As the 2011 edition of AFI Fest presented by Audi comes to a close, the feature length and short films that have received the Audience and Jury Awards have been announced. The films had encore screenings at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California.
"It has been an exciting year for world cinema and emerging international filmmakers," said Jacqueline Lyanga, Director of AFI Fest presented by Audi. "We've had incredibly enthusiastic audiences for all of the screenings at AFI Fest. It's wonderful to discover the films that especially resonate with audiences and put a spotlight on filmmakers as part of awards season critical acclaim."
Lane Kneedler, Associate Director of Programming for AFI Fest presented by Audi added that the depth of the lineup of filmmakers and their worldwide viewpoints make the festival special.
"It has been eight fantastic days of screenings here in Los Angeles with over 150 filmmakers from around the world attending to present their works," said Kneedler. "What a wonderful way to end AFI Fest's 25th Edition by acknowledging the films our distinguished juries and esteemed audiences have bestowed on these talented filmmakers."
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Breakthrough Section (award accompanied by a $5,000 cash prize)
“With Every Heartbeat” by Alexandra-Therese Keining
“Bullhead” by Michaël R. Roskam
World Cinema Section
A tie: “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” by David Gelb and “Kinyarwandia” by Alrick Brown
Young Americans Section
“Wuss” by Clay Liford
LIVE ACTION AND ANIMATED SHORT FILM SECTION JURY AWARDS
As in previous years, a jury determines the AFI FEST 2011 Live Action and Animated Short Film Section Awards. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences recognizes each winner as a qualifier for the annual Academy Awards®. The Short Film Jury — comprised of filmmakers Barry Jenkins and Gerardo Naranjo (AFI Conservatory Class of 2001) and festival programmer Kim Yutani — announced the awards with their statements.
Live Action Short Film Section
Grand Jury Prize: “Frozen Stories” from Grzegorz Jaroszuk "for its world of meta-reality suffused with enough context to rend a beautifully nuanced story for the most heightened elements."
Honorable Mention: “Babyland” by Marc Fratello "for its assured direction, stunning lead performance and the ability to balance humor and pathos all the way up to its shocking conclusion."
Animated Short Film Section
Grand Jury Prize: “The Eagleman Stag” by Michael Please "for its ambitious and elegant storytelling, both narrative and aesthetically, in which the bigness of life and the concept of time are deftly unpacked in a moving nine minutes."
Honorable Mention: “The Voyagers” by Penny Lane "for its skillful juxtaposition of archival footage and personal narrative to tell a moving story of exploration, romance and space travel."
NEW AUTEURS SECTION CRITIC'S PRIZE
This year AFI FEST debuts its New Auteurs Critic's Prize selected by an esteemed panel of international critics: Justin Chang (Variety), Mike Goodridge (Screen International), Mark Olsen (The Los Angeles Times) and Jean Oppenheimer (American Cinematographer).
Grand Jury Prize: “The Loneliest Planet” by Julia Loktev "for its bold exploration of societal structures and gender roles, set against a landscape that conveys both profound beauty and profound alienation."
Special Jury Prize: “Attenberg” by Athina Rachel Tsangari "for its wit, distinct voice and playful sense of storytelling."
Acting Award Prize: Matthias Schoenaerts from “Bullhead” "for his nuanced and intensely physical embodiment of bruised masculinity."
