“The Reverse” and “Marwencol” won the top jury awards for narrative and documentary feature films at the Seattle International Film Festival, which concluded Sunday night after screening 408 films over 25 days to an audience of more than 150,000.
“The Hedgehog” and “Ginny Ruffner: A Not So Still Life” won audience awards for narrative and documentary features, respectively, while the audience voted other honors to director Debra Granik (“Winter’s Bone”), actor Luis Tosar (“Cell 211”) and actress Jennifer Lawrence (“Winter’s Bone”). More than 83,000 ballots were cast.
The festival celebrated its 36th year by breaking its box office records with an increase over 2009 of almost 20 percent. The Seattle festival is the largest and most widely attended film festival in the United States.
The winners, from the SIFF press release:
SBIFF 2010 Best New Director:
Grand Jury Prize: “The Reverse,” Borys Lankosz (right)
Jury Statement: "Borys Lankosz’s ‘The Reverse’ succeeds its substantial ambition to tell the story of love, family, and loyalty in a brutal post war Warsaw. Uniquely, first time director Lankosz manages to deliver a highly stylized vision without sacrificing character, story, or performance. We are happy and honored to give the New Director Award to this touching, thrilling, and deeply human film."
Special Jury Mentions: “Turistas,” Alicia Scherson
Jury Statement: "In addition we would like to give two special jury mentions. For her wry and surprising screenplay and her terrific casting, we want to note the achievement of Alicia Scherson for her film ‘Turistas.’"
“Gravity,” Maximilian Erlenwein
Jury Statement: "We also want to recognize the stylistic and storytelling promise evidenced by Maximilian Erlenwein in his film ‘Gravity.’"
SIFF 2010 Best Documentary:
Grand Jury Prize: “Marwencol,” Jeff Malmberg (right)
Jury Statement: "For its ingenious, organic storytelling and respect for its subject, the documentary jury recognizes a complex and multi-layered portrait of a survivor and artist which comes to life thanks to an amazing level of trust between filmmaker and subject that allows director Jeff Malmberg to bring his audience deep into the fascinating and very private world that is ‘Marwencol.’"
SBIFF 2010 Short Film Jury Awards
Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short: “Little Accidents,” Sara Colangelo
Jury Statement: "For its compelling sense of voyeurism, outstanding performances, and brilliant storytelling – the total package.”
Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short: “White Lines and Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug,” Travis Senger
Jury Statement: "For the way the story seamlessly reveals itself through the compassion of people who knew and loved DJ Junebug and the way the era of the birth of hip-hop was beautifully evoked."
Grand Jury Prize for Best Animated Short: “The Wonder Hospital,” Beomsik Shim
Jury Statement: "Who knew that this would be the hardest category? We choose ‘The Wonder Hospital’ for its experimental, adult-based animation style and it being about the way you twist the mirror, the story’s depth."
Special Jury Mention for Short Animation: “Cherry on the Case,” Hyebin Lee
Jury Statement: "In support of excellence in family animation."
SIFF 2010 FIPRESCI Award for Best American Film
FIPRESCI Award: ”Night Catches Us,” Tanya Hamilton
Jury Statement: "For its profound exploration of a chapter of American history that is woefully under-explored, for its deft interaction between the personal and the political, for its exceptional acting, and for its masterful cinematography, the FIPRESCI Award goes to Tanya Hamilton’s ‘Night Catches Us.’"
Special Jury Mention: "The jury would like to give a special mention for her excellent combination of comedic timing and emotional sincerity to Jenna Fischer in ‘A Little Help.’”
SIFF 2010 Golden Space Needle Audience Awards
Best Film Golden Space Needle Award: “The Hedgehog,” Mona Achache
First runner up: “Mao’s Last Dancer,” Bruce Beresford
Second runner up: “Micmacs,” Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Third runner up: “Cell 211,” Daniel Monzon
Fourth runner up: “Hipsters,” Valery Todorovsky
Top 10: “The Concert” (Radu Mihaileanu), “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” (Eli Craig), “Winter’s Bone” (Debra Granik), “Carlitos and the Chance of a Lifetime (Jesus Del Cerro), “Cannons” (Ferzan Ozpetek).
