2021 Film Festival Award Winners Announced on Sunday, August 15th

Flickers' 39th Anniversary Celebration Concludes, Diverse Group of 476 International Films Shine at Academy- Award Qualifying Festival

• Download the Full List of Winners

• See the Full Festival Program on Zone

Photo by Mike Braca

(Providence, R.I. • Aug. 18, 2021) – Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) proudly
announced the Award Winners for its 39th Anniversary Celebration of Flickers, on Sunday, August
15, 2021. The Annual Awards Ceremony was held virtually on Zoom and Facebook Live, receiving 2,450 international views. This year’s Festival ran from Tuesday, August 9th through Sunday, August 15th. Due to the health directives and restrictions regarding social gatherings and COVID-19, the Festival was a hybrid event that included “live” screenings at area Drive-ins, outdoor venues and an online virtual platform. This year, the Festival was seen globally in over screening a record 476 films and garnered more than 52,947 views.

The Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), a major destination on the Festival circuit and recognized by the Academy as a Qualifying Festival in all short film categories, welcomes stellar filmmaking talents from all over the world to beautiful Providence, Rhode Island—one of America’s oldest and most beloved cities.

RIIFF embraces both filmmakers and screenwriters with the sort of warm-hearted spirit that fosters long-lasting friendships, sparks exciting creative projects, and inspires artists to return again and again. Last year, five films from the Festival received Oscar® nominations including, “Colette” by Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard, which won for Best Documentary Short. To date, the Festival has seen 76 Oscar® nominations and 13 wins sparked by its Academy Award qualifying status.

Along with double features at the Rustic and Misquamicut Drive-Ins, the Festival also screened outdoors at the Waterfire Arts Center, courtesy of Sony corporation, the Rooftop of the Providence G and “Dusk” in Providence, there were online webinars, industry workshops, special tributes, virtual coffee talks, filmmaker interviews, and post film screening Q&A’s, the 2021 Festival continued popular annual programs. These included the Scriptbiz Seminar, the Rhode Island Film Forum, interviews on the Festival’s weekly Rhode Island PBS series, “doubleFEATURE,” the Youth Film Jury, KidsEye Screenings and an online summer workshop, a Virtual Awards program and the announcement of this year’s Winifred Brownell Scholarship Fund Award winner.

This year’s Festival was dedicated to the memory of Gloria Andrade, mother of long-term Flickers’ Board member, Lawrence Andrade. A special celebration of her life took place during Flickers official Opening Night celebration on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at the Rustic Tri-View Drive-In North Smithfield, RI.

According to George T. Marshall, Flickers Executive Director, “Gloria Andrade was a loyal and fervent supporter of the Festival. We felt it important to celebrate her contributions and call attention to someone who made this a better world for all of us. After the year plus of lockdowns due to COVID, we want to call attention to those we lost, acknowledge their loss and to most importantly celebrate their lives.”

Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Film & TV Office, said “Congratulations to the esteemed Rhode Island International Film Festival for their 39th successful run of the festival during these extremely challenging times in our world. They were able to be creative with virtual screenings and conversations as well as outdoor screening experiences. A heart-felt and warm

congrats to executive director George T. Marshall, programmer Shawn Quirk, fellow producer Larry Andrade, tech champion Tim Haggerty, Board chair Michael Drywa, Esq, and the entire board, support team, interns, volunteers, students.

Director Feinberg continued, “You should all be extremely proud of your celebration of global films and a new wave of moviemakers from around the world. Thank you also for showcasing our beautiful "Ocean State" of Rhode Island. RIIFF is a treasure we should all cherish. Thank you again.”

