2009 Film Festival Award Winners Announced

The Thirteenth Annual Festival Concludes Attracting Extraordinary
 Films, and bestows honors on Hollywood icon, Ernest Borgnine,
Composer Klaus Badelt and sports legend Wat Misaka

Photos by Paul Ruggeri

(PROVIDENCE, RI • August 9, 2009) --- The 2009 Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) announced the winners in this year’s film competition at its annual Awards Ceremony held at the Providence Biltmore Hotel's Garden Room in Providence, RI. George T. Marshall, RIIFF's Executive Director welcomed over 130 attending filmmakers at the ceremony. He was joined by RIIFF’s Adam M.K. Short, Producing Director; and Demetria J. Carr, 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. We registered more than 225 filmmakers who came this year’s Festival. They represented such countries as Turkey, China, India, Australia, Spain, New Zealand, France, Italy, Germany and Canada.

“We were very honored to have had Ernest Borgnine, Anne Meara, Jerry Stiller, Doris Roberts, Klaus Badelt and Wat Misaka on hand to join in the cinematic celebration,” he added. “All of our attending filmmakers, and audience had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have these legends in one place at our Festival.”

This year’s RIIFF ran August 4-9th and showcased 235 cinematic works submitted from over 57 countries and 31 states in the United States. The 2009 RIIFF presented 38 World Premieres and 21 US/North American Premieres. Following months of adjudication and review, Festival films were selected from over 3,400 international submissions.

For the third year in a row, the Festival’s opening night took place at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), the elegant and historical theater, located at 220 Weybosset Street in the heart of downtown Providence. A record crowd of 1,900 were in attendance.

Since RIIFF is one of only 63 film festivals (out of 7,000) world wide that is accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) the Opening Night has become a crowd-pleasing salute to the Art of the Short Film.

ERNEST BORGNINE RECEIVES A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Festival presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to acting legend, Ernest Borgnine with the world premiere ofhis most recent feature film, "Another Harvest Moon." In attendance were fellow cast members Doris Roberts, Anne Meara with her husband, Jerry Stiller.
http://www.film-festival.org/Borgnine.php

The Festival saluted composer Klaus Badelt (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) with the presentation of the Crystal Image Award at the Opening Night Festivities, August 4th. Mr. Badelt was also the keynote speaker at the annual Rhode Island Film Forum on Friday, August 7th. Additionally, his music played throughout the acclaimed Providence art event, “Waterfire” on Saturday, August 8th which drew over 100,000 participants.

http://www.film-festival.org/KLAUS.BADELT09.php

NBA sports legend, Wat Misaka was presented the first-ever, Roger Williams Independent Voice Award on Saturday, August 8th prior to the screening of Bruce Alan Johnson and Christine Toy Johnson’s “Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story.” Wat Misaka was the first Asian American pro basketball player to be drafted into what is now the NBA in 1947. He helped break the ethnic barrier when the national political climate was still fixated on World War II.
http://www.film-festival.org/WatMisakaAward09.php

The Annual RIIFF Producers Circle Awards for ongoing support of the Festival went to Stephen L. Brown, The Providence Phoenix; Robert I. Burke, Federal Reserve/Pot au Feu; Alan J. Chille, Providence Performing Arts Center and Duncan B. Putney, actor/writer.

Honorary co-chairs for the 2009 edition of the Rhode Island International Film Festival were Providence Mayor David M. Cicilline and US Congressman James Langevin. The Festival's 2009 original art and illustrations were created by Carolina Arentsen of Hint Studio; the program book design by Linda Hull of Hull Graphics; and the promotional campaign by Duncan Putney, Demetria Carr, Miraj Berry, Keiran Delaney, William Smyth, and George T. Marshall. Phyllis Kay and Richard Donnelly of Trinity Repertory Company were featured in the campaign.