Best Documentary Golden Space Needle Award
(tie) “Ginny Ruffner: A Not So Still Life,” Karen Stanton
“Waste Land,” Lucy Walker
First runner up: “The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls,” Leanne Pooley
Second runner up: “Wheedle’s Groove,” Jennifer Maas
Third runner up: “Brownstones to Red Dirt,” Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker
Fourth runner up: “Restrepo,” Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington
Top 10: “Marwencol” (Jeff Malmberg), “Waiting for ‘Superman’” (Davis
Guggenheim), “Chihuly Fire & Light” (Peter West), “American: The Bill Hicks Story” (Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas), “Mugabe and the White African” (Lucy Bailey and Andrew Thompson)
Best Director Golden Space Needle Award: Debra Granik, “Winterʼs Bone”
First runner up: Mona Achache, “The Hedgehog”
Second runner up: Ana Kokkinos, “Blessed”
Third runner up: Valery Todorovsky “Hipsters”
Fourth runner up: Daniel Monzón, “Cell 211”
Best Actor Golden Space Needle Award: Luis Tosar, “Cell 211”
First runner up: Jim Broadbent, “Perrierʼs Bounty”
Second runner up: Aaron Johnson, “Nowhere Boy”
Third runner up: Martin Nissen, “Angel at Sea”
Fourth runner up: Edward Norton, “Leaves of Grass”
Best Actress Golden Space Needle Award: Jennifer Lawrence, “Winterʼs Bone”
First runner up: Josiane Balasko, “The Hedgehog”
Second runner up: Patricia Clarkson, “Cairo Time”
Third runner up: Sibel Kekilli, “When We Leave”
Fourth runner up: Tilda Swinton, “I Am Love”
Best Short Film Golden Space Needle Award: “Ormie,” Rob Silvestri
First runner up: “Bedfellows,” Pierre Stefanos
Second runner up: “The Little Dragon,” Bruno Collet
Third runner up: “The Crush,” Michael Creagh
Fourth runner up: “Whistleless,” Siri Melchior
Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision, Presented by Women in Film/Seattle
“The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls,” Leanne Pooley
SIFF 2010 FutureWave and Youth Jury Awards
Youth Jury Award for Best FutureWave Feature:
”ReGENERATION,” Philip Montgomery
Jury Statement: "For its ability to stimulate thought for a variety of audiences, provide a sense of awareness, and inspire action in today’s apathetic society."
Youth Jury Award for Best Films4Families Feature: “From Time To Time,” Julian Fellowes
Jury Statement: "For it amazing story involving flashbacks, a great cast of characters, and authentic costumes and set design which made the film feel true to history."
WaveMaker Award for Excellence in Youth Filmmaking (Grand Jury Prize)L
”Remember,” Scott Calvert
Jury Statement: "If you want evidence that filmmaking is a collaborative process, this certainly is it. The judges chose ‘Remember’ for the near flawless choreography of events (and interesting events at that), the uniqueness and imaginative visual statements made by the players, the galvanizing of the participants by a director with a vision and a plan, and the sheer joy of the film. Although not a traditional story, it told us a lot about the young people involved…and their school."
WaveMaker Special Jury Prizes:
”Celina’s Story,” Celina Chadwick
Jury Statement: "For an honest and convincing account of one girl’s life experience, we are awarding a new documentary filmmaker with a distinctive voice who we believe has a strong future."
“Alisha,” Daniel Citron
Jury Statement: "For telling a gripping story, creating compelling images, knowing how to cast his lead, directing her to captivate the audience, and, for his tenacity and dedication to becoming a filmmaker.”
FutureWave Shorts Audience Award:
”Remember,” Scott Calvert
First Runner Up for FutureWave Shorts Audience Award: “Alisha,” Daniel Citron
Second Runner Up: “Omer,” Emma Strebel
Third Runner Up: “Checkpoint Of Humanity,” Chloe Clark, Zain Masri, Owen Quanstrom and Tamir Assouline
Fourth Runner Up: “Celina’s Story,” Celina Chadwick.
FutureWave Online Audience Award powered by IndieFlix:
”Shawn Harris: Personal Trainer,” Tyler Silver and Simon Turkel
First Runner Up for FutureWave Online Audience Award powered by IndieFlix: “I Just Am Who I Am,” Megan Baxter
Second Runner Up: “Alisha,” Daniel Citron.
