Hit the break for more info on the winners and stay tuned for reviews and coverage from the festival this week and next.
NEW AUTEURS CRITIC’S AWARD
The New Auteurs section highlights first and second-time feature film directors from around the world. This year’s New Auteurs jury features Peter Debruge (Variety), Karina Longworth (author and critic), Amy Nicholson (LA Weekly) and Betsy Sharkey (Los Angeles Times).
New Auteurs Critic’s Award: NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN. “The true story of a homeless Christian teenager adopted by an abusive family who tests his ability to turn the other cheek. Many, many bad things happen. But the blessing is discovering first-time filmmaker Katrin Gebbe and her incredible ensemble who have braved their own tests – boos and walkouts, nothing too bloody – in order to bring us this powerful movie and faith and sacrifice.”
New Auteur Special Award for Personal Storytelling: IN BLOOM. The jury wanted to give a Special Award for Personal Storytelling for IN BLOOM. This film, in its intimate exploration of the lives of two teenage girls in the former Soviet state of Georgia just after the fall of the USSR, is an exemplar of personal history as political history, or fiction filmmaking infused with and bolstered by the truth.
New Auteur Special Award for Direction: SELFISH GIANT. The jury has also selected a Special Award for Direction to Clio Barnard, whose film THE SELFISH GIANT underscores the promise of the New Auteurs category. Drawing stunning performances from her two young leads, Barnard brings the specificity of a Bradford housing estate to a devastating and universally relatable fable.
GRAND JURY AWARDS, LIVE ACTION AND ANIMATED SHORTS
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 Alejandro De Leon (producer), Kitao Sakurai (filmmaker), Jordan Vogt-Roberts (filmmaker) and Heidi Zwicker (shorts programmer).
Grand Jury Award, Live Action Short: BUTTER LAMP. DIR Hu Wei. France, Tibet.
Grand Jury Award, Animated Short: THE PLACES WHERE WE LIVED. DIR Bernardo Britto. USA.
Special Jury Award: BALCONY. DIR Lendita Zeqiraj. Kosov.
Special Jury Award for Outstanding Achievement in Direction: SYNDROMEDA. DIR Patrik Eklund. Sweden.
Special Jury Mention for Best Datamosh: DATAMOSH. DIR Yung Jake. USA.
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Audience Awards, World Cinema: THE ROCKET. DIR Kim Mordaunt. Australia.
Audience Award, New Auteurs: THE SELFISH GIANT. DIR Clio Barnard. UK.
Audience Award, American Independents: WE GOTTA GET OUTTA THIS PLACE. DIR Zeke Hawkins, Simon Hawkins. USA.
Audience Award, Breakthrough: B FOR BOY. DIR Chika Anadu. Nigeria.
