The Denver Film Festival (DFF) has announced the recipients of its annual People's Choice Awards and Festival Juried Awards in multiple categories.
People's Choice Awards
After conclusion of the Festival on Sunday, November 11, the following films were recognized as the People's Choice Award winners for the 41st Denver Film Festival by a tally of ballots.
Narrative Feature:
GREEN BOOK
Director: Peter Farrelly
Documentary Feature:
THE WEIGHT OF WATER
Director: Michael Brown
Short Subject Film:
EARTHRISE
Director: Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee
Music Video:
MIDAS – CAROLINE
Director: Michael Middelkoop
True Grit Award
The following Colorado-made feature film was selected as the winner of the True Grit Award by a jury of members of the Denver Film Academy, which is comprised of dues-paying alumni board members.
THE LAST HONEY HUNTER
Director: Ben Knight
The jury statement reads: "This year the true grit award goes to Ben Knight for the short subject The Last Honey Hunter which is beautifully filmed in the mountains of Nepal and vividly embraces the harmony of villagers and their unique natural setting. This story of agricultural interdependence reminds us that feudal systems can exist as the smallest geographies and cultures and that faith in oneself can overcome rational fear. It is beautifully told and very moving. We hope everyone has a chance to see this fine film."
Special mention:
THE RESCUE LIST
Directors: Alyssa Fedele, Zachary Fink
"This year in addition to the True Grit award the Academy has decided to give a special achievement award to Alyssa Fedele and Zachery Fink for The Rescue List, which is an engrossing documentary centering on child slavery in the Lake Volta region of Ghana. The film chronicles the work of a group of social workers whose purpose is to return these boys to their families. It is more than well worth seeing.”
Krzysztof Kieślowski Award for Best Narrative Feature Film
The following narrative feature film was selected as the winner of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Award by a jury of international film industry members.
SHOPLIFTERS
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
The jury statement reads: "The surprising structure of the screenplay, combined with an outstanding ensemble cast, created an authentic portrait of hidden poverty in Western society. The meticulous production design and superb direction drew us into this controversial family; the lack of sentimentality layered with social, political, and moral questions demonstrated a nuanced approach to the meaning of parenthood and the unpredictable dynamics of love."
Special mention:
ASH IS PUREST WHITE
Director: Jia Zhangke
"Additionally, the jury would like to award a special mention to Jia Zhangke's Ash is the Purest White for its compelling transformation of human relationships and social identities in modern China.”
Krzysztof Kieślowski Award Jury: Angela Catalano, Antonio Falduto, Laura D. Smith
Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary Feature Film
The following documentary feature film was selected as the winner of the Maysles Brothers Award by a jury of national film industry members.
WRESTLE
Directors: Lauren Belfer, Suzannah Herbert
The jury statement reads: "A film as deceptively simple as its title, Wrestle chronicles the lives of four male high school students in Huntsville, Alabama for whom athletic success via the school wrestling team means the nearly unfathomable opportunity to go to college and beyond. Through its nuanced editing, heart-stopping wrestling cinematography, and intimacy with its subjects, this film transcends any perceived boundaries of its subject matter or competition-film structure. Wrestlepresents a deep portrait of what it means to be young, black and poor in America today that never reduces its complex protagonists to victims or heroes."
Maysles Brothers Award Jury: Zaman Farihah, David Fenster, Greg Rhem
American Independent Award
The following narrative feature film was selected as the winner of the American Independent Award by a jury of national film industry members.
GHOSTBOX COWBOY
Director: John Maringouin
The jury statement reads: "The jury has chosen a totally original, dark comedy that fuses documentary and fiction storytelling, taking on late stage capitalism through the chaotic exploits of a wannabe cowboy entrepreneur."
Special Mentions:
LITTLE WOODS
Director: Nia DaCosta
"We are awarding a special jury mention to Nia DiCosta for outstanding achievement in first time directing. Her film Little Woods elicits remarkable performances from her two main actresses, and evokes a searing portrait of a North Dakotan oil boom town, alongside our broken healthcare system."
TYREL
Actor: Jason Mitchell
"Additionally, we are awarding a special jury mention to Jason Mitchell. His performance in Tyrel is the driving force in this highly prescient film about the most uncomfortable of weekends in the Catskills."
American Independent Award Jury: Kate Hurwitz, Michael Sladek, Matthew Soraci
Short Film Awards
The following short films were selected by a jury of national film industry members.