The Rhode Island International Film Festival is supported in part by the City of Providence, the Providence Tourism Council, the Providence Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism, AT&T, Ford Feista, WJAR TV10, The Providence Phoenix, Sony, HB Communications, WBRU, Cox Media, NewEnglandFilm.com, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Amtrak, URI's College of Arts and Sciences, URI's Feinstein College of Continuing Education, PMA Industries, the URI Film Media Program, Rule Broadcast/Boston Camera, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Art New England Magazine and contributions from members and community supporters. 

The RIIFF Awards 2009:

Best Short
Grand: Celestial Avenue, Directed by Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes (2009, Australia)

First: Oscar & Jim, Directed by Iain Weatherby (2009, United Kingdom/France)

Tied with: Looking at Animals, Directed by Marc Turtletaub (2009, U S A)

Second: Magellan, Directed by Sebastian Davis (2009, U S A)

Best Feature:
Grand: ISSIZ ADAM (ALONE), Directed by Cagan Irmak (2008, Turkey)

First: Fifty Dead Men Walking,  Directed by Kari Skogland (2008, United Kingdom)

Tied with: Not Dead Yet, Directed by: Sam Hull (2008, U S A)

Best Feature Documentary:
Grand: No.4 Street of Our Lady, Directed by Barbara Bird, Judy Maltz, Richie Sherman
(2009, U S A / Israel, U S A, Ukraine)

First: The Good Mother, Directed by Sarah Klein, (2009, France)

Second: Sweet Crude, Directed by Sandy Cioffi, (2008, Nigeria/U S A)

Best Documentary Short
Grand: Team Taliban, Directed by Benjamin Kegan (2008, U S A)

First: AMERIKA IDOL, Directed by Barry Avrich (2008, Serbia/Montenegro/Canada)

Second: TIRA BAKAL (striking metal), Directed by: Scott Wurth (2009, Australia / Philippines)

RIIFF International Ambassador Award

Víctor Bárcena, director of Las manos de Abel from Spain

Directorial Discovery Award:
Grand: Who Killed Chea Vichea? Directed by Bradley Cox (2009, Thailand/U S A)

First: HOME IS WHERE YOU FIND IT, Directed by Alcides Soares (2009, U S A)

Tied With: HouseQuake Directed by Karen Price (2009, U S A)

International Discovery Award:
Grand: Danse Macabre, Directed by Pedro Pires (2009, Canada)

First: Echo, Directed by Magnus von Horn (2009, Poland)

Second: An Unfinished Romance, Directed by Alison Heather (2009, Australia)

Best Cinematography
Grand: Out of the Blue, Directed by Michael Lavelle, (2009, Ireland)

First: The Taxidermist, Directed by Bert & Bertie, Cinematographer/DP: Lynda Hall (2009, United Kingdom)

Second: Garbage Dreams, Directed by Mai Iskander (2009, Egypt/U S A)

RIIFF Director’s Choice Award
Underwear, Directed by Tomer Gendler (2009, U S A

“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
FEAT: 63 Marathons in 63 Days, Directed by Deborah Carr (2009, U S A)

Providence Film Festival
Grand: Home Across Lands, Directed by John Lavall (2008, Ethiopia, U S A)

First: The Impact of Your Choice: Breast Health Awareness-When Is Too Young!
Directed by Deborah A. Hoch, Megastar Productions (2009, U S A)

Second: Shooting Beauty, Directed by George Kachadorian (2008, U S A)

Editing:
Grand: School Play, Directed by Eddie Rosenstein, Rick Velleu, Edited by Tom Griffin (2008, USA)

First: War Against The Weak, Directed and edited by Justin Strawhand, (2008, Germany, Poland, U S A)

Tied with: My Son the Pornographer, Directed by Peter Campbell, Edited by Zsolt Sandor
(2009, Canada / Canada, Czech Republic)

Screenplay:
Grand: ROAR, Directed by Adam Wimpenny, Written by J.S. Hill, (2009, United Kingdom)

First: The Stars Don't Twinkle In Outer Space, Directed by Peter Thwaites, Written by Hank Isaac (2008, United Kingdom/Hungary)

Second: The Butler's In Love, Directed by David Arquette, Written by Curtis Reynolds, (2008, USA)
           
