A WEEK OF FABULOUS FILMS COMES TO A CLOSE
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanIt was a week that movie memories are made of. Palm Beach International Film Festival brought aspiring, emerging and seasoned filmmakers from all over the globe to warm and welcoming South Florida to debut their films to a culturally savvy group of attendees. The films were powerful and each one left an imprint on our hearts.
The final evening of the 18th annual festival ended with the showing of the fabulously funny ‘Chez Upshaw’ by Director Bruce Mason who was in attendance with the leading lady of the film, Illeana Douglas, to answer questions after the viewing. This U.S. premiere about a bickering and yet long-time loving couple that ran a failing B&B about to go into foreclosure until they are given the opportunity to turn it into a “check in, don’t check out” last resort for assisted suicides drew a large crowd.
As is customary over the years, the event ended with the awards ceremony and the closing party. This year it was held at Frank Theatres CineBowl & Grille in Delray Beach, Florida.
The votes were cast and awards were handed out for Best Feature Film, Best Documentary and Best Short Film.
The Award for Best Feature Film went to Lonely Boy, directed by Dale Fabrigar about the romantic misadventures of a schizophrenic bachelor. Alev Aydin wrote and starred in the film. Aydid was there to accept the award.
The Award for Best Documentary Feature went to Comedy Warriors: Healing Through Humor, directed by John Wager. Five severely wounded Iraq/Afghanistan veterans were given the opportunity to explore their experiences through the healing power of humor. This film follows their journey as they work with professional comedy writers and A-List comedians Zach Galifianakis, Lewis Black, Bob Saget, and B.J. Novak, who help them write and perform their own personal stand-up comedy routines. This exciting venture gives them new comedic perspectives from which to view their injuries and their lives, and culminates in one big night performing at one of LA’s top comedy clubs. Producer Ray Reo was there to accept the award.
The Award for Best Short Film went to Sahasi Chori, directed by Erin Galey. A dramatic thriller exploring con-artists of the sex industry, Sahasi Chori follows Bhumika, a 13-year-old Nepali girl, traveling with her family friend Krishna from her Himalayan home to her first job in the city. This story is inspired by the director’s firsthand experience traveling the roads of Nepal and India, and meeting survivors of sex trafficking.
After each film that took place over the last week, the audience was asked to vote for their favorite and those awards were given out on this evening as well.
The PBIFF Audience Favorite Award for Best Feature went to As High as the Sky, directed by Nikki Braendlin. Margaret has always been a little…particular. But since being dumped by her fiancée, her obsessive compulsive behaviors are in overdrive. The last thing she needs is company. Showing up on her doorstep unannounced is Margaret’s nomadic older sister Josephine, with ten-year-old daughter Hannah in tow, initially an unwanted jolt to her carefully regulated life. But their playfulness eventually wins Margaret over and she begins to loosen her neurotic control on life. However, when Margaret discovers the real reason for her sister’s visit. She’s forced to confront the betrayed… and the long suppressed grief at the roof of her fastidious behaviors.
There was a tie for Audience Favorite Award for Best Documentary, both of which were World Premieres. The winners were Bearing Witness: the Voices of Our Survivors and Ardeshir Mohasses: The Rebellious Artist.
Bearing Witness: the Voices of Our Survivors shares the collective stories of six Holocaust survivors from Germany, Poland, Greece, Netherlands, and Hungary whom endured anti-Semitism, Kristallnacht, life in hiding, ghettos, camps, and death marches. Director Heather Elliott-Famularo was there to accept the award.
Ardeshir Mohasses: The Rebellious Artist takes a look at the controversial Iranian caricaturist and his struggles with artistic freedom. Director Bahman Maghsoudlou was there to accept the award.
The Audience Favorite Award for Best Short Film went to The Color of Christmas, directed by Cyrus Kowsari about a man who walks through hell to deliver the Christmas his daughter wants.
The Audience Favorite Award for Best of Florida went to The Shift, directed by Lee Cipolla and starring Leo Oliva, Casey Fitzgerald, and Danny Glover about one 12-hour shift in the ER where a veteran nurse, who struggles with the haunting guilt of his brother’s drowning, is forced to train a new nurse.
Randi Emerman, President of Palm Beach International Film Festival , accomplished the impossible and had a dedicated team behind her. Economic hardships became a hurdle that had to be overcome just like other industries in this difficult time but Randi did not let that dampen her desire to bring film fanatics what they look forward to every year.
A good time was had by all and the many countries across the world that were represented at this very special week, including the United States,should be proud of their talented filmmakers, directors, actors and actresses. We will see you next year and until then, “It’s a wrap!”
PHOTO CREDITS: Palm Beach International Film Festival Facebook Page
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