This year’s interns came from across the country and worked tirelessly to make the event a reality. From overseeing filmmaker contacts, public relations and marketing to hosting Q&A’s, the Festival salutes these dedicated scholars: Interns at the Festival this summer include: Rachel Adler, Bryn Mawr College; John Austin Ashmead, Roger Williams University; Kelli Bertolina, New York University; Joseph Brown, Roger Williams University; Joshua Cooperman, Muhlenberg College; Layla Dozier, Bates College; Ryan Elin, Roger Williams University; Kayla Ellis, Gettysburg College; Jake Ferrigno, University of Connecticut; Alice First, New York University; Sonic Fleming, Boston University; Jessie Garbeil, Clark University; Karl Heine. Cape Cod Community College; Amanda Margolis, Colgate University; Andrew McGowan, Bowdoin College; Isabella Nicdao-Walrath, New York University; Kelly Notine, Drew University; Audrey Orange, Brown University; Lourdes Tantas-Ortega, Rutgers University; Ava Provolo, Mount Holyoke College; Morris Pu, Vassar College; Max Silber, Boston University; Alisa Rabin, University of Connecticut; Josh Sklarin, Syracuse University; Ames Stevens, Vassar College; Abigail Sullivan, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Ryan M. Twomey, Providence College; Kyara Uchida, New York University; Gracie Vicente, Wheaton College; Gabrielle Wilson, Roger Williams University; Chen Xu, Wellesley College; and Sara Zakaria, University of Massachusetts Boston.

SPECIAL THANKS
"Our sincere appreciation and gratitude goes to Steven Feinberg, the Rhode Island Film & Television Office; Kristen Adamo at the Providence/Warwick CVB; Claire Collins at IMCS; Amir Tadmor, Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel to New England; Nina Stack, The Champlin Foundation; Marie-Josee Duquette, Délégation du Québec à Boston; Tom Oyer, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scirs8ences; Brian Egan, Channel 6; Ashley Erling, The Rhode Show; Daniel Schwartz, The Vets; Ed Mastriano, Cox Media; Barnaby Evans, Waterfire; Brendan Chipley Roane, Rooftop of the Providence G; Krissy Hersey and Melony Forcier, Rustic Tri-View Drive In; Dr. J. Scott Oberacker, Johnson and Wales University; Fr. Kenneth Gumbert, Providence College; Todd Trebour, RISCA; short film distributors, Andrew Lund, Hunter CUNY College; Katie McCullough and Ian Bignell, Festival Formula; writer, Chris Sparling; director, Eric Latek; writer/director, Patricia Chica; actor Michael Grando and legendary actress, Marlyn Mason, and Final Draft, we hit a home run this year, further raising the bar for the future and next year’s edition of the Festival,” said George T. Marshall, Flickers’ Executive Director

“This year, we received an incredible number of inspiring and thought-provoking international films. Despite all the ongoing challenges facing artists in today's film industry, films continued to be produced and submitted. We are both humbled and in awe of the sheer talent that is currently on the global stage. Filmmakers from around the world with unique and inspiring artistic voices were championed this past week as we showcased their exceptional work and featured them in Q&A's and industry panel discussions. We are truly witnessing a global Renaissance in the cinematic arts that is taking place regardless of our current limitations from COVID-19. It is a distinct honor to be able to share these groundbreaking films with our global audiences as we navigate these redefining times,” added Shawn Quirk, RIIFF’s Program Director.

FLICKERS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization that supports and promotes the film arts in Rhode Island and throughout New England. Over the past two decades, its production, the Rhode Island International Film Festival, has screened 6,268 independent films and videos out of 81,625 entries, presented 1,504 World/North American premieres, featured over 1,300 entries that were locally produced, and hosted 4,243 filmmakers and crew. Since its inception, over 547,000 film lovers have enjoyed the Rhode Island International Film Festival and its programming, not including those in New England watching its weekly broadcast and cable programming series, doubleFEATURE, now entering its sixth season.

Over its seven-day run, the Festival screened 476 films that included 100 World/United States Premieres. This entry base originated from 103 countries that included: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Southern Territories, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Republic of Korea, Réunion, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Viet Nam, and 34 states in the US.

The films for this year's Festival were selected from a record entry base of 6,843 submissions.