Best Experimental:
Grand: LoopLoop, Directed by Patrick Bergeron, (2008, Viet Nam/Canada)

First: Jelly Fishers, Directed by Steven Subotnick, (2009, U S A)

Second: Schizofredric, Directed by Andy Poyiadgi, (2009, United Kingdom)

Alternative Spirit:
Grand: Claiming the Title: Gay Olympics On Trial, Directed by Jonathan Joiner and Robert Martin (2009, U S A)

First: The Single Mother, Directed by Ryan Logan (2009, U S A)

Tied with: Out in the Silence, Directed by Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson (2009, U S A)

Best Soundtrack:
Rock Prophecies, Directed by John Chester (2009, U S A, United Kingdom)

Best Original Musical Composition (Score):
Grand: Another Harvest Moon, Directed by: Greg Swartz
Music Composed by Rick Garcia and William V. Malpede (2009, U S A)

First: Conrad the Wise, Directed by Alan Miller, Original Music/Composer: Adam Fulton
(2009, Canada)

KIDSEYE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
KidsEye (Films Made for Kids):
Grand: Leonardo, Directed by Jim Capobianco (2009, U S A)

First: The Curiosity of Penny Parker, Directed by Ryan Hanson (2009, Canada)

KidsEye (Films Made by Kids):
Grand: Thunder & Lightning, Directed by Susan and Katherine Procopio (2009, Canada)

Tied with: My Crisis, Directed by Joseph Procopio (2009, Canada)

Best Comedy Short:
Grand: I Can Speak Swedish! Directed by Charlene Loh (2009, Australia)

First: The Enchanted Island, Directed by Noel Kearns (2009, Ireland)

Second: Our Neck of the Woods, Directed by Rob Connolly (2008, U S A)

Best Animation:
Grand: LOST AND FOUND, Directed by Philip Hunt (2008, United Kingdom)

First: Pigeon: Impossible, Directed by Lucas Martell (2009, U S A)

Tied with: Lightheaded, Directed by Mike Dacko, (2009, U S A)

Best Acting:
Love, Directed by Cristian Solimeno
Featuring Amanda Ray-King and Brett Allen
 (2008, United Kingdom)

Vortex Sci-Fi & Fantasy:
Hector Corp., Directed by Gary Lee (2009, U S A)

Viola M. Marshall Audience Choice Awards

Most Popular
Grand Prize:
"The Bake Shop Ghost" (Lorette Bayle, Director) USA

Best Documentary
Grand Prize:
"Rock Prophecies" (John Chester, Director) USA
Tied with: " Momz Hot Rockz" (Kate Perotti, Director) USA

Best Feature
Grand Prize:
"Another Harvest Moon" (Greg Swartz, Director) USA
First Place:
"Prince of Broadway" (Sean Baker, Director) USA

Best Short
Grand Prize:
"Lessons in Self Defense" (Lee Miller, Director) USA
Tied with "A Son’s War" (Steven Edell, Director) USA/Czech Republic

• Click here for a listing of the 2009 Screenplay winners

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ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) discovers and empowers filmmakers.  Held in Providence, and locations throughout the state of Rhode Island, RIIFF is one of only a handful of festivals worldwide that is a qualifying event for the Academy Awards (i.e. “Oscars”). RIIFF incorporates gala celebrations, premiere screenings, VIP guests, industry seminars, educational programs, and award ceremonies into a weeklong extravaganza. Cited as one of the "Best International and Short Film Festivals in the United States," RIIFF is New England’s largest film festival, screening a record 236 films. Its innovative programming, cultivated industry ties, and loyal audiences have made the Festival a strategic and desirable platform for film premieres, drawing hundreds of independent filmmakers from around the globe. The next Festival will take place August 10-15, 2010.

The Flickers Arts Collaborative, an organization with 28 years of experience presenting major artistic events as well as independent and foreign films to the public, produces the Rhode Island International Film Festival. 

For more information, write RIIFF, P.O. Box 162, Newport, RI 02840. Telephone: 401-
861-4445. E-mail: info@film-festival.org