LOS ANGELES, CA, November 14 – AFI FEST 2013 presented by Audi today announced th features and
short films receiving this year’s Audience and Jury Awards. The winners were announced at the
Awards’ Brunch that was sponsored by KIND. THE ROCKET, an Australi film; THE SELFISH GIANT, made in
the UK; WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE, an
American independent film directed by Zeke Hawkins (AFI Class of 2009) and Simon Hawkins; and B FOR
BOY, a Nigerian film, received Audience Awards. Grand Jury Award were presented to BUTTER LAMP, in
the Live Action Short category, and THE PLACES WHER
WE LIVED, in the Animated Short category. Special Jury Award winners were BALCONY
and SYNDROMEDA.
Select award-winning films will screen again today at the Chinese 6 Theatres. Admission is
available to AFI FEST 2013 pass holders and the general public via the Rush Line, which begins
forming one hour before each film’s scheduled screening start time. For screening times visit
AFI.com/AFIFEST.
“Panavision is proud to be a sponsor of the AFI Fest and to present a $60,000 rental grant t the
winner of the American Independence Section, Audience Award for WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE,”
said Marketing Executive Mike Carter of Panavision
Hollyood. “Panavision has always been dedicated in helping filmmakers get their story onto the
screen and we hope that this grant helps the winner do just that.”
Festival Director Jacqueline Lyanga saluted the winning filmmakers. “This year, some extraordinary
new artists have burst onto the scene, and we hope that these awards from th audience and the jury
will enable their films to reach a wider audience. We hope that the enthusiasm and excitement that
our audiences have had for all of the films that we’ve shown this past week – foreign, American,
Independent, experimental, short and documentary – continues and spreads,” said Lyanga,.
“At the end of an incredible eight days of hosting so many wonderful filmmakers from around the
world, the Awards Ceremony is an opportunity to acknowledge the films that struck a chord with both
our audiences and our jury,” added Lane Kneedler, Associate Director of Programming, AFI FEST. “We
also congratulate all of our filmmakers for sharin their stories.”
GRAND JURY AWARDS, LIVE ACTION AND ANIMATED SHORT
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST Grand Jury Award winners in the
Live Action and Animated Shorts categories as qualifiers for the annual Academy Awards® Short Film
category. The Shorts jury featured Alejandro De Leon
(producer), Kitao Sakurai (filmmaker), Jordan Vogt-Roberts (filmmaker) and Heidi Zwicker (shorts
programmer).
Live Action Short Film: BUTTER LAMP. “The Grand Jury prize for Live Auction caught us by surprise
with its spellbinding and poetic simplicity. Traversing hundreds of miles of geography and spanning
generations of time without leaving one central location, this film functions as a profound
mediation on the practice and effects of image making,” stated the jury.
Animated Short: THE PLACES WHERE WE LIVED. “This was an exceptionally difficult choic to make.
While many of the animations showcase incredible depth and artistry, one film shined through its
idiosyncratic use of multiple mediums and humor to provide insight into th filmmaker’s heart,”
stated the jury.
NEW AUTEURS CRITIC’S AWARD
The New Auteurs section highlights first and second-time feature film directors from around the
world. This year’s New Auteurs jury featured Peter Debruge (Variety), Karina Longworth (author and
critic) and Amy Nicholson (LA Weekly). The Shorts jury features Alejandro De Leon (producer), Kitao
Sakurai (filmmaker), Jordan Vogt-Roberts (filmmaker) and Heidi Zwicker (shorts programmer).
NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN “The true story of a homeless Christian teenager adopted by an abusive
family who tests his ability to turn the other cheek. Many, many bad things happen. But the
blessing is discovering first-time filmmaker Katrin Gebbe and her incredibl ensemble who have
braved their own tests – boos and walkouts, nothing too bloody – in order to bring us this powerful
movie and faith and sacrifice,” stated the jury.
AUDIENCE AWARDS
World Cinema: THE ROCKET. DIR Kim Mourant. Australia.
New Auteurs: THE SELFISH GIANT. DIR Clio Barnard. UK.
American Independents: (award accompanied by a $60,000 grant from Panavision) WE GOTTA GET OUT OF
THIS PLACE. DIR Zeke Hawkins, Simon Hawkins. USA.
Breakthrough (award accompanied by a $5,000 cash prize): B FOR BOY. DIR Chika Anadu. Nigeria.
(The complete list of award-winners, including special awards, is attached at the end of this press
release.)
The complete AFI FEST 2013 program included 120 films (84 features, 36 shorts), representing 43
countries. The Opening Night Gala was the North American Premiere of John Lee Hancock’s SAVING
MR. BANKS. The Closing Night Gala is Ethan Coen and Joel Coen’s INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, which screens
tonight at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre.
