15 Photos
From left, director Tom Dolby and Actress Lena Olin ("The Artist's Wife"), with Hiff's executive director Anne Chaisson and Suffolk County Film Commission chair Diana Cherryholmes.
HIFF 2019 Breakthrough Artists, from left, Aldis Hodge, Lulu Wang, and Camilla Marrone. TOM KOCHIE
HIFF artistic director David Nugent, filmmaker Chinonye Chukwu (writer and director of the film “Clemency”), actor Aldis Hodge, actress Alfre Woodard, and HIFF executive director Anne Chaisson. TOM KOCHIE
Actress Alfre Woodard, star of "Clemency." TOM KOCHIE
Annabelle Attanasio and Camilla Morrone (director and actress, "Mickey and the Bear"). TOM KOCHIE
Brian and Piper De Plama with Alec Baldwin. TOM KOCHIE
From left, Stuart Suna, actress Alfre Woodard, Randy Mastro, Linda Biscardi Fuller, actor Aldis Hodge and Joe Zuckerman at the festival. TOM KOCHIE
Stuart Suna with daughters Rose and Zoey. TOM KOCHIE
Filmmaker Brian De Palma who was honored at the 2019 Hamptons International Film Festival. TOM KOCHIE
HIFF artistic director David Nugent, filmmaker Brian De Plama and HIFF executive director Anne Chaisson. TOM KOCHIE
Alec and Hilaria Baldwin. TOM KOCHIE
HIFF artistic director David Nugent with his wife Violet and their children. TOM KOCHIE
Shinnecock Nation member Lance Gumbs and filmmaker Treva Wurmfeld at a screening of her film "Conscience Point." TOM KOCHIE
Shinnecock activist Rebecca Hill-Genia and filmmaker Treva Wurmfeld on the red carpet at a HIFF screening of Wurmfeld's documentary "Conscience Point." TOM KOCHIE
The subjects and crew of the documentary "Conscience Point," from left: Corey Polgar, Chip Moran, Lance Gumbs, Charles Certain, Rebecca Hill-Genia, Kelly Dennis and filmmaker Treva Wurmfeld. TOM KOCHIE
The 27th Hamptons International Film Festival, presented by HamptonsFilm, announced its award winners at a ceremony in East Hampton on October 14. The 2019 festival, which ran October 10 to October 14 in East Hampton, Sag Harbor and Southampton, was dedicated to Michael Lynne, a HIFF board member for almost two decades, and Mark Urman a member of HIFF’s advisory board for 11 years, both of whom passed away earlier this year.
“A White, White Day,” directed by Hlynur Pálmason, won the award for Best Narrative Feature, “Overseas,” directed by Sung-a Yoon, received the award for Best Documentary Feature. “Just Me and You,” directed by Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers received the award for Best Narrative Short Film, and “Ghosts of Sugarland,” directed by Bassam Tariq, won for Best Documentary Short Film. Both short films will qualify for Academy Awards consideration.
Narrative cinematographer Miguel Ioann Littin Menz received a Special Cinematography Award for his work on “The Vast of Night,” and “The Best of Dorien B.,” directed by Anke Blondé, a Breakthrough Achievement in Filmmaking Award. In addition, actors receiving Special Jury Mentions for Acting Performances were: Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir for “A White, White Day,” Mama Sane in “Atlantics,” Corinna Harfouch in “Lara,” Kim Snauwaert in “The Best of Dorien B.,” and Sierra McCormick in “The Vast of Night.”
Documentaries “Cunningham,” directed by Alla Kovgan, received a Special Jury Prize for Artistic Vision; “Talking About Trees,” directed by Suhaib Gasmelbari, a Special Jury Prize for Indomitable Spirit of Storytelling; “All Cats Are Grey in the Dark,” directed by Lasse Linder, a Special Jury Prize for Originality; and “The Nightcrawlers,” directed by Alexander A. Mora, a Special Jury Prize for Creative Filmmaking.
“For Sama,” directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts, was awarded the 2019 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award to Films of Conflict and Resolution, which is accompanied by a $5,000 cash prize.
“The Artist’s Wife,” directed by Tom Dolby, was awarded the Suffolk County Next Exposure Grant. This program supports the completion of high quality, low-budget independent films from both emerging and established filmmakers who have completed 50 percent of principal photography within Suffolk County. The film was awarded a $3,000 grant.
“Watson,” directed by Lesley Chilcott, was awarded the Zelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award. This award 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. The film was awarded $2,500.
