2010

Best Feature
Grand Prize:
"Listen to Your Heart " Directed by Matt Thompson, USA, 2010

Best Short
Grand Prize:
"I'm Afraid I'm Hitler" Directed by Ruchika Lalwani, USA, 2009
First Prize: "Le Grand Sault " (The Grand Falls) Directed by Hervé Demers, Canada, 2009

• Click here for a listing of the 2010 Screenplay winners (coming Columbus Day Weekend, October 2010)

THE FLICKERS’ BACKSTORY & MISSION:

The mission of the Flickers, the Newport Film Society & Arts Collaborative - now in its 29th year - has been to serve as a creative partner in the arts by uniting various media and arts disciplines that nurture the artistic process and support a vital part of our community. This includes multi-disciplinary art presentations; artistic and cultural activities; performance festivals; video and television productions; audio recordings and broadcasts; educational outreach programs; and the FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF).

ABOUT RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

The FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), has secured its place in the global community as the portal for the best in international independent cinema, earning the respect of domestic and foreign filmmakers, filmgoers and trend watchers. This confluence of art and commerce brought together world-class celebrities, award-winning filmmakers, new talent and audience members in record numbers last year. Ranked as one of the top 12 Festivals in the United States, RIIFF is also a qualifying festival for the Short Film Academy Award through its affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. There are 65 film festivals worldwide which share this distinction and RIIFF is the only festival in New England.

The next Festival will take place August 9-14, 2011.