2016 Film Festival Award Winners Announced
The 20th Annual Festival Concludes Screening 273 Amazing Films from Across the Globe
• Read this year's Online Program Book
• Download the Full List of Winners
Providence, R.I. • Aug. 14, 2016 — The FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) proudly announced the Award Winners from its 20th Festival, on Sunday, August 14th at the annual Awards Ceremony held at The Metcalf Auditorium, RISD Museum in downtown Providence, RI. This year’s Festival ran from August 9-14th, and ended with another record-breaking year. Venues were located across the state of Rhode Island – from Newport to Woonsocket -- with the capital city serving as the hub for the film-centric activities.
Over it's six-day run, the Festival screened 273 films which included 96 World/United States Premieres from 67 countries including France, Spain, Mexico, India, Italy, Palestine, Iran, Ireland, Germany, Russia, Nepal, Portugal, the United Kingdom and South Africa, and 34 states in the US. The films featured such well-know actors as James Brolin, Melissa McBride (“The Walking Dead”), Karen Allen, Ciaran Hinds, Frances Fisher, Charles Dance, Danny Glover, Lesley Ann Warren, John Heder, Rufus Sewell, Ryan Kwanten (“True Blood”), Toni Colette, David Warner, Kate Winslet, Marlyn Mason, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Kristen Wiig, Ed Asner, Guy Pearce, Jonathan Pryce, Star Jones, Randy Harrison, Nicholas Turturro, Vincent Pastore, Janeane Garofalo, Pamela Anderson, Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones”), and William Fichtner. The films for this year's Festival were selected from a record entry base of 6,078 submissions.
The Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) 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, the Rhode Island International Film Festival has screened 4,171 independent films and videos out of 49,018 entries, presented 1001 World/North American premieres, featured over 800 entries that were locally produced, and hosted 3,589 filmmakers and crew. Since its inception, over 374,000 film lovers have enjoyed the Rhode Island International Film Festival, its film presentations and programming.
There are literally over 7,000 film festivals worldwide but only 6 of them have a rather unique accolade; they are qualifying Festivals for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the short film, animation and documentary short division, plus the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) and the Canadian Screen Awards. The Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) is one of these 6 Festivals and the only Festival in New England with this distinction.
RIIFF has seen 46 films that premiered at the Festival receive Oscar® nominations with nine (9) winning the Award; most of the films have been part of the Opening Night program. In 2015, eight films that premiered at RIIFF went on to receive Academy Award nominations: “Day One,” Henry Hughes, director (American Film Institute), “Everything Will Be Okay (Alles Wird Gut),” Patrick Vollrath, director (Filmakademie Wien); “Shok,” Jamie Donoughue, director (Eagle Eye Films); “Stutterer,” Benjamin Cleary, director (Bare Golly Films); “Body Team 12,” RYOT Films and Vulcan Productions; “Chau, beyond the Lines,” Cynasty Films; “Last Day of Freedom,” Living Condition; and “We Can’t Live Without Cosmos,” Konstantin Bronzit, director (Melnitsa Animation Studio). “Stutterer,” was awarded the Oscar®.
The winners of RIIFF's Best Narrative, Animation and Documentary Short Grand Prizes hold a special honor: they become the Festival’s nominees for Academy Award consideration.
The 2016 Grand Prize winners: Narrative Short: "The Dogcatcher," Directed by Daria Woszek from Poland (2015). "The Dogcatcher" is a black comedy telling a story of a man who kidnaps dogs for ransom, however, returns them in glory of a saviour. Animated Short: "To Build a Fire," Directed by Fx Goby from France, (2016). To celebrate Jack London's 100th death anniversary, director Fx Goby adapted his famous novel, 'To Build a Fire', into an animated short film. It tells the terrible and tragic tale of a trapper and his dog trying to survive in the overwhelmingly freezing and hostile nature of the Yukon Territory. With the minimal style and refined animation of FX Goby, enter our polar western and experience the bitter cold and its frostbites while embarking on a journey through sensations. Documentary Short: "Frame 394," Directed by Rich Williamson from Canada, USA (2016). "Frame 394" follows a young man from Toronto who entangles himself in one of America’s most high-profile police-involved shootings.
In South Carolina, a white police officer shoots an unarmed black man in the back as he runs away, ultimately pulling the trigger 8 times.
After coming across a viral cell phone video of the incident posted online, Daniel Voshart is compelled to dig deeper, hoping to use his expertise in image stabilization to find evidence in the shaky video that will help indict the police officer.
But in the glimmer of a shiny object, he finds something that could potentially help the man he set out to incriminate. Will he get involved and help a man vilified in the court of public opinion?
