2014 Film Festival Award Winners Announced

The 18th Annual Festival Concludes Screening 250 Amazing Films from Across the Globe

• Read this year's Online Program Book

Providence, R.I. • Aug. 10, 2014 — The FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) proudly announced the award winners for its 18th Annual Festival, on Sunday, August 10th at the annual Awards Ceremony held at The Metcalf Auditorium at the RISD Museum in downtown Providence, RI. Held from August 5-10th, 2014, the Festival had another record-breaking year in attendance for ticket buyers and filmmakers, closing out its Sunday performances with sold-out houses.

The Festival screened 250 narrative, documentary and short films, from 62 countries, and 34 states across the U.S. during the six-day event that was held at locations throughout the state of Rhode Island. Films were selected from a record entry base of more than 5,400 submissions. This year’s Festival included 93 World, North American and U.S. Premieres.

"This year, thanks to Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Film & Television Office and the City of Providence, we knocked the ball out of the park, raising the bar for future festivals,” said George T. Marshall, RIIFF’s Executive Director. "We welcomed over 200 international filmmakers from across the globe who were able to experience true Rhode Island hospitality.

“The 2014 Festival had a spectacular lineup of provocative and engaging new films and it was a banner year for the Flickers’ Forums and workshops.”

RIIFF is one of only 19 film festivals worldwide that is accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the short film and documentary short category. The Opening Night Gala has become a crowd-pleasing “Salute to the Art of the Short Film.” This year, more than 1,800 people attended the event on August 5th at the Providence Performing Arts Center in the state’s capital city.

RIIFF has seen 33 films that premiered at the Festival receive Oscar® nominations with seven (7) winning the Award; most of the films were part of the Opening Night program. In 2013, three films that premiered at RIIFF went on to receive Academy Award nominations: “The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life,” from Directors: Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed (Reed Entertainment); “The Voorman Problem” from Director: Mark Gill and Baldwin Li, producer (Honlodge Productions); and “Feral” from Director: Daniel Sousa (Daniel A Sousa Productions). ““The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life,” was awarded the Oscar®.

The winner of the RIIFF Best Short and Best Documentary Grand Prize become the Festival’s nominees for Academy Award consideration. The 2014 Grand Prize winners are “Jennah” a Belgian production, directed by Meryem Benm'Barek that features a young women facing a difficult transition to adulthood and “Scattered,” directed by Lindsay Lindenbaum, a powerful film from the United States that explores the role photographs and home videos play in remembering the past.

Actor, folk singer, musician, composer and activist, Theo Bikel was the recipient of the Festival’s 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. His diverse and countless cinematic roles have left an iconic footprint in American film history. From his debut performance in "The African Queen" (1951) to his Oscar Nominating performance as the Southern Sheriff in "The Defiant Ones" (1958), Theo Bikel’s great talent has brought to life timeless characters and music. With the creation of the role Baron Von Trapp in the original Broadway Production of "The Sound of Music" (1959), he captured the imaginations of millions. His ties to Rhode Island are longstanding as he helped to create the Newport Folk Festival, one the longest running and most prestigious music festivals in the world.

The 2014 Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival was dedicated to the memory of Ron Tippe, RIIFF’s former Producing Director who passed away recently. He played a major part in the development and growth of the festival and spent over 36 years in the entertainment business. He directed over 52 stage plays and 100 commercials, and was a Feature Animation Producer for DreamWorks Animation, WB Feature Animation (“Space Jam’), and George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic.

Beyond recognizing excellence in performance and craft in the festival’s films, FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) also honored actors, industry professionals, and exemplary partners with recognition awards. These included the:

CREATIVE VISION AWARD

Celebrating the passion of creativity within the world of cinema: The FLICKERS Rhode Island International Film Festival recognizes outstanding directors, actors, writers, film talent and those who have made significant contributions to the art of filmmaking with this semi-annual award. This year’s award recipient is Carol Patton, Publisher, Imagine Magazine.

