HIFF Announces 2016 Film Fest Awards

[caption id="attachment_56644" align="alignnone" width="800"] Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in “La La Land.”[/caption]

The Hamptons International Film Festival Audience Award for Narrative Feature was awarded to Lionsgate’s “La La Land,” directed by Damien Chazelle. Magnolia Pictures’ “I Am Not Your Negro,” directed by Raoul Peck won the Audience Award for Documentary Feature, and Netflix’s “The White Helmets,” directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, won the Audience Award for Best Short Film.

“We would like to thank all of the filmmakers whose fantastic films screened at the festival this year. It is incredibly difficult to award only a handful of films after a five-day festival of engaging content. Congratulations to the Audience Award winners that stood out to our filmgoers amongst the best this year had to offer,” HIFF Artistic Director David Nugent said.

“Glory,” directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov won the festival’s prize for Best Narrative Feature, and “The Eagle Huntress,” directed by Otto Bell, took honors as Best Documentary Feature. “The Silence,” directed by Ali Asgari and Farnoosh Samadi, and “Irregulars,” directed by Fabio Palmieri, won the Award for Best Narrative Short Film and for Best Documentary Short Film, respectively.

[caption id="attachment_56646" align="alignleft" width="300"] "I Am Not Your Negro."[/caption]

“HIFF continues to focus on showcasing an entertaining, diverse and provocative slate of films each year. We are thrilled with the warm embrace of the films in our 24th edition and are thankful to the filmmakers for allowing us to share the films with our audiences,” HIFF Artistic Director, David Nugent said.

“Divines,” directed by Houda Benyamina, received an Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature and “Those Who Jump,” directed by Estephan Wagner, Moritz Siebert and Abou Bakar Sidibé received an Honorable Mention for Documentary Feature.

The Tangerine Entertainment Juice Fund Award for an outstanding female narrative filmmaker was awarded to “Wakefield,” directed by Robin Swicord.“Black Swell,” directed by Jake Honig won the $3,000 Suffolk County Next Exposure Grant that “supports the completion of high quality, original, director-driven, low-budget independent films from both emerging and established filmmakers who have completed 50% of principal photography within Suffolk County.”

“We are proud of the diverse slate of programming from this years festival, and are appreciative of all the support of our community, audience members, filmmakers, actors and staff who were part of such an incredible and successful weekend,” HIFF Executive Director Anne Chaisson said. “We look forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary next year.”

“Disturbing the Peace,” directed by Stephen Apkon and Andrew Young won the 2016 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution. “Unlocking the Cage,” directed by Sag Harbor residents and acclaimed filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, won the Zelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award, which is “presented to a film that raises public awareness about contemporary social issues, including the moral and ethical treatment and the rights of animals as well as environmental protection.”

Aaron Eckhart won Variety’s Creative Impact in Acting Award and Edward Norton was honored with the Career Achievement Award. This year’s festival partnered with Variety for the fifth time and the New York Film Critics Circle for the eighth year in a row to complete its judging.

HIFF ran from October 6 through October 10 and screened over 125 films from around the globe.

For more information about the 2016 Hamptons International Film Festival, please visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.