Set against the bigger narrative of the Black Lives Matter movement, the film’s micro-narrative follows Daniel’s journey and his moral quandary to South Carolina.
The 2016 Festival was dedicated to the memory of Patrice Marie Haggerty, of Penacook, NH, who passed away in July 2016. She was the mother of RIIFF Technical Director, Timothy Haggerty. She died after a year-long battle with Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD). To learn more and to read the full dedication, please click here.
As a salute to Mrs. Haggerty, a major and important focus of this year’s Festival was the issue of Women’s Health and featured several sold out events including the SRO presentation of "THE POWER OF FILM: Can a Film Change the World?” presented by IMCS (Integrated Micro-Chromotography Systems). The program had a unique focus. The first on HPV prevention with “LADY GANGA: Nilza's Story,” directed by: Frederic Lumiere. The story concerns Michele Baldwin, a 45 year old Mother of three was diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer, which she took as a call-to-action. She decided that she would travel to India to paddle board over 700 miles down the River Ganga, spreading awareness about this disease that was going to kill her and breaking a World Record in the process. The second, "Dare to Be Remarkable,” directed by: Andrew Drachman and Justin Andrews, concerns Alyssa Silva who was born with the rare disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Her parents were told that she would succumb to it before she turned two years old. Alyssa proved the doctors wrong with each passing year, despite her muscles becoming continually weaker. Now one of the oldest survivors of the condition, she works toward a cure before her body becomes too weak to continue.
This Year's Special Awards:
CREATIVE VISION AWARD
• Presented to legendary actress, Karen Allen.
RI FILM & TELEVISION OFFICE DREAMMAKER AWARD
• Presented to Producer, David Permut.
RIIFF SCREENPLAY COMPETITION AWARD
• Presented to Lukas Hassel (New York) for his screenplay “Galapagos.”
GEORGE D. GANNETT LGBTQ INSPIRATION AWARD
Named in honor of former Flickers' Board member, George Draper Gannett, who helped steer the organization towards its multi-tiered arts focus and community outreach. The Award celebrates the passion of creativity within the world of Cinema and the Arts.
• Presented to Richard Corso and Don Laliberte of Providence.
THE 2016 FLICKERS’ PRODUCER’S CIRCLE AWARD
Presented to members of the community who have actively worked to support and promote the mission of Flickers. This year’s winners include:
• Judy Shoemaker, WLNE ABC6
• Herb Weiss, Economic and Cultural Affairs Officer Pawtucket, RI,
• Lizzie Araujo Haller, Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism,
• The Department of Environmental Management, represented by Janet Coit, Mary Kay and Robert Paquette.
2016 FESTIVAL AWARDS FOLLOWS:
BEST SHORT FILM
GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination)
"The Dogcatcher" | Directed by: Daria Woszek | Poland, 2015
FIRST PRIZE:
"A Beautiful Day" | Directed by: Phedon Papamichael | UA, 2016
BEST SHORT ANIMATION
GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination)
"To Build a Fire" | Directed by: Fx Goby | France, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
"THE TALK" True Stories About The Birds & The Bees | Directed by: Alain Delannoy | Canada, 2016
Tied With:
"Last Door South" | Directed by: Sacha Feiner | Belgium, France, 2015
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination)
"Frame 394" | Directed by: Rich Williamson | Canada, USA, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
"Nobody Dies Here" | Directed by: Simon Panay | France, 2016
Tied With:
"Irregulars" | Directed by: Fabio Palmieri | Italy, 2015
BEST FEATURE
GRAND Prize:
"Last Days of Summer" | Directed by: Aaron Harvey | USA, 2015
FIRST PRIZE:
"Dead Leaves" | Directed by: Thierry Bouffard, Carnior, and Edouard A. Tremblay | Canada, 2016
BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
GRAND Prize:
"Prison Dogs" | Directed by: Perri Peltz | USA, 2016
Tied With:
"Two Worlds" | Directed by: Maciej Adamek | Poland, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
"Jewel’s Catch One" | Directed by: C Fitz | USA, 2016
Tied With:
"A Year in Port" | Directed by: David Kennard | USA, Portugal, 2016
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:
Sam Yates, "The Hope Rooms" | United Kingdom, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
Markus E. Müller, "Tata" | Germany, 2016
BEST ACTOR
Michael Grando, "The Shivoring" | Directed by: Eric Latek | USA, 2016
BEST ACTRESS
Lily May Harrington, "Some Freaks" | Directed by: Ian MacAllister McDonald | USA, 2015
BEST COMEDY SHORT
GRAND Prize:
"Amen" | Directed by: Marie-Hélène Viens and Philippe Lupien| Canada, 2015
FIRST PRIZE:
"The Amazing Rocambole" | Directed by: Nicoloff Loic | France, 2016
BEST CHILDREN’S ANIMATION
GRAND Prize:
"Long Way North" | Directed by: Rémi Chayé | France, 2015
FIRST PRIZE:
"Welcome to My Life" | Directed by: Elizabeth Ito | France, USA, 2015
Tied With:
"Blinky Bill the Movie" | Directed by: Deane Taylor | Australia, Austria, 2015
BEST EXPERIMENTAL
GRAND Prize:
"A Love Story" | Directed by: Anushka Kishani Naanayakkara | United Kingdom, 2016
BEST DIRECTOR
GRAND Prize:
"Babysitter" | Directed by: Aurit Zamir | Israel, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
"Present" | Directed by: Meg Campbell | United Kingdom, 2016
DR. J. GERALD LAMOUREUX AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Presented to a filmmaker and artist who represents the spirit of cultural exchange between the United States and Canada.
