AFI FEST 2014 Presented by Audi Announces Jury and Audience Award-Winning Films

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Thursday, 13 November 2014 21:10

Written by AFI

LOS ANGELES, CA,November 13, 2014– AFI FEST 2014 presented by Audi today announced this year's Jury and Audience Awards for features and short films included in the festivals New Auteur and Shorts programs.

The New Auteurs section highlights first and second-time feature film directors and the Shorts selections represent diverse and varied international perspectives. Grand Jury Awards were presented to SELF MADE (BOREG), which received the New Auteurs Critics' Award, and to THE TRIBE (PLEMYA), which received the VIZIO Visionary Special Jury Award. BUFFALO JUGGALOS by Scott Cummings received the Live Action Short Award, and YEARBOOK by Bernardo Britto received the Animated Short Award. Special Jury Award winners went to GÜEROS and VIOLET. RED ARMY, GÜEROS, 10,000 KM and THEMIDNIGHTSWIM received Audience Awards.

Select award-winning films will screen again today at the Chinese 6 Theatres. Admission is available to AFI FEST 2014 pass holders and the general public via the rush line, which begins forming one hour before each film's scheduled screening start time. For screening times visitAFI.com/AFIFEST. 

"The films in competition have screened at other festivals throughout the year and AFI FEST is the place where they are presented together in the context of showcasing bold, original and audacious auteur work from new filmmakers," said Jacqueline Lyanga, Director of AFI FEST. "We hope the recognition from our jury of film critics will lead audiences to discover these films."

NEW AUTEURS CRITICS' AWARD

The New Auteurs section highlights first and second-time feature film directors from around the world. This year's New Auteurs jury featured Alonso Duralde (The Wrap), Tim Grierson (Screen International), Eric Kohn (IndieWire) and Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood).

New Auteurs Critics' Award: SELF MADE (BOREG). DIR Shira Geffen. Israel

VIZIO Visionary Special Jury Award
Presented in recognition of the extraordinary visual storytelling in their film. The winner will receive the all-new VIZIO P-Series Ultra HD Smart TV and Sound Bar System.
THE TRIBE (PLEMYA). DIR Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy. Ukraine

"What a fantastic way to end the festival. We are thrilled that our audiences responded so strongly to the film line up," said Lane Kneedler, Associate Director of Programming of AFI FEST. "I am also especially thrilled that our jury gravitated towards such bold and visionary filmmakers."

GRAND JURY AWARDS, LIVE ACTION AND ANIMATED SHORT

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST Grand Jury Award winners in the Live Action and Animated Shorts categories as qualifiers for the annual Academy Awards^®Short Film category. The Shorts jury featured Kahlil Joseph (filmmaker), Sara Murphy (producer), Mike Ott (filmmaker), Matthew Takata (Sundance Institute) and Brian Udovich (producer) (AFI class of 2004).

Grand Jury Award for Live Action Short: BUFFALO JUGGALOS. DIR Scott Cummings. USA

Grand Jury Award for Animated Short: YEARBOOK DIR Bernardo Britto. USA  

AUDIENCE AWARDS

World Cinema Audience Award: RED ARMY. DIR Gabe Polsky. USA, Russia

New Auteurs Audience Award: GÜEROS. DIR Alonso Ruizpalacios. Mexico

American Independents Audience Award: 10,000 KM. DIR Carlos Marques-Marcet. Spain, USA. (award accompanied by a $60,000 Panavision grant)

Breakthrough Audience Award(award accompanied by a $5,000 cash prize):
THEMIDNIGHTSWIM. DIR Sarah Adina Smith. USA.

The complete list of award-winners, including special awards, is attached at the end of this press release.

The complete AFI FEST 2014 program included 120 films (75 features, 45 shorts), representing 39 countries. The Opening Night Gala was the World Premiere of J.C. Chandor's A MOST VIOLENT YEAR. The Closing Night Gala is Bennett Miller's FOXCATCHER, which screens tonight at the Dolby Theatre^®.

The many highlights of the festival included a special Tribute to Sophia Loren with a presentation of MARRIAGE ITALIAN STYLE (MATRINONIO ALL'ITALIANA); a Surprise Screening of AMERICAN SNIPER from director Clint Eastwood; a first look at SELMA featuring a conversation with producers Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner; director Ava DuVernay and actor David Oyelowo following a standing room only screening of the film in its entirety;

The Hollywood Reporter's Indie Contenders Roundtable moderated by columnist and blogger Scott Feinberg featuring panelists director/writer J.C. Chandor (A MOST VIOLENT YEAR); director/writer Damien Chazelle (WHIPLASH); actress Marion Cotillard (TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT); actor Jake Gyllenhaal (NIGHTCRAWLER); actor Bill Hader (THE SKELETON TWINS); actress Michelle Monaghan (FORT BLISS); actress Kristen Stewart (STILL ALICE); and actress Tilda Swinton (SNOWPIERCER).