 

ROGER WILLIAMS INDEPENDENT VOICE AWARD

Presented semi-annually to an outstanding artist whose vision promotes tolerance, compassion and understanding. Named after the founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, who established an American tradition of religious freedom and individual liberty that was encoded in The Bill of Rights. This year’s award recipient is Eric R. Bronner, Rhode Island Musician/Artist/Educator.

 

RIIFF GRAND PRIZE SCREENPLAY AWARD

Flickers annually adjudicates a Screenplay Competition concurrently with the RI Film Festival. Last year, 371 submissions were received from throughout the United States and across the globe. The Grand Prize winners were Jenna Sullivan & Quentin James from Marshfield, MA for their screenplay “Growing Things.

 

PRODUCER’S CIRCLE AWARDS

Presented to members of the community who have actively worked to support and promote the mission of Flickers. This year’s winners include:

 

• Julibeth Andrews & Nancy Nicholson, Flickers’ Music for a While.

• Shawn Drywa, Creator of the Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival

• Jessica Wong & Keith Brown, RIIFF KidsEye™ Summer Filmmaking Camp

• Desi Washington, Rhode Island Filmmaker/Artist/Mentor

• Letitia Carter, The Vets Foundation

• Laura Collela, Filmmaker/Educator/Writer/Director, Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design

The RIIFF Awards 2014:

BEST SHORT

GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination)

"Jennah" - Meryem Benm'Barek, Belgium/Morocco, 2014

First Prize: "Keys to Heaven" - Hamy Ramezan, Finland/Turkey, 2014

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:

GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination)

"Scattered" - Lindsay Lindenbaum, USA, 2014

First Prize: "The Secret World of Foley" - Daniel Jewel, United Kingdom, 2014

Tied With: "Showfolk" - Ned McNeilage, USA, 2013

BEST FEATURE:

GRAND Prize: "M Cream" - Agneya Singh, India, 2014

First Prize: "Ben's at Home" - Mars Horodyski, Canada, 2014

Tied with: “Desert Cathedral” - Travis Gutiérrez Senger, USA, 2014

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY:

GRAND Prize: "Quebekoisie" - Melanie Carrier, Canada, 2013

First Prize: "Hotline" - Tony Shaff, USA, 2014

BEST COMEDY SHORT:

GRAND Prize: "Je suis une Actrice (I am an actress)" - Benoit Lach, Canada, 2014

First Prize: "Future Hero" - Ramin Serry, USA, 2013

BEST ANIMATION:

GRAND Prize: "The Present" - Jacob Frey, Germany, 2014

First Prize: "Blank: A Vinylmation Love Story" - Mike Ambs, Paul Foyder, Regino Roy III, Whitfield Scheidegger, Greg Shewchuk, USA, 2014

Tied With: "Tea with the Dead" - Gary Gill, Ireland, 2014

BEST CHILDREN'S ANIMATION:

GRAND Prize: "COWS (Moosic Video)” – Sandra Boynton, USA, 2014

BEST STUDENT FILM AWARD

GRAND Prize: "Paper Kite" - Qinshu Zuo, China, 2013

First Prize: "The Whistler" - Peter Ferris Rosati, US, 2013

BEST EXPERIMENTAL:

GRAND Prize: "ReConception" - Joe Petrilla, USA, 2014

First Prize: "Load" - Niv Shpigel, Robert Moreno, Israel 2014

BEST DIRECTOR:

GRAND Prize: "Hsu Ji Behind Screen" - Thomas Rio, France, 2012

DR. J. GERALD LAMOUREUX AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE:

Sponsored by the Government of Québec. Presented to a filmmaker and artist who represents the spirit of cultural exchange between the United States and Canada.

