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Harry Bates exterior
“Glory” and “The Eagle Huntress” took top honors—for Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, respectively—on Monday morning during the 24th annual Hamptons International Film Festival award ceremony at East Hampton Library.
“Glory,” co-directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov, is a Bulgarian film about a poor railway worker who finds a pile of cash on the tracks. He turns the money in to the police, and a government propaganda team decides to capitalize on his story, causing his life to spin out of control. The award was presented by the competition’s jurors, including producer Julie Goldstein, director John Krokidas and “New Yorker” film critic David Edelstein.
“Our only hope is to be exposed to as many different framings of the world as possible,” Mr. Edelstein said before announcing the winner. “These films created a new language and the people who make them take incredible risks and aim high. We’re living in a sick black comedy right now and it’s a shame American filmmakers don’t make them anymore.”
Actress Margita Gosheva accepted the award on behalf of the filmmakers.
“This is our first American award,” Ms. Gosheva said. “We hope this helps make our next film, because it will be the third in a trilogy. This was our second, and the first film, ‘The Lesson,’ was made with no money.”
“The Eagle Huntress,” from director Otto Bell, is about a 13-year-old Kazakh girl living on the Mongolian steppe who trains to become the first female falconer in 12 generations of her family—a tradition usually handed down from father to son. Morgan Spurlock and Daisy Ridley, who also narrates, executive produced the film. The award was presented by the competition’s jurors, including producer Alexis Alexanian, RADiUS co-founder Jason Janego, and actress Mariska Hargitay.
“When gender equality finally arrives, it’ll carry many messengers,” Ms. Hargitay said. “‘The Eagle Huntress’ will be one of those messengers.”
“The Silence,” directed by Ali Asgari and Farnoosh Samadi, received the Award for Best Narrative Short Film, and “Irregulars,” by Fabio Palmieri, won for Best Documentary Short Film.
A number of other awards were given out over the course of the festival weekend.
The Tangerine Entertainment Juice Fund Award, to honor an outstanding female narrative filmmaker, was presented to “Wakefield” director Robin Swicord. The Suffolk County Next Exposure Grant, to support filmmakers who shot projects in Suffolk County, was awarded to the short film “Black Swell,” directed by Jake Honig and filmed in Montauk. The 2016 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution was given to “Disturbing the Peace,” directed by Stephen Apkon and Andrew Young. The Zelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award, which honors a film highlighting important social issues, was awarded to “Unlocking the Cage,” directed by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
Jon Winkler on Oct 11, 2016