The LA Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, has announced the winners of the 2016 fest.
The festival, which ran from June 1–9 this year, handed out juried awards in the categories of: U.S. Fiction Award, World Fiction Award, Documentary Award, LA Muse Award and Nightfall Award, as well as the Short Fiction Award and the Short Documentary Award. Audience awards were presented for Fiction Feature Film, Documentary Feature Film, Short Film, and Web Series.
“With all the talk about diversifying Hollywood, the LA Film Festival provides proof that talented filmmakers with new voices are out there, they just need a platform and that’s what we’re providing,” said Stephanie Allain, Festival Director. “One of the more satisfying aspects of this job is watching new directors blossom in the spotlight. I’m grateful to our esteemed jurors for their service and congratulate the winners.”
Winners of note to Women and Hollywood readers include Anaïs Volpé for her film “HEIS (Chronicles).” In an interview with Women and Hollywood, she described the film as “a reflection of what happens in the head of a young person who has to face many choices, and how it is heavy to live with all these troubles at the same time — job, family, love, dreams, guilt, friends. The movie is about the turn of a young person who has to make important decisions for her life: Does she have to listen herself? Does she have to listen to her family’s advice? Does she have to forget her dreams or does she have to forget her family?”
First-time feature director Amber Tamblyn was awarded a special mention for her feature debut “Paint it Black.” The actress and poet told Women and Hollywood that she’s been a fan of the novel by Janet Fitch for over 10 years, and that she, “didn’t want to make a film about what fans of the book read, but rather a film about how they felt while they were reading it.”
In the doc categories, Tracey Wares’ “Political Animals,” which follows four openly gay elected California state politicians who were all women, was a jury and audience fave. Wares said that she “hope[s] people are inspired by these women to participate in social movements and local politics.”
The following is a list of films with female directors or screenwriters that are LA Film Festival winners, with bios and synopses provided by the fest:
U.S. Fiction Award
Winner: “Blood Stripe” directed by Remy Auberjonois
Country: USA
Screenwriter: Kate Nowlin, Remy Auberjonois
Producer: Schuyler Weiss, Julie Christeas, Remy Auberjonois, Kate Nowlin
Cast: Kate Nowlin, Tom Lipinski, Chris Sullivan, Rusty Schwimmer, Rene Auberjonois
Film Description: After a third tour of duty in Afghanistan, a Marine sergeant returns home to find herself hemorrhaging anxiety and paranoia from unseen wounds. World Premiere
The U.S. Fiction Jury awarded a Special Mention for Visual Accomplishment:
“Paint it Black,” directed by Amber Tamblyn
Country: USA
Screenwriter: Amber Tamblyn, Ed Dougherty
Producer: Wren Arthur, Amy Hobby, Anne Hubbell, Amber Tamblyn
Cast: Janet McTeer, Alia Shawkat, Alfred Molina, Emily Rios, Rhys Wakefield
Film Description: Barely able to process the death of her true love, Josie is drawn into a twisted relationship with the deceased’s mother as irrational grief explodes in beautiful and terrifying ways. World Premiere
World Fiction Award
Winner: “HEIS (chronicles),” directed by Anaïs Volpé
Country: France
Screenwriter: Anaïs Volpé
Producers: Anaïs Volpé
Cast: Alexandre Desane, Matthieu Longatte, Emilia Derou-Bernal, Akéla Sari, Anaïs Volpé
Film Description: A millennial artist returns to her mother’s home in Paris, only to have her personal ambitions confronted by her family’s expectations in this energetic and visually distinct debut film. World Premiere
Documentary Award
Winner: “Political Animals,” directed by Jonah Markowitz, Tracy Wares
Country: USA
Screenwriter: Jonah Markowitz
Producers: Anne Clements
Cast: Carole Migden, Sheila Kuehl, Jackie Goldberg, Christine Kehoe
Film Description: The first openly gay California State Representatives, Sheila Kuehl, Jackie Goldberg, Christine Kehoe, and Carole Migden, had to utilize cunning, strategy and endurance when authoring and introducing the legislation that fundamentally changed the landscape of LGBT rights. World Premiere
LA Muse Award
Winner: “Namour,” directed by Heidi Saman
Country: USA
Screenwriter: Heidi Saman
Producers: Matthew Keene Smith
Cast: Karim Saleh, Waleed Zuaiter, Mona Hala, Nicole Haddad
Film Description: Set in the City of Angels during the economic recession of the late 2000’s, a twenty-something Egyptian American valet driver must come to grips with his dead-end job, disintegrating family and disappearing relationships in this stylish homage to Los Angeles. World Premiere
The LA Muse Jury awarded a special mention to:
“No Light and No Land Anywhere,” directed by Amber Sealey
Country: USA
Screenwriter: Amber Sealey
Executive Producer: Miranda July
Producers: Drea Clark, Alysa Nahmias, Amber Sealey
Cast: Gemma Brockis, Jennifer LaFleur, David Sullivan, Kent Osborne, Deborah Dopp, Jade Sealey
Film Description: Grieving over her mother’s death, Lexi abruptly leaves her life and husband in London to come to Los Angeles in pursuit of the father who abandoned her when she was three. World Premiere
Award for Short Film
Winner: “The Beast” (“Zvjerka”), directed by Daina Oniunas Pusić. Croatia.
Film Description: A complicated relationship between an elderly mother and daughter is forever altered when a bat flies into their lives.
The Shorts jury awarded a Special Mention for Excellence in Animation:
“The Lingerie Show,” directed by Laura Harrison. USA.
Film Description: A drug addict throws a lingerie show to seduce her boyfriend away from his sugar daddy, which devolves into mayhem.
Audience Award for Documentary Feature Film
Winner: “Political Animals,” directed by Jonah Markowitz, Tracy Wares
Audience Award for Short Film
Winner: “Into Darkness,” directed by Rachida El Garani
Film Description: This documentary gives insight into a deeply religious Moroccan family as they struggle with blindness and extreme poverty.
Audience Award for Web-series
Winner: “Instababy,” directed by Rosie Haber
Description: Gay adoption is illegal in Mississippi, so Toni and Keeta look for a baby on Instagram.