RIIFF is proud to be one of 10 Festivals in the world that is an Academy Award qualifier in the Live Action, Animation and Documentary Short categories and a qualifier with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). With vanguard programming that seeks to showcase new voices in independent filmmaking from across the globe, RIIFF serves as an exceptional platform from which to launch exciting careers for artists who deserve to be discovered. Thirteen (13) films that have premiered at RIIFF have won Academy Awards with a total of 76 nominated, and many have gained distribution with the likes of HBO, Showtime, PBS, Netflix and IFC. A wide range of competitive categories—including Comedy, Drama, Horror, Children’s, LGBTQ, Documentary, Webisodes, Music Videos, Pilots, Science Fiction, and Animated films—RIIFF offers entrants and audience members a veritable buffet of great stories, surprises, and narrative formats. There’s even a screenplay and teleplay competition, designed to give talented screenwriters some well-deserved industry credibility. At RIIFF, there’s no shortage of ways to get noticed and participate.

THE 2021 GRAND PRIZE SHORT FILM WINNERS:
The winners of RIIFF's Live Action, Animation and Documentary Short Grand Prizes hold a special honor: they become the Festival’s nominees for Academy Award consideration.

LIVE ACTION SHORT: "You're dead Helen” (T'es morte Hélène) | Directed by: Michiel Blanchart | France/Belgium

ANIMATED SHORT: “Mum is pouring rain” (Maman Pleut des Cordes) | Directed by: Hugo De Faucompret | France

DOCUMENTARY SHORT: “The Invisible Monster” (EL MONSTRUO INVISIBLE) | Directed by: Guillermo Fesser Perez de Petinto, Javier Fesser Perez de Petinto | Spain

2021 INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS & SPECIAL AWARDS:

WINIFRED E. BROWNELL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
As part of its ongoing “Celebration of Women in Film and Arts”, the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) is proud to announce the winner of the annual Winifred E. Brownell Scholarship Fund. Named after retired Dean of the URI College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Winifred E. Brownell, the scholarship pays recognition to her career championing the arts and humanities at the University. The annual award is for $1,000 and is presented without restrictions to students at the University of Rhode Island, allowing the winner to use the money as they see fit. Two winners were chosen for 2021, each to receive the full amount.

This year's winners are Abigail Amatucci and Daisy Gates.

THE RIIFF SCREENPLAY COMPETITION AWARD
Presented to Edward Balli from Canada for his screenplay “Leadeth,” that tells the story of an American who travels to a remote cabin in the Canadian wilderness to reunite with his estranged friend. But as secrets from their past unravel, he finds himself trapped with a burgeoning madman.

This year's winners included Tanni Chaudhrui, who received this year's Grand Prize in the RI Spotlight on New England category for her script "Anna and Ahana," Adva Reich from Israel, whose screenplay "Project Fog" was awarded the Grand Prize for Best International Screenplay, and seventeen year-old Bella Ramsey from the United Kingdom, whose screenplay "Mila" received the grand prize in a new category, "Screenwriting Discovery."

Screenplay Competition winners received specialty prizes provided by our festival sponsors: Final Draft and Inktip.

THE COMPLETE LIST OF 2021 FESTIVAL AWARDS FOLLOWS:

BEST SHORT FILM

GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination)

“You're dead Helen” (T'es morte Hélène) | Directed by: Michiel Blanchart | Belgium, 2021

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: A dynamic homage to cinema that leaves you breathless and wanting more. "You're Dead Helen" makes us fall in love with movies all over again, and is destined to become an iconic short film that we will remember for decades to come

FIRST PRIZE:

“Above the City” | Directed by: Malika Mukhamejan | Kazakhstan, 2021

Tied With:

“Tala’Vision” | Directed by: Murad Abu Eisheh | Germany, 2020

BEST SHORT ANIMATION

GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination)

“Mum is pouring rain” (Maman Pleut des Cordes) | Directed by: Hugo De Faucompret | France, 2021

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: A rich and charming animation that successfully invokes boundless reverie, while aptly navigating complex adult themes from a child's perspective with nuance.

FIRST PRIZE:

“People Person” | Directed by: Rymalena | United States, 2021

Tied With:

“Have a Nice Dog!” | Directed by: Jala Maghout | Germany, 2021

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY

GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination)

“The Invisible Monster” (EL MONSTRUO INVISIBLE) | Directed by: Guillermo Fesser Perez de Petinto, and Javier Fesser Perez de Petinto | Spain, 2020

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: An empowering tale of perseverance despite life's many obstacles, "The Invisible Monster" reinvents the nature of documentary filmmaking and uses this incredible medium to give voice and hope to a family in the Philippines beset with poverty.