An engaging conversation On Acting with actors Michael Keaton and Edward Norton co-stars in Alejandro González Iñárritu's current release, BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE); a Conversation on Cinematography with Roger Deakins (UNBROKEN, A BEAUTIFUL MIND, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, SKYFALL) legendary cinematographer and 11-time Oscar^®nominee, Deakins shared his wisdom and expertise in a discussion about the art of cinematography; a special presentation by Paul Thomas Anderson of the underground cult classic documentary MONDO HOLLYWOOD which was listed by the critically acclaimed director as a chief inspiration and influence on his latest film, INHERENT VICE, an AFI FEST Gala presentation.

The Los Angeles Times' Young Hollywood Roundtable featuring Joey King (FARGO, TV Series), Logan Lerman (THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER), Jena Malone (THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY) and Jenny Slate (OBVIOUS CHILD) participated in a lively discussion with the Times' Amy Kaufman on life in the industry and being thrust into the limelight.

Several international filmmakers and cast members were in attendance, including Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, the directors of Belgium's official Foreign Language Film Oscar^®submission TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT (DEUX JOURS, UNE NUIT) with star Marion Cotillard; Xavier Dolan, the director of MOMMY, Canada's official Foreign Language Film Oscar^®submission; Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, the directors of THE SALT OF THE EARTH; Bertrand Bonello, the director of France's official Foreign Language Film Oscar^®submission SAINT LAURENT with star Gaspard Ulliel; Paolo Virzì, the director of HUMAN CAPITAL (IL CAPITALE UMANO); Italy's official Foreign Language Film Oscar^®submission.

Shlomi Elkabetz, the director of GETT, THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM, Israel's official Foreign Language Film Oscar^®submission; Ukrainian director Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, director of The Tribe (Pleyma), along with the film's star Yana Novikova; director Shim Sung-bo, the director of Korea's official Foreign Language Film Oscar^®submission HAEMOO, Andrey Zvyagintsev, the director of Russia's official Foreign Language Film Oscar^®submission; Damián Szifrón, director of Argentina's official Foreign Language Film Oscar^®submission WILD TALES; Viggo Mortensen, the star of JAUJA.

Timothy Spall, who won the Best Actor award at Cannes for his performance in MR. TURNER; French director Mia Hansen-Løve with EDEN, along with cast member Félix De Givry, Abderrahmane Sissako, the director of TIMBUKTU, Mauritania's official Foreign Language Film Oscar^®submission, Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement of WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS; Marc Zinga, star of Toronto's Discovery Prize winner MAY ALLAH BLESS FRANCE! (QU'ALLAH BENISSE LA FRANCE!); and Karidja Touré, the star of GIRLHOOD (BANDE DE FILLES).

For the sixth consecutive year, AFI FEST offered free tickets to all screenings. Tickets for today's screenings are available in-person at the AFI FEST AT&T Box Office at the Hollywood & Highland Center.

Film stills are available for press use only and can be downloaded at:http://afifestpress.afi.com

For the 11th year, Audi is the festival's presenting sponsor. Additional top sponsors include AT&T, Coca-Cola, VIZIO, American Airlines (the official airline of AFI), Dunkin' Donuts, Netflix and Stella Artois. The festival's venue sponsors include the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatres, the Hollywood & Highland Center, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Egyptian Theatre.

About the American Film Institute
AFI is America's promise to preserve the heritage of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers.  AFI programs include theAFI Catalog of Feature FilmsandAFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations; theAFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film;AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television programs of the year;AFI's 100 Years...100 Moviestelevision events and movie reference lists, which have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film lovers; year-round and special event exhibition throughAFI FEST presented by Audi,AFI DOCSand theAFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center; and educating the next generation of storytellers at the world-renowned AFI Conservatory. For more information about AFI, visitAFI.comor connect with AFI attwitter.com/AmericanFilm,facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstituteandyoutube.com/AFI.

About AFI FEST presented by Audi
A program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST presented by Audi is a celebration of global cinema and today's Hollywood – a showcase for the best festival films of the year and an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in the movie capital of the world. AFI FEST is the only festival of its stature that is free to the public. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for both Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards^®. This year's edition takes placeNovember 6-13, 2014. Additional information about AFI FEST is available atAFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST atfacebook.com/AFIFEST,twitter.com/AFIFESTandyoutube.com/AFIFEST.

About Audi
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. Audi was a top-performing luxury brand in Europe during 2012, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Through 2016, AUDI AG will invest about $17 billion on new products and technologies. Visitaudiusa.comoraudiusanews.comfor more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD WINNERS

NEW AUTEURS CRITICS' AWARD
The New Auteurs section highlights first and second-time feature film directors from around the world. This year's New Auteurs jury featured Alonso Duralde (The Wrap), Tim Grierson (Screen International), Eric Kohn (IndieWire) and Anne Thompson (Thompson on Hollywood).