The many highlights of the festival included the lively conversation with this year’s Guest
Artistic Director Agnès Varda at the screening of CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 (CLÉO DE 5 À 7); las year’s
Guest Artistic Director Bernardo Bertolucci posing on the red carpet with many of the festival
filmmakers as he arrived for the Gala screening of THE LAST EMPEROR (3D) at the TCL Chinese
Theatre; a Q&A with Peter Berg, Mark Wahlberg, and retired Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Luttrell
following the World Premiere Gala Screening of LONE SURVIVOR; Quentin Tarantino’s animated
introduction at the Tribute to Bruce Dern prior to the Gala Screening of NEBRASKA;
handprint-footprint ceremonies at the historic TCL Theatre on both Opening Night and Closing Night
for Emma Thompson of SAVING MR. BANKS and John Goodman of INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (respectively); a
musical performance by Jose Gonzalez after the Gala screening of THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY;
the Los Angeles Times’ Young Hollywood Panel featuring Dane DeHaan (THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES),
Greta Gerwig (FRANCES HA), Michael B. Jordan (FRUITVALE STATION), Brie Larson (SHORT TERM 12) and
Miles Teller (THE SPECTACULAR NOW); a sneak of Annette Bening’ new film THE FACE OF LOVE from
director Arie Posin and producers Bonnie Curtis and Juli Lynn; the Steve McQueen conversation; a
Tribute to David O. Russell where he showcased the first six minutes of AMERICAN HUSTLE and a
conversation with Spike Jonze following a standing room only screening of HER.
Several international filmmakers were in attendance, including Amat Escalante, the director of
HELI, Mexico’s official Foreign Language Film Oscar® submission; Hany Abu-Assad, the director of
OMAR, Palestine’s official Foreign Language Film Oscar® submission; Cambodia director Rithy Panh
with his Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard-winning THE MISSING PICTURE; Sebastian Lelio,
director of Chile’s official Foreign Language Film Oscar® submission, GLORIA, along with Paulina
Garcia who stars in the film; Kim Mordaunt, the director of THE ROCKET, Australia’s Foreign
Language Film Oscar® submission; Samuel Kis Leopo, the director of WE ARE MARI PEPA; Călin Peter
Netzer, the director of CHILD’S POS Romania’s official Foreign Language Film Oscar® submission;
Emir Baigazin, the director of HARMONY LESSONS; Agustín Toscano and Ezequiel Radusky the directors
of THE OWNERS; Ralph Fiennes the director and star of THE INVISIBLE WOMAN; Justin Chadwick director
of MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM with cast members Idris Elba, Naomie Harris; Biyi Bandele the
director of HALF OF A YELLOW SUN with star Anika Noni Rose; Ashgar Farhadi the director of THE
PAST; Steve Coogin of PHILOMENA and actresses Hadewych Minis from BORGMAN and Camille Rutherford
from MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.
For the fifth consecutive year, AFI FEST offered free tickets to all screenings. Tickets for
today’s screenings are available in-person at the AFI FEST AT&T Box Office at the Hollywoo
& Highland Center.
For the 10th year, Audi returns as the festival’s presenting sponsor. In addition to Audi,
additional sponsors include American Airlines, the official airline of AFI; AT&T; Coca Cola; The
Egyptian Theatre; Hollywood & Highland Center; Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; Morgan Stanley; Motorola;
National Geographic Channel; New Amsterdam Vodka; Stella Artois and TCL Chinese Theatres, among
many others.
About the American Film Institute
AFI is America’s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and
their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. AFI programs include th
AFI Catalog of Feature Films and AFI Archive, which preserve film heritage for future generations;
the AFI Life Achievement Award – the highest honor for a career in film – now
in its 42nd year; AFI Awards, honoring the most outstanding motion pictures and television
programs of the year; AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies television events and movie reference lists, which
have introduced and reintroduced classic American movies to millions of film
lovers; year-round and special event exhibition through AFI Fest presented by Audi, AFI
Docs presented by Audi and the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center; and educating the next
generation of storytellers at the world renowned AFI Conservatory, recognized for the
quality of its instructors and speakers and its notable alumni. For more information about
AFI, visit AFI.com or connect with AFI at /AmericanFilm,
and /AFI.
About AFI FEST presented by Audi
A program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST presented by Audi is a celebration of global
cinema and today’s Hollywood – a showcase for the best festival films of the year an
an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in the
movie capital of the world. AFI FEST is the only festival of its stature that is free to the
public. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a
qualifying festival for both Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards®. This year’s
edition takes place November 7-14, 2013. Additional information about AFI FEST is
available at AFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST at /AFIFEST,
/AFIFEST and /AFIFEST.
About Audi
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles.
AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. Audi
was a top-performing luxury brand in Europe during 2012, and broke all-time company
sales records in the U.S. Through 2016, AUDI AG will invest about $17 billion on new products and
technologies. Visit audiusa.com or audiusanews.com for more information
regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.
About the American Film Market
The business of independent motion picture production and distribution reaches its peak every year
at the American Film Market. The global film industry converges in Santa Monic for eight days of
deal-making on films in every stage of development and production, as we
as screenings, conferences, networking and parties.
With 8,000 industry leaders from more than 70 countries, 700 screenings and the industry’ largest
Conference Series, AFM is the pivotal destination for independent filmmakers, directors,
distributors, financiers, industry executives, producers, talent, writers, the international media
and all those who provide services to the worldwide motion picture industry.
The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance, ®the global trade association of
the independent motion picture and television industry. Visit www.IFTA- online.org for more.
About KIND
KIND is a brand of delicious, all-natural foods made from ingredients you can see & pronounce® that
is aimed at making the world a little kinder. With its lines of whole nut bar
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