“Conscience Point” was presented with the Victor Rabinowitz & Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice. The film is directed by Treva Wurmfeld. The annual award is for a film that exemplifies the values of peace, equality, global justice and civil liberties, and is named after iconic civil rights lawyer Victor Rabinowitz and his wife Joanne Grant, an author, filmmaker and journalist. The award is accompanied by a cash prize of $2,000, and is named in honor of two people who spent their lives fighting for those values.
The festival also announced the recipients of the University Film Awards, short films highlighting the talent and achievements of five exceptional students. Each will receive a $500 cash prize. Awardees include “Birch,” directed by Paisley Valentine Walsh (London Film School); “The Boxers of Brule,” directed by Jessie Adler (School of Visual Arts); “Fine,” directed by Maya Yadlin (“Minshar For Art” Film School); “Perfect Moment,” directed by Matthew Noydens (Luca School of Arts in Brussels); and “The United States of Paranoia or: How I stayed on the Line to Repair My Air Conditioner,” directed by Rashan Castro (Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema at Brooklyn College).
Legendary director Brian De Palma was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by HIFF Co-Chairman Alec Baldwin at the festival, and artist and HIFF co-founder and founding Chairman of the Board Toni Ross was honored with the Dick Cavett Artistic Champion Award on opening night by Baldwin and additional HIFF Co-Chairman Randy Mastro. The 2019 Breakthrough Artists included Aldis Hodge (“Clemency”), Camila Morrone (“Mickey and the Bear”), and Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”).
“As we close out the 27th edition of the festival, we are thrilled to announce this year’s awardees. We are in awe of these films and the talented filmmakers behind each of them,” said David Nugent, artistic director of HamptonsFilm. “This year brought an abundance of captivating films with wide-ranging topics and engaging conversations.”
“We are proud of all the incredible premieres, screenings and events over the past five days for the 27th Hamptons International Film Festival,” added HamptonsFilm executive director Anne Chaisson. “We are thankful to all of the filmmakers for sharing their extraordinary films and talents with our audience, and also wish to extend sincere gratitude to our staff, sponsors and film loving community, without whom the festival would not be possible.”
Hamptons International Film Festival 2019 winners at a glance
Best Narrative Feature
“A White, White Day” directed by Hlynur Pálmason
Best Documentary Feature
“Overseas” directed by Sung-a Yoon
Best Narrative Short Film
“Just Me and You” directed by Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers
Best Documentary Short Film
“Ghosts of Sugar Land” directed by Bassam Tariq
Special Cinematography Award
Miguel Ioann Litten Menz for “The Vast of Night”
Breakthrough Achievement in Filmmaking Award
“The Best of Dorien B.” directed by Anke Blondé
Special Jury Mentions for Acting Performances
Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir in “A White, White Day”
Mama Sane in “Atlantics”
Corinna Harfouch in “Lara”
Kim Snauwaert in “The Best of Dorien B.”
Sierra McCormick in “The Vast of Night”
Special Jury Prize for Artistic Vision
“Cunningham” directed by Alla Kovgan
Special Jury Prize for Indomitable Spirit of Storytelling
“Talking About Trees” directed by Suhaib Gasmelbari
Special Jury Prize for Originality
“All Cats are Grey in the Dark” directed by Lasse Linder
Special Jury Prize for Creative Filmmaking
“The Nightcrawlers” directed by Alexander A. Mora
The 2019 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award to Films of Conflict and Resolution
“For Sama” directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts
Suffolk County Next Exposure Grant
“The Artist’s Wife” directed by Tom Dolby
The Zelda Penzel “Giving Voice to the Voiceless” Award
“Watson” directed by Lesley Chilcott
Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice
“Conscience Point” directed by Treva Wurmfeld
University Short Film Awards
“Birch” directed by Paisley Valentine Walsh
“The Boxers of Brule” directed by Jessie Adler
“Fine” directed by Maya Yadlin
“Perfect Moment” directed by Matthew Noydens
“The United States of Paranoia or: How I Stayed on the Line to Repair My Air Conditioner” directed by Rashan Castro
Lifetime Achievement Award
Brian De Palma
The Dick Cavett Artistic Champion Award
Toni Ross
2019 Breakthrough Artists
Aldis Hodge, Camila Morrone, Lulu Wang
For more information about the Hamptons International Film Festival and HamptonsFilm, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.
Staff Writer on Oct 14, 2019