"Bernard Le Grand (Bernard the Great)" - Marie-Hélène Viens, Philippe Lupien, Canada, 2013

SOLDIERS AND SACRIFICE AWARD:

Celebrating Stories That Commemorate America’s Heroes

GRAND Prize: "Flying the Feathered Edge" - Kim Furst, USA, 2014

First Prize: "King High Remembers" - Michelle Opitz, Brandon Krajewski, USA, 2014

DIRECTORIAL DISCOVERY AWARD:

Presented to a director whose outstanding work on a short or feature film represents a new unique and compelling vision that will resonate well into the future

GRAND Prize: "August Heat" - Matthew James Thompson, USA, 2014

First Prize: "After Ella" - Marie-Emmanuelle Hartness, USA, 2014

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

GRAND Prize: (Winner of the Panavision Award and recipient of $10,000 in production equipment) "Mein Letztes Konzert (My Last Concert)" - Selcuk Zvi Cara, Director, Nils A. Witt, Cinematography, Germany, 2014

First Prize: "Remembering the Fallen (Un dernier Souffle)" - Julien Grincajgier, Director, David Moerman, Cinematography, France, 2014

RIIFF NEW ENGLAND DIRECTOR’S AWARD:

Sponsored by Tourisme Québec. The award provides a full pass for a New England-based director to attend the Montreal Festival of Nouveau Cinema, meet with Québec filmmakers and stay in the City.

GRAND Prize: "Invisible" - Dionisio Traverso, USA, 2014

RIIFF DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AWARD:

GRAND Prize: "Muted" - Rachel Goldberg, USA, 2014

First Prize: "TSCHÜSS PAPA (Goodbye Papa)" - Hendrik Maximilian Schmitt, Germany, 2014

Tied With: "The Red Robin" - Michael Wechsler, USA, 2014

HEARTS, MINDS, SOULS AWARD:

Celebrating Films that Reflect the Jewish Experience

GRAND Prize: "Tikotin- A Life Devoted to Japanese Art" - Santje Kramer, Belgium, France, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland, 2013

First Prize: "Complicit" - Michael Ivan Schwartz, USA, 2014

ECHOES OF EARTH AWARD:

Celebrating the Resonant Spirit of Creativity through World Music

GRAND Prize: "The Newport Effect" - Beverly Penninger and Alyson Young, USA, 2013

Tied With: "Journey 4 Artists" - Michele Noble, USA, 2013

BEST EDITING:

GRAND Prize: "Las Cieni (The Shadow Forest)" - Andrzej Cichocki, Director, Poland, 2014

First Prize: "Toutes des Connes (Life's a Bitch)" - Francois Jaros, Director, Canada, 2014

BEST SCREENPLAY:

GRAND Prize: "12th of Never" - Fadi Hindash, Netherlands, 2013

First Prize: "Fiddler's Cross" - Michael McMahon, Ireland, 2014

RISING STAR AWARD:

GRAND Prize: Leoni Amandin (actress), "Sandrine,” Directed by Nicolas Greinacher, Switzerland, 2014

FLICKERS INTERNATIONAL VISION AWARD:

Breaking down international cultural barriers through film

GRAND Prize: "The Algerian" - Giovanni Zelko, USA, 2014

First Prize: "50 Kisses" - Chris Jones, United Kingdom, 2014

“HELPING HAND” INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD:

Given annually to films or filmmakers who inspire social change and community outreach and strive to better the world in which we live.

GRAND Prize: "From the Sky" - Ian Ebright, USA, 2013

First Prize: "Under the Same Sun": Sameh Zoabi - Palestinian Territories, Israel, U S A, 2014

PROVIDENCE FILM FESTIVAL:

Presented annually to a New England director whose work brings cinematic excellence to an international audience

GRAND Prize: "The Original Food Truck: Haven Brothers Legacy of the American Diner" - Jeff Toste, USA, 2014

ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (LGBTQ) SHORT:

GRAND Prize: "Le Retour" (The Return) - Yohann Kouam, France, 2013

First Prize: "Taglia Corto! (Cut it Short!)" - Filippo Demarchi, Switzerland 2012

ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (LGBTQ) FEATURE:

GRAND Prize: "The Last Straight Man" - Mark Bessenger, USA, 2014

First Prize: "Out to Kill" - Rob Williams, USA, 2014

2014 KIDSEYE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

GRAND Prize: "Der Kreislauf (A Handful)" - Katrien Vermeire, Belgium, 2014

First Prize: "The Vow" - Lina Roessler, Canada, 2014

Tied With: "Go Fish" - Kristin Skye Sargent, Australia 2014

GREEN PLANET AWARD:

Celebrating the vision of man’s shared humanity and achieving sustainability on our planet.