"La Voce/Voiceless" | Directed by: David Uloth | Canada, 2015
DIRECTORIAL DISCOVERY AWARD
GRAND Prize:
"After School" | Directed by: Alec Tibaldi | Australia, USA, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
"The Attendant" | Directed by: Oliver Cullen & Jake Cullen | United Kingdom, 2016
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
GRAND Prize:
The People Garden | Catherine Lutes, Cinematographer | Directed by: Nadia Litz | Canada, Japan, 2015
FIRST PRIZE:
"Break My Bones" | Geoff George, Cinematographer | Directed by: Anthony Collamati| USA, 2016 Tied With:
"People of the Delta" | Sean Stiegemeier, Cinematographer/DP | Directed by: Joseph Lawrence | Ethiopia, 2015
RIIFF NEW ENGLAND DIRECTOR'S AWARD
GRAND Prize:
"The Passing Season" | Directed by: Gabriel Long | USA, 2016
RIIFF DIRECTOR'S CHOICE AWARD
GRAND Prize:
"Split Ticket" | Directed by: Alfred Thomas Catalfo | USA, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
"At Dawn" | Directed by: Nathan Morris | United Kingdom, 2015
HEARTS, MINDS, SOULS AWARD
Celebrating Films that Reflect the Jewish Experience.
GRAND Prize:
"Shoshannah's Skateboard" | Directed by: Kate Ascott-Evans | USA, United Kingdom, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
"The Chop" | Directed by: Lewis Rose | United Kingdom, 2015
BEST EDITING
GRAND Prize:
"Mercy" | Seth Anderson , Phillip Kimsey, Editors | Directed by: Chris Sparling | USA 2106
FIRST PRIZE:
"Souls" | Dan Gage, Editor| Directed by: Dan Gage| United Kingdom, 2016
BEST SCREENPLAY
GRAND Prize:
"Year By The Sea" | Written by: Alexander Janko | Adapted from an original story by Joan Anderson | Directed by: Alexander Janko | USA, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
"In View" | Written & Directed by: Ciaran Creagh | Ireland, 2016
FLICKERS’ AMBASSADOR AWARD
Presented to a film which inspires and empowers communication and cultural understanding.GRAND Prize:
"The People’s Girls" | Directed by: Colette Ghunim & Tinne Van Loon | Egypt, 2015.
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:
"Lady Ganga" | Directed by: Frederic Lumiere | USA, 2016.
FIRST PRIZE:
"Dare to Be Remarkable" | Directed by: Andrew Drachman & Justin Andrews | USA, 2016
Tied With:
"Phil’s Camino" | Directed by: Annie ONeil | France, Spain, USA, 2016
PROVIDENCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARD
Presented annually to a New England director whose work brings cinematic excellence to an international audience.
GRAND Prize:
Carol Conley, Penitence| USA, 2016.
ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (LGBTQ) SHORT
GRAND Prize:
"3 Friends" | Directed by: Michael Moody Culpepper | USA, 2016.
FIRST PRIZE:
"Jamie" | Directed by: Christopher Manning | United Kingdom, 2016.
Tied With:
"1992" | Directed by: Anthony Doncque | France, 2015.
ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (FEATURE)
GRAND Prize:
"The Happys" | Directed by: Tom Gould and John Serpe | USA, 2016.
FIRST PRIZE:
"Love Is All You Need?" | Directed by: K. Rocco Shields | USA, 2015.
Tied With:
"The Guys Next Door "| Directed by: Amy Geller & Allie Humenuk | USA, 2016.