FIRST PRIZE:

“Cycles” | Directed by: Jonathan Barenboim | United States, 2020

Tied With:

“The Daydreamers” | Directed by: Thomas Renckens | United Kingdom, 2020

BEST FEATURE

GRAND Prize:

“Waikiki” | Directed by: Christopher Kahunahana | United States, 2020

JUDGE’S COMMENTS: Blending neo-realism, experimental storytelling, and redefining perspectives, "Waikiki" is a powerful work that offers a gritty and unvarnished depiction of the many societal struggles facing a Hawaiian hula dancer.

FIRST PRIZE:

“Surdina” | Directed by: Rodrigo Areias | Portugal, 2019

Tied With:

“Parsifal” | Directed by: Marco Filiberti | Italy, 2021

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

GRAND Prize:

“The Sailor” | Directed by: Lucia Kašová | Slovakia, 2021

JUDGE’S COMMENT: An intimate and profound portrait, the Sailor serves as a testament to fine documentary filmmaking as it celebrates the dynamic bond between filmmaker and subject.

FIRST PRIZE:

“Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story” | Directed by: Nadia Tass | United States/Australia, 2021

Tied With:
“Blue Code of Silence” | Directed by: Magnus Skatvold and Greg Mallozzi | Norway, 2020

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. Sponsored by Festival Formula.

Tiger Ji, Director of “Wuhan Driver” | United States, 2021

BEST ACTOR

Himesh Patel | “Enjoy” | Directed by: Saul Abraham | United Kingdom, 2021

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Himesh Patel's dynamic range as actor in "Enjoy" is awe-inspiring. Here we see a performance that articulates emotions, which simply cannot be expressed with words. Absolutely incredible in every way.

FIRST Prize:
Vidal Arzoni | “Stories keep me awake at night” | Directed by Jérémy van der Haegen |Belgium, 2020

BEST ACTRESS

Joanna Scanlan | “Ropey” | Directed by: Giles Ripley | United Kingdom, 2021

JUDGE’S COMMENT: Joanna Scanlan has fully committed to her role in Ropey. This challenging performance manages to navigate one's darkest emotions, while still leaving room for hope, humor, and grace.

FIRST Prize
Pauline Chalamet | “i’m fine!” | Directed by: Emma Doxiadi | United States, 2020

BEST COMEDY SHORT

GRAND Prize:

“Don vs. Lightning” | Directed by: Big Red Button | United Kingdom, 2021

FIRST PRIZE:

“Goldilocks” | Directed by: Philipp Straetker | Germany, 2020

Tied With:

“Mazel Tov” | Directed by: Eli Zuzovsky | United States/Israel, 2021

BEST EXPERIMENTAL

GRAND Prize:

“ÆON” | Directed by: Emmanuel Fraisse | France, 2021

FIRST PRIZE:

“Fibonacci” | Directed by: Tomáš Hubácek | Czech Republic, 2020

Tied With:

“Moundform” | Directed by: Catherine Slilaty | Canada, 2020

BEST DIRECTOR

GRAND Prize:

Joanne Rakotoarisoa | “We are not dead yet” (Nous ne sommes pas encore morts) | France, 2020

FIRST PRIZE:

Emmanuel Tenenbaum | “Free Fall” | France, 2021

Tied With:

Anya Chirkova | “Flower Boy” | Canada, 2020

THE MARLYN MASON AWARD
New voices, new perspectives by women in film

GRAND Prize:
“Wild Seed” | Directed by: Sunyin Zhang | United States/China, 2020

FIRST Prize:

“In Sync” | Directed by: Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz | United States, 2021

Tied With

“The Plumber” | Directed by: Cate Carson | United States, 2020

DIRECTORIAL DISCOVERY AWARD

GRAND Prize Feature:

Asgeir Sigurasson and Anton Karl Kristensen | Directors of “Come To Harm” | Iceland | 2021

GRAND Prize Short:

Calogero Carucci | Director of “Moving in 2008” | United States | 2021

Tied With:

Thomas Renckens | Director of “The Daydreamers” | United Kingdom | 2020

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

GRAND Prize:

