Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced its 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival award winners. The announcements were made at a special ceremony, sponsored by Target. The Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by The Los Angeles Times, concluded today.
"One of our goals at Film Independent is to help filmmakers build an audience for their work, and the Los Angeles Film Festival does just that," said Film Independent Executive Director Dawn Hudson in a press release. "We hope recognition at the Festival will allow these filmmakers to continue to find broad audiences for their terrific films."
The top awards of the Los Angeles Film Festival based on jury opinion are the Target Filmmaker Award and Target Documentary Award, each carrying an unrestricted $50,000 cash prize for the winning film's director. The awards were established by the Festival and Target to encourage independent filmmakers to pursue their artistic ambitions. This year, the Target Filmmaker Award, which recognizes strong narrative filmmaking, went to Sam Fleischner and Ben Chace for Wah Do Dem (What They Do). The film follows the travels of a young man who travels alone on a free trip to Jamaica after his girlfriend breaks up with him, and tries to overcome the cultural differences that exist between Americans and Jamaicans. The Target Documentary Award went to Juan Carlos Rulfo and Carlos Hagerman for Those Who Remain (Los Que se Quedan). The film explores the stories of migrant workers and their attempts to cross from Mexico to the United States to improve the lives of their families, as well as what happens to those left behind in the process. "With its generosity of spirit and lyrical grace that illuminates a human landscape with fresh eyes, Those Who Remain reminds us that documentaries can be both journalism and poetry," reported the panel on awarding the prize.
Target helped Film Independent establish a new award this year: the Target Dream in Color Award. This award recognizes a short film in the Festival's Future Filmmaker Showcase for high school students that helps to inspire audiences to "dream without boundaries and share culture in a unique and positive way." The prize includes a Target Gift card for the winning director and a desktop editing system for the winner's school media arts program. The Target Dream in Color Award was presented by Elizabeth Pena and given to Sam Rubin for Lipstick. The short addresses issues of sexuality and gender roles in young people.
Dear Lemon Lima was recognized for its performances. Shayne Topp received an award "for his sophisticated and nuanced .jpg)
comic performance in a role that is often played in less subtle ways by more experienced actors."
The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature went to The Stoning of Soraya M., directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh. Based on Freidoune Sahebjam's international bestseller, the film is set in Iran in the 1980's and deals with issues related to arranged marriages and domestic abuse. The novel is based on a true story.
Now in its fifteenth year, the Los Angeles Film Festival is widely recognized as a showcase for high quality filmmaking and festival screenings tend to lead to greater success for entries. More than 70 features, 70 shorts, and 50 music videos, representing more than 30 countries, make up the main body of the Festival.
Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Spirit Awards. For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.
Photos/images courtesy of Los Angeles Film Festival
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