KIDSEYE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARD
GRAND Prize:
"Must be this Tall to Ride" | Directed by: Gabriel Kahane | USA, 2016.
FIRST PRIZE:
"Derek’s Friends" | Directed by: Joseph G. Sexton | USA, 2016.
Tied With:
"Lifeline" | Directed by: Sam Jones | United Kingdom, 2016.
GREEN PLANET AWARD
Celebrating the vision of man's shared humanity and achieving sustainability on our planet.
GRAND Prize:
"SEED: The Untold Story" | Directed by: Jon Betz and Taggart Siegel | USA, 2016.
VORTEX SCI-FI & FANTASY AWARD
GRAND Prize:
"The Eyes" | Directed by: Robbie Bryan | USA 2016
Tied With:
"LIGHTNINGFACE" | Directed by: Brian Petsos | USA, 2016
FIRST PRIZE:
"The Quantified Self" | Directed by: Gleb Osatinski | USA, 2016
Tied With:
"THE LAST JOURNEY OF THE ENIGMATIC PAUL WR" | Directed by: Romain Quirot | France, 2015
BEST STUDENT FILM AWARD
GRAND Prize:
"Zayar" | Directed by: Chriz Naing| USA, 2016
________________________
FLICKERS' YOUTH FILM JURY AWARDS
Awards were presented by the Ben Marzilli, RIIFF Youth Jury Program Manager, and the 2016 Youth Film Jury members.
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
"Gridlock" | Directed by: Ian Hunt Duffy | 19 min. Ireland, 2016
BEST ANIMATION
"Moom" | Directed by: Daisuke Tsutsumi & Robert Kondo | 14 min. USA, 2016
BEST FEATURE FILM
"Some Freaks" | Directed by: Ian MacAllister McDonald | 93 min. USA, 2015
BEST DOCUMENTARY
"Blood, Sweat & Tears: A Basketball Exorcism" | Directed by: John Hulme | 58 min. USA, 2016
BEST LGBTQ FILM
"An Evening" | Directed by: Søren Green | 9 min, USA, 2016
________________________
Viola M. Marshall Audience Choice Awards
MOST POPULAR
"Some Freaks" | Directed by: Ian MacAllister McDonald | 93 min. USA, 2015
BEST DOCUMENTARY
"Gold Balls" | Directed by: Kate Keckler Dandel | 88 min. USA, 2016
"Bang, The Bert Berns Story" | Directed by: Bob Sarles | 94 min. USA, 2016
BEST FEATURE
"Year By The Sea" | Written by: Alexander Janko | Adapted from an original story by Joan Anderson | Directed by: Alexander Janko | USA, 2016
"The Happys" | Directed by: Tom Gould and John Serpe | USA, 2016.
BEST SHORT FILM
"A Beautiful Day" | Directed by: Phedon Papamichael | UA, 2016
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
"Lady Ganga: Nilza's Story" | Directed by: Frederic Lumiere | USA, 2016.
BEST LGBTQ
"3 Friends" | Directed by: Michael Moody Culpepper | USA, 2016.
________________________
• Click here for a listing of the 2016 Screenplay winners
Sponsors for the 2016 Festival include: ABC6, the Rhode Island Film & Television Office, Eurochannel, Edge Media, CW28, The Rhode Island Foundation: Equity Action, RISD Museum, Unifrance, Panavision, Dominion Diagnostics, The Rhode Island Council on the Arts (RISCA); Sony; IMDB.com, Rule Boston Camera, Délégation du Québec à Boston, Tourism Québec, PMA Industries, Cox Media, Decadent Catering, Narragansett Beer, Quality Rental, Just Ellen’s Catering and Event Planning, Consulat de France à Boston, Amtrak, Enterprise, The Vets, The Providence Tourism Council, the University of Rhode Island (URI), The Harrington School of Communication and Media at URI; Roger Williams University, Hotel Providence, The Dean Hotel, The Providence Biltmore, The Pell Center at Salve Regina University's Story in the Public Square, Johnson and Wales University, Roger Williiams University, newenglandfilm,com, The City of Providence and the Department of Arts, Culture + Tourism, and The Providence Warwick Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
THE FLICKERS’ BACKSTORY & MISSION:
The mission of the 35 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. 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 6 film festivals worldwide that share this distinction and RIIFF is the only festival in New England. The Festival takes place every August.
The 35th Anniversary of Flickers will be celebrated at the next edition of the Rhode Island International Film Festival, August 8-13, 2017. For more information, please call 401.861.4445.
© 2016 Flickers
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