James Oldham | “Hollow” | Directed by: Paul Holbrook | United KIngdom. 2021

FIRST PRIZE:

Luke Jacobs | “The Passion” | Directed by: Mia Mullarkey | Ireland, 2021

RIIFF NEW ENGLAND DIRECTOR'S AWARD
GRAND Prize:
“Berrigans” Devout and Dangerous | Directed by: Susan Hagedorn | United States, 2020

FIRST Prize
“Life is a breeze” | Directed by: Emma Limon | France, 2020

Tied With:

“Fish” | Directed by: Eli Powers | United States, 2020

SOLDIERS AND SACRIFICE AWARD:
Celebrating Stories That Commemorate America’s Heroes
GRAND PRIZE:
“Eric and the Bees” | Directed by: Erin Brethauer and Tim Hussin | United States, 2020

RIIFF DIRECTOR'S CHOICE AWARD
Armita Keyani | Director of “Customs” | Norway | 2021

Tied With:
Trey Nelson | Director of “The 5th Man” | United States | 2021

HEARTS, MINDS, SOULS AWARD
Celebrating Films that Reflect the Jewish Experience.
GRAND Prize:
“The Living Witnesses” (LES TEMOINS VIVANTS) | Directed by: Karolina MARKIEWICZ and Pascal PIRON | Luxembourg, 2021

FIRST Prize:
“Pops” | Directed by: Lewis Rose | United Kingdom, 2021

Tied with:
“The War of Raya Sinitsina” | Directed by: Efim Graboy | Israel, 2020

BEST EDITING
GRAND Prize:
Brad Turner |“A Broken House” | Directed by: Jimmy Goldblum | United States, 2020

FIRST Prize:
Faustine Cros | “Random Patrol” | Directed by: Yohan Guignard | France, 2021

Tied With:
Coralie Van Rietschoten | “The Silent Shore” (Le silencieux rivage) | Directed by: Nathalie Giraud and Timothée Corteggiani | France, 2021

BEST SCREENPLAY
GRAND Prize:
Brian Steele | “In the Event of my Death”| Directed by: Brian Steele | United States, 2020

FIRST Prize:
Zoé Arene | “A Fairy Tale” (En Fin de Conte) | Directed by: Zoé Arene | France/Belgium, 2021

Tied With:
Noé Debré | “We’re Not Animals” | Directed by: Noé Debré | France, 2021

FLICKERS’ AMBASSADOR AWARD
Presented to an individual who inspires and empowers communication and cultural
understanding.
Lewis Rose | Director of “POPS” | United Kingdom, 2021.

FLICKERS’ 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:
“WET” (Khis) | Directed by: Saeed Jafarian | Iran, 2021.

FIRST Prize:

“The Heartland” | Directed by: Marquise Mays | United States, 2020.

Tied With:
“The Bengali” | Directed by: Kavery Kaul | United State/India, 2021

FLICKERS INTERNATIONAL VISION AWARD:
Breaking down international cultural barriers through film
GRAND PRIZE:
“Rolê - Stories of Brazilian Protests in Malls” | Directed by: Vladimir Seixas | Brazil, 2021

FIRST Prize
“TOPOWA! - Never Give UP” | Directed by: Philip Sansom and Inigo Gilmore | United Kingdom, 2020

Tied With:
“Carving the Divine - Buddhist Sculptors of Japan” | Directed by: Yujiro Seki | Japan, 2020

PROVIDENCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARD
Presented annually to a New England director whose work brings cinematic excellence to an
international audience.
GRAND Prize:
“Nerve” | Directed by: Clayton Vila | United States, 2021

FIRST Prize:
“Extreme” | Directed by: Anne Mulhall and Britt Thomas McTammany | United States, 2020

Tied with:
“Apartment 3-½” | Directed by: Manon Crespin | United States/Singapore. 2021

ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (LGBTQ) SHORT
GRAND Prize:
“Meeting His Parents” | Directed by: Lee-Loi Chieng | Ireland, 2021

FIRST Prize:
“And Then” | Directed by Jenn Ravenna Tran | United States, 2020

ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (DOCUMENTARY)
GRAND Prize:
“Someone Like Me” | Directed by: Sean Horlor and Steve J. Adams | Canada, 2021

FIRST Prize:
“Coded” | Directed by: Ryan White | United States, 2021

ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (FEATURE)
GRAND Prize:
“Boy Meets Boy” | Directed by: Daniel Sanchez Lopex | Germany, 2020

FIRST Prize:
“Under My Skin” | Directed by: David O’Donnell | Australia, 2020

KIDSEYE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS
Presented to a film that resonates with the filmmaker within both children and adults alike.