GRAND Prize: "Oil and Water" - Francine Strickwerda, Laurel Spellman Smith, US, 2014

First Prize: "Silent River" - Jason Jaacks, Steve Fisher, MEXICO, 2014

2014 VORTEX SCI-FI & FANTASY:

GRAND Prize: (Includes a Showcase at the annual Horror Film Festival in October)

"Another World" - Eitan Reuven, Israel, 2014

First Prize: "Dustland" - Jacob Lundgaard Andersen, US, 2014

FILMMAKER OF THE FUTURE AWARD:

Presented to a filmmaker whose vision excites audiences and judges alike about the potential to produce compelling and successful films in the future.

GRAND Prize: "Le Devoir (The Duty)" - Justin Wu, Canada, 2013

_______________________

RIIFF YOUTH JURY AWARDS

Awards were presented by the Nickolas Palermo, RIIFF Youth Jury Program Manager, and 2014 Youth Jury members.

RIIFF YOUTH JURY AWARDS

BEST FEATURE

"2 Temps, 3 Movements" - Christophe Cousin, CANADA, 2013

BEST DOCUMENTARY

"Showfolk" - Ned McNeilage, USA, 2013

BEST LGBTQ

"KUMA HINA" - Joe Wilson, USA, 2013

"The Landing" - Josh Tanner, Australia, 2012

________________________

Viola M. Marshall Audience Choice Awards

MOST POPULAR

“Change Of Plans God's Way,” Directed by Orlando Santos, USA, 2014

BEST DOCUMENTARY

GRAND Prize :

“Oil & Water,” Directed by Laurel Spellman Smith, Francine Strickwerda, 2014

FIRST Prize:

“La Alfombra Roja” (The Red Carpet), Directed by Manuel Fernandez, 2012

Tied With

“Dogs On the Inside,” Directed by Brean Cunningham, Doug Seirup 2014

BEST FEATURE

GRAND Prize:

“Everything Is Fine Here,” Directed by Pourya Azarbayjani, Iran, 2014

FIRST Prize:

“Waiting in the Wings,” Directed by Jenn Paige, USA, 2014

BEST SHORT

GRAND Prize :

"Las Cieni" (The Shadow Forest), Directed by Andrzej Cichocki, Poland, 2014

Tied With

"Young Americans," Directed by Kevin Lacy, USA, 2013

FIRST Prize:

"Paratiisin Avaimet" (Keys of Heaven), Directed by Hamy Ramezan, Finland, Turkey, 2014

BEST LGBTQ

"Sandrine," Directed by Nicolas Greinacher, Switzerland, 2014

For a full list of film synopses, actor listings and trailers, please see the Festival Genius application

• Click here for a listing of the 2014 Screenplay winners (coming Columbus Day Weekend, October 2014)

THE FLICKERS’ BACKSTORY & MISSION:

The mission of the 33 year-old Flickers Arts Collaborative is 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 and exhibition; 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. RIIFF is widely recognized as a credentialed, industry-friendly launch pad for the work of exceptional emerging talent. 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 10 Festivals in the United States, RIIFF is also a qualifying festival for the Short Film Academy Award and the Short Documentary Academy Award through its affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. There are 19 film festivals worldwide which share this distinction and RIIFF is the only festival in New England. RIIFF is truly a place where the stars align!

The next Festival will take place August 4-9, 2015

copyright: 2014 Flickers