Liberty Global Domestic Student Filmmaker Award
DIOS NUNCA MUERE
Director: Barbara Cigarroa
The jury statement reads: "Family, immigration, ownership, and duty are explored through the eyes of a single family living in the hills of Hudson, NY. With remarkable restraint and moving performances, this filmmaker highlights the human right of “home” and the basic necessities migrants are so often deprived of."
Liberty Global International Student Filmmaker Award
TANGLES AND KNOTS
Director: Renée Marie Petropoulos
The jury statement reads: "A film that lives up to its title with complicated situations and performances vividly brought to screen."
Best Animated Short
BLOEISTRAAT 11
Director: Nienke Deutz
The jury statement reads: "This raw and authentic portrait of adolescence, charmed us with its unique style. Blending multiple animation techniques, it captured the world in a really beautiful way."
Special mention:
AIRPORT
Director: Michaela Müller
"And we’d like to give an honorable mention to Airport for its beautiful and technically challenging artistry."
Best Documentary Short
SKIP DAY
Director: Charlie Lyne
The jury statement reads: "What ostensibly begins as a fun day trip to the beach with friends reveals itself as a deep, dark, and powerful reckoning on race in America. For the pure distillation of modern life, its complications, and its joys.”
Shorts Jury: Jeffrey Bowers, Suz Loshin, John VonThaden
Project NEXT High School Student Awards
Best High School Short Subject Film
MOONAGE DAYDREAM
Director: Oliver Chamberlin
Denver East High School
Best High School Documentary Short Subject Film
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY TOO
Directors: Jack Cosgriff, Elena Katz
Denver School of the Arts / Denver East High School
Best High School Animated Short Subject Film
MARBLES
Director: Hallie Farmer
Rock Canyon High School
High School Short Subject Viewer's Choice Award
DOUBLE TAKE
Director: Tanner McGarr
Denver School of the Arts
Awards previously given or announced:
Rare Pearl Award
ROMA
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Reel Social Club Indie Voice Award
IN A RELATIONSHIP
Actor: Dree Hemingway
John Cassavetes Award
Jason Reitman
Career Achievement Award
Governor, John Hickenlooper
Stan Brakhage Vision Award
Barbara Hammer
2018 Denver Film Festival Sponsors
PREMIER: Regal; ASSOCIATE: Anna & John J. Sie Foundation, AOR, Inc., Argonaut Wine & Liquor, Barbara Bridges, British Airways, CEAVCO Audio Visual, Harmonic Media, Liberty Global, Mike’s Camera, Relish Catering & Events; SUPPORTING: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Butler Rents, Capital One, Istituto Italiano di Cultura Chicago, Invisible City, Lyft, Sage Hospitality, SeriesFest, Sheila K. O’Brien, University of Colorado Denver – College of Arts & Media, Anna Maglione-Sie Endowed Chair of Italian Culture and the Department of Languages and Literatures-University of Denver, Reality Garage; PATRON: Xfinity, Good Chemistry, The Goods, Eldorado Natural Spring Water, Lighting and Design by Scott, Kentwood City Properties, Kind Snacks, Riverfront Park Community Foundation, Stranahan’s, IMDBPro; MEDIA: 5280 Magazine, Futuristic, Westword; GOVERNMENT: Colorado Creative Industries, Colorado Office of Film Television & Media, Consulate General of Italy, Denver Arts & Venues, Denver Arts & Venues Create Denver, McNichols Civic Center Building, National Endowment for the Arts, Scientific & Cultural Facilities District, UK Government Office – Denver; CONTRIBUTING: Brookfield Properties, Baird – The Palm Group, Caz Matthews, Colorado Film & Video Association, Davis Graham & Stubbs, Denver Screenprint & Embroidery, Fine Arts Foundation, Lagralane, Latino Cultural Arts Center, Ratio BeerWorks, SAGIndie, TV5MONDE, Visit Denver, WeWork, William LaBahn
About the Denver Film Society
Founded in 1978, the Denver Film Society (DFS) is a membership-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution that produces film events throughout the year, including the award-winning Denver Film Festival and the popular, summertime series Film on the Rocks. With a vision to cultivate community and transform lives through film, the DFS provides opportunities for diverse audiences to discover film through creative, thought-provoking experiences.
The permanent home of DFS, the Sie FilmCenter, is Denver’s only year-round cinematheque, presenting a weekly-changing calendar of first-run exclusives and arthouse revivals both domestic and foreign, narrative and documentary – over 600 per year, all shown in their original language and format. DFS’s one-of-a-kind programs annually reach more than 200,000 film lovers and film lovers-in-training.