BEST CHILDREN’S ANIMATION
GRAND Prize:
“A Stone in the Shoe” (Un caillou dans la chaussure) | Directed by: Eric Montchaud | France, 2020

FIRST Prize:
“Tulip” | Directed by: Andrea Love and Phoebe Wahl | United States, 2020

Tied with:
“Footsteps on the Wind” | Directed by: Gustavo Leal, Faga Melo and Maya Sanbar| United Kingdom, 2020

 

LIVE ACTION Short
GRAND Prize:
“Saving Amelia” | Directed by Matthew Fridg | United States, 2020

FIRST Prize:
“Candy Run” | Directed by Harry Zernike | United States, 2021

GREEN PLANET AWARD
Celebrating the vision of man's shared humanity and achieving sustainability on our planet.
GRAND Prize:
“Coral Ghosts” | Directed by: Andrew Nisker | Canada, 2020

FIRST Prize
“Beneath the Polar Sun” | Directed by: Diana Kushner and Stephen A. Smith | United States, 2021

VORTEX SCI-FI & FANTASY AWARD
GRAND Prize:
“Butterflies" | Directed by: Albert Ventura | Taiwan, 2020

FIRST Prize
“Skifting” | Directed by: Zinnini Elkington | Denmark, 2020

Tied With:

“Aria” | Directed by: Christopher Poole | United Kingdom, 2021

BREAKING BOUNDARIES
Films that celebrate the endurance of the human spirit and resilience in the face of injustice.
GRAND Prize:
“Wandering, A Rohingya Story” (Errance sans retour) | Directed by: Mélanie Carrier and Olivier Higgins | Canada, 2020

FIRST Prize:
“Occupied” | Directed by: Pingle Pranav Reddy | India, 2020

Tied With:
“6,000 Waiting” | Directed by: Michael Joseph McDonald | United States, 2021

BEST STUDENT FILM AWARD
GRAND PRIZE
“Birthday” | Directed by: Margarita Milne | United Kingdom, 2020

FIRST Prize
“The Age of Reason” (L'Âge de raison) | Directed by: Franchet Mathide | France, 2020

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
GRAND PRIZE
“Oborozuki” | Directed by: Joseph Ros | Cuba, 2021

FIRST Prize
“Atlas” | Directed by: Jim Vieille | France, 2020

BEST PODCAST
GRAND:
“All Things Undone” | Directed by: Chené Lawson and Joel Peissig |United States, 2020

FIRST Prize
“We Get it Your Dad Died ” | Directed by: Margy Feldhuhn | United States, 2021

Tied With:

“Wandering with the Dead” | Directed by: Cody Signore | United States, 2020

BEST TELEVISION PILOT/WEBISODE
GRAND:
“Little David” | Directed by: David Williams | United States, 2020

FIRST Prize
“Good Head” | Directed by: Matt Servitto | United States, 2021

Tied With:

"Angel of Death s01e01” (Szad? s01e01) | Directed by: Slawomir Fabicki, Maciej Bochniak and Anna Kazejak | Poland, 2021

________________________

FLICKERS' YOUTH FILM JURY AWARDS

Awards were curated by the 2021 RIIFF Youth Film Jury and the 32 members of the RIIFF Summer intern team.

