A SUCCESSFUL ENDING FOR PBIFF
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanThis past Thursday marked the close of a very memorable and educational week of the Palm Beach International Film Festival.
The final night came to a culmination with the presentation of Coley Sohn’s film ‘Sassy Pants’ bringing us an emotional story wrapped up in a touch of humor. Ashley Rickards portrayed her leading character especially well. Little Haley Joel Osment, the adorable child actor of ‘Sixth Sense’, is all grown up as we see in this imaginative yet somewhat realistic film. The writer/director/producer was on hand for a Q&A session prior to the showing of the movie. She was proud of her acclaimed work and rightfully so.
Coley Sohn and Randi Emerman
Over the past week, there have been a wide variety of features, shorts and documentaries shown throughout Palm Beach County with a diverse audience raving about each and every masterpiece.
To bring the festival to an extraordinary end, an awards presentation took place at 51 Supper Club & Lounge in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Coley Sohn
It was an extremely difficult choice to pick a select number of winners from so many exceptional submissions. Tiger Eyes written by Judy Blume and directed by her son Lawrence Blume, took Best Feature Film. Lawrence was on hand and humbly accepted the award with many thanks.
Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story, directed by Ari Pinchot and Jonathan Gruber won Best Documentary Feature. The film gave us a glimpse into the mind of a hero trying to make a decision between his devotion to his country or to his people.
Director James Costa won a Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature for Lunch Hour. The subject matter hit home with many especially parents. It was an exploration into the National School Lunch Program, childhood obesity and an addiction to unhealthy foods. The film delved into the solutions and featured Rachel Ray. Costa was on hand to accept his award in a very appreciative manner.
Randi Emerman and James Costa
Roundabout, directed by Rohit Bartra, took Best Short Film. This World Premiere showed us how a random act of kindness motivated two strangers to learn the communality of their existence.
Throughout the week, each person that attended the films was given a ballot to rate the movie they were seeing on a scale of 1-5. The films with the highest scores were awarded ‘The Audience Favorites’.
The PBIFF Audience Favorite for Best Feature went to Best Little Whorehouse in Rochdale, directed by Ian Vernon. After being married for 25 years, a woman is put to the test to try and make ends meet upon the death of her husband. The director was on hand to accept the award.
Love Free or Die was the Audience Favorite for Best Documentary. It was directed by Macky Alston and featured Bishop Gene Robinson. This film is a sure winner as it also received Special Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The topic was a man’s two defining passions; his love for God and for his partner. The director was on hand to accept his award.
Finally, Audience Favorite for Best Short Film went to Hollywood Struggles Starring The Brentwood Girls, directed by Gloria Kisel. It is a glitzy, glamorous glance at trying to make a movie in Hollywood and the struggles that entail along the way. The director was on hand to accept her award.
June Lockhart and Yvonne Boice
Through the efforts of a most professional and dedicated team, the Palm Beach International Film Festival overcame the financial adversity that is a constant sign of our hard economic times and they made this a most enjoyable and entertaining week. They brought together the filmmaker, the actors, the fans and the audience in what can only be labeled as a world-class event.
Visit the Palm Beach International Film Festival at www.pbifilmfest.org to learn more.
It is a wrap for 2012!
PHOTO CREDITS: Anna Sheppard for Palm Beach International Film Festival
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