New Auteurs Critics' Award
SELF MADE (BOREG). DIR Shira Geffen. Israel.
Jury Comment: "Surreal, poignant and oddly funny, Israeli Shira Geffen's debut feature SELF MADE takes the familiar identity swap trope and miraculously gives it a reboot. Her exploration of feminine identity along the Israeli-Palestinian border manages to combine two wildly different narratives with brilliant fluidity. SELF MADE is rich with universal truths about the eternal quest for contentment in a difficult world."

VIZIO Visionary Special Jury Award:
Presented in recognition of the extraordinary visual storytelling in their film.
THE TRIBE (PLEMYA). DIR Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy. Ukraine.
Jury Comment: "The VIZIO Visionary Special Jury Award is given to a filmmaker whose singular focus and ambition guides a project to greatness, showing us a world we never knew existed. For his uncompromisingly stark portrait of a school for the deaf, utilizing no dialogue or subtitles but still telling a story full of dramatic twists and extraordinary long takes, we are pleased to give the VIZIO prize to Miroslav Slaboshpitsky, the director/writer of THE TRIBE."

In addition to the Grand Jury prize winners there are two features that the jury felt were worthy of special recognition. 

Special Jury Mention for Screenwriting
GÜEROS. SCR Alonso Ruizpalacios, Gibran Portela. Mexico.
Jury Comment: "We are giving a special screenplay citation to rookie director Alonso Ruizpalacios and co-writer Gibran Portela for GÜEROS which follows three students' quest to find an elusive folk star-- and shares a vibrant slice of Mexico's rich and turbulent culture."

Special Jury Mention for Cinematography
VIOLET. CIN Nicolas Karakatsanis. Netherlands, Belgium.
Jury Comment: "For his collection of powerful images, presented through a variety of camera sources, and for his long, graceful takes that underscore the powerful silences of the film's haunting storytelling, we wanted to present a special citation to Nicolas Karakatsanis."

GRAND JURY AWARDS, LIVE ACTION AND ANIMATED SHORT

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST Grand Jury Award winners in the Live Action and Animated Shorts categories as qualifiers for the annual Academy Awards^®Short Film category. The Shorts jury featured Kahlil Joseph (filmmaker), Sara Murphy (producer), Mike Ott (filmmaker), Matthew Takata (Sundance Institute) and Brian Udovich (producer).

Grand Jury Award for Live Action Short
BUFFALO JUGGALOS. DIR Scott Cummings
Jury Comment: "We felt this film effectively challenged notions of both genre and normalcy. It creates a non-traditional and bold look into an American subculture, using striking composition and invasive imagery. It's at the same time haunting, inviting, confrontational and beguiling."

Grand Jury Award for Animated Short
YEARBOOK. DIR Bernardo Britto.
Jury Comment: "This is the perfect example of how animation can be the only suitable medium. We were most taken by the incredibly beautiful, lyrical writing that was magnified by an animated execution so simple so as not to distract from the voice, but carefully accompany it."

In addition to the grand jury prizewinners there are four jury mentions that were worthy of recognition.

Special Jury Mention for Collection
David O'Reilly for CHILDREN'S SONG, NDA and WRONG NUMBER
Jury Comment: "This is an inspired collection of micro-shorts that point to an incredible singular vision that we want to recognize and encourage. Each story is succinct, simple, daring, and individually impacting. Collectively the three gravitate towards a more singular voice-one that is both brave and irreverent."

Special Jury Mention for Breakthrough Filmmaker
Joe Callander for GARY HAS AN AIDS SCARE
Jury Comment: "A disturbing and intimate look into the life of an American family. This filmmaker is not afraid to approach a complicated and delicate subject with both fearless exposure and an empathetic touch."

Special Jury Mention for Vision
Kevin Jerome Everson for SOUND THAT
Jury Comment: "An afternoon with Cleveland Water Department workers contrasts the institutional with the personal in this unadorned, yet densely layered film."

Special Jury Mention for Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Morgan Knibbe for SHIPWRECK
Jury Comment "This is beautiful, ethereal look at a real-life tragedy. It's a purely poetic approach to something that is both thematically difficult and emotionally evoking. A uniquely poetic film that captures the ways our political discourse on immigration too often ignores the urgency of human life."

AUDIENCE AWARDS

World Cinema Audience Award: RED ARMY. DIR Gabe Polsky. USA, Russia.

New Auteurs Audience Award: GÜEROS. DIR Alonso Ruizpalacios. Mexico.

American Independents Audience Award: 10,000 KM. DIR Carlos Marques-Marcet. Spain, USA.

Breakthrough Audience Award(award accompanied by a $5,000 cash prize): THEMIDNIGHTSWIM. DIR Sarah Adina Smith. USA.