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

GRAND PRIZE:
“Leylak” | Directed by: Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos | United States, 2020

FIRST Prize:
“Toto” | Directed by: Marco Baldonado | Canada, 2020

Tied With:
“Like the Ones I Used to Know” (Les grandes claques) | Directed by Annie St-Pierre | Canada, 2021

BEST ANIMATION

GRAND PRIZE:
“Bonne Nuit Petite Tomate” | Directed by: Cyprien NOZIÈRES | France, 2020

FIRST Prize:
“The Walk” (La Marche) | Directed by: Yoakim Bélanger | Canada, 2020

Tied With:
“Save Ralph” | Directed by: Spencer Susser | United States, 2021

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

GRAND PRIZE:
“Soy Cubana” | Directed by: Jeremy Ungar, Ivaylo Getov | United States, 2021

FIRST Prize:
“Eyes and Arms” (Cheshmha Va Dastha) | Directed by Panahbarkhoba Rezaee | Turkey, 2019

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:

GRAND PRIZE:
“Little Berlin” | Directed by: Kate McMullen | France, 2021

FIRST Prize:
“Coded” | Directed by: Ryan White | United States, 2021

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM

GRAND PRIZE:
“The Boathouse” | Directed by Hannah Cheesman | Canada, 2021

FIRST Prize:
“The Wake Show” (Función Velorio) | Directed by: Aldo Miyashiro | Peru, 2020

BEST LGBTQ FILM

GRAND PRIZE:
“At Last” | Directed by: Lorena Gordon | United States, 2020.

FIRST Prize:
“All The Sensations in my Belly” | Directed by: Marko Djeska | Croatia, 2020

________________________

FALL 2021 ROVING EYE AWARD WINNERS

(November 17-22, 2020

BEST OF FESTIVAL

BEST DOCUMENTARY:

Grand Prize:

BEST ANIMATION:

Grand Prize:

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT FILM:

Grand Prize:

• Click here for a listing of the 2021 Screenplay winners

• Click here for a listing of the 2021 Roving Eye Film Festival Awards

SPONSORS FOR THE 2021 FESTIVAL INCLUDED: The Rhode Island Film & Television Office, WLNE ABC6, IMCS (Integrated Micro-Chromatography Systems, Inc), Eurochannel, Edge Media, WSBE Rhode Island PBS, The Champlin Foundation, Unifrance, Dominion Diagnostics, The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), FilmFreeway, Sony, The Providence Chamber of Commerce, The Newport Chamber of Commerce, COX Media, Consulat de France á Boston, The Québec Delegation of Boston, Consulate General of Israel to New England, The Vets, Roger Williams University, Johnson and Wales University, Seaside Pharmacy, Hotel Providence, the Dean Hotel, the Graduate Providence, newenglandfilm,com, Waterfire Arts Center, The Rustic Tri-View Drive In, the Museum of Work and Culture, the City of Providence and the Department of Arts, Culture + Tourism, the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitor's Bureau and special support from the Rooftop of the Providence G.

THE FLICKERS’ BACKSTORY & MISSION:

The mission of the 40 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).

THE FLICKERS’ RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 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. Ranked as one of the top 10 Festivals in the United States, RIIFF is a qualifying festival for the Narrative, Documentary and Animation Short Film Academy Awards through its affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and the Canadian Screen Awards. There are only 10 film festivals worldwide that share this distinction and RIIFF is the only festival in New England. The Festival takes place every August.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

RIIFF offers a variety of prestigious awards to some of the most talented artists in (and soon to be in) the business. The festival’s Gilbert Stuart Artistic Vision Lifetime Achievement Award has been bestowed upon Academy Award-winning actors Ernest Borgnine and Patricia Neal, Oscar nominated actors Seymour Cassel and Cicely Tyson, acclaimed actors of stage and screen, Paul
Sorvino and Theo Bikel, director Blake Edwards, special effects icon, Douglas Trumbull, and production designer, Joseph M. Alves. The Festival’s Creative Vision and Crystal Image Awards recognizing outstanding directors, actors, writers, film talent, have been awarded to such talents as Karen Allen, Zach Braff, Blythe Danner, Ioan Gruffudd, Rosa von Praunheim, Michael Showalter, composer Klaus Badelt, and children’s book author Sandra Boynton. More than simply a film festival, RIIFF champions artistic vision in any form and is dedicated to sharing that vision with a diverse and enthusiastic audience that hungers for great storytelling

The Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival returns August 8-14, 2022. For more information, please call 401.861.4445.

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