The Los Angeles Film Festival, in conjunction with presenting media sponsor the Los Angeles Times and host partner Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE, has announced the jury and audience award winners for the 2014 Festival.
Actor Vincent Piazza of Jersey Boys was on hand to present the awards. The Los Angeles Film Festival ran from Wednesday, June 11 to Thursday, June 19 in downtown Los Angeles.
“This year the Los Angeles Film Festival reached a new high, thanks to the audiences who packed theaters in support of the films. We’re so proud of every single film and celebrate the winners!” said Festival Director Stephanie Allain.
The juried awards of the Los Angeles Film Festival are the Narrative Award, the Documentary Award and the LA Muse Award, each carrying an unrestricted $5,000 cash prize for the winning film’s director.
The winners of the short film awards each receive a $1,500 cash prize. The awards were established by the Festival to encourage independent filmmakers to pursue their artistic ambitions.
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The Narrative Award recognizes the finest narrative film in competition at the Festival and went to Dave Boyle for Man From Reno, which made its World Premiere at the Festival.
The Documentary Award recognizes the finest documentary film in competition at the Festival and went to Debra Granik for Stray Dog, which made its World Premiere at the Festival.
An honorable mention was also bestowed upon Eliza Kubarska’s Walking Under Water, which made its US premiere at the Festival.
The inaugural LA Muse Award sponsored by Fox Audience Strategy goes to Damian John Harper for his film Los Ángeles, which had its International Premiere at the Festival.
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The Los Angeles Film Festival also awarded an unrestricted $1,500 cash prize to each short film category. The recipient for the Award for Best Narrative Short Film went to The Runaway, directed by Jean-Bernard Marlin.
The Award for Best Documentary Short Film went to The Queen, directed by Manuel Abramovich. The Award for Best Animated or Experimental Short Film went to Butter Lamp, directed by Hu Wei. The Shorts Program Awards are funded by HBO.
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The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature went to The Young Kieslowski, directed by Kerem Sanga, and the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature went to Meet the Patels, directed by Geeta V. Patel and Ravi V. Patel. Someone You Love by Pernille Fischer Christensen won the Audience Award for Best International Feature.
The Audience Award for Best Short Film went to The Gunfighter, directed by Eric Kissack. Turn Down For What: Lil John and DJ Snake, directed by Daniels with music by Lil John and DJ Snake, won the Audience Award for Best Music Video.
Now in its 20th year, the Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by Film Independent, showcases the new American and international cinema.
Film Independent is a non-profit arts organization that encourages independent film and supports a community of artists. It helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects and works to diversify the film industry.
Photo courtesy: Los Angeles Film Festival
