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Stony Brook Film Festival winners
'For My Father' takes Grand Prize in 14th annual festival of indie films
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The Stony Brook Film Festival closed with the New York premiere of "The Little Traitor," with writer and director Lynn Roth hosting a question-and-answer session after the film, followed by an awards reception on the Staller Center Main Stage. John Anderson, film critic, who was master of ceremonies for the evening, announced Stony Brook's audience and jury awards for best features and shorts.
Alan Inkles, founder and director of the festival, heard from both filmmakers and audience alike, who praised the diversity of the Stony Brook Film Festival. "It has been an amazing year for us both artistically and in terms of attendance. We had the largest crowds in our 14-year history and the audience voting gave some of the highest scores we have ever seen," he said.
Grand Prize
"For My Father" was awarded the Grand Prize. The film was directed by Dror Zahavi, written by Ido Dror and Yonaton Dror and produced by Avi Spielmann, Shlomo Mograbi and Heike Wiehle-Timm; it featured Hili Yalon, Shredi Gabrin and Shlomo Vishinsky. A riveting film from Israel about a young Jewish girl cut off from her Orthodox roots, a shopkeeper who has lost his soldier son, and a young Palestinian man on a desperate mission, it was an Israeli-German coproduction by Israfilm (Tel Aviv) and Relevant Film (Hamburg).
Best Feature (Audience Choice)
The Audience Choice for best feature was "Like Dandelion Dust" directed by Jon Gunn, screenplay by Stephen J. Rivele and Michael Lachance, based on the novel by Karen Kingsbury and produced by Kevin Downes and Bobby Downes, with Chris Morrow as executive producer. The film is headlined by Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Kate Levering, Maxwell Perry Cotton and Cole Hauser. It presents the story of parents of an adopted boy who fight to keep their son when Joey's biological father lays claim to him.
Best Feature (Jury Award)
The Jury Award for best feature went to "Tickling Leo," written and directed by Jeremy Davidson and produced by Mary Stuart Masterson, Steven Weisman, Peter C.B. Masterson, Paul Schnee and Jeremy Davidson. Appearing in the film are Eli Wallach, Lawrence Pressman, Daniel Sauli, Annie Parisse, Ronald Guttman and Victoria Clark.
The film is a story of a son's attempt to reconnect with his father. He copes with his father's dementia and the secrets and resentments that threaten the family's future and is from Barn Door Pictures in association with Highbrow Entertainment.
Best Short (Audience Choice)
The Audience Choice for best short was "In the Dark," directed by Alex Fazeli, written by Thomas Westfall and Alex Fazeli and produced by Rebecca L. Brown. On the eve of Ayatollah Khomeini's return to Iran, a double agent exchanges vital information with the CIA for safe passage out of the country. The film is inspired by true events.
Best Short (Jury Award)
The Jury Award for best short was "True Beauty This Night," written and directed by Peter Besson and produced by Stephen Sweeney. After meeting the love of his life, a young man has to convince her she's the one. That's not an easy feat, considering how they met.
Closing Night Film
Lynn Roth, writer and director of "The Little Traitor," was presented with a Closing Night award. "The Little Traitor" is based on the novel "Panther in the Basement" by Amos Oz, one of Israel's most renowned authors. Alfred Molina stars in the role of Sergeant Dunlop, a British soldier who befriends an 11-year-old Jewish boy in 1947 Palestine, just a few months before Israel becomes a state.
The Stony Brook Film Festival, presented by Staller Center for the Arts, is known for its large audiences and high selectivity, and as a filmmakers' favorite on the festival circuit. Stony Brook screens new, independent films with 35 mm and Beta formats preferred; the festival's entry deadline is May 1 each year.
For further information, go to www.stonybrookfilmfestival.com or call the Staller Center for the Arts, Stony Brook University at 632-7235.
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