The 11th annual Annapolis Film Festival announced its award winners. Maryland Hall held the glamorous ceremony. Festival co-founders Lee Anderson and Patti White gave opening remarks. They spoke about the value of independent award shows and the importance of films. This film festival enticed diverse community members.
Award-winning projects caused conversations and connections. The film festival screened over seventy motion pictures over four days. Other presentations included coffee talks, panel discussions, and post-screening Q&As. Filmmakers, industry experts, and directors shared knowledge with viewers.
Cheryl Staurulaukis, Executive Producer, OUT IN THE RING and CATEGORY: WOMAN during the Coffee Talks, Rams Head Tavern
Top film critics, scholars, and directors judged this year’s entries. Barbara Freedman Doyle, Michele Garza, and Stephen Snyder decided on the feature films. Jaqueline Glover, Martha Spanninger, and Donald Thoms considered the feature documentaries. Amelia Hanibelsz, Matt Pifko, Loren Semmens, and Laura Waters Hinson talked about the short films.
Critics chose The Family Circus (2023) for Best Short Film. Andrew Fitzgerald’s film portrayed a Vietnamese-American family. The characters tried to cover up a drunk driving accident. In front of a police officer, family secrets and emotional issues surfaced. “Once again our community has embraced our diverse slate of films for the festival,” White said.
No Legs. All Heart (2023) won an Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary. The film chronicled cyclist André Kajilch’s bike race. He became the first double amputee to compete in Race Across America. Pablo Durana directed this movie, while Kajilch played himself. Kevin Daily composed the emotional music.
Almost Winter (2021) received the Best Short Film award. In Austin Kolodney’s production, a recent college graduate looked after a whimsical professor. Freedom Swimmer (2021) got the Best Short Documentary award. Olivia Martin McGuire’s motion picture flawlessly blended animation and live-action shots.
Judges chose Something Fishy (2022) for the Best Short Animation award. Director Christina Woo completed this film while studying at the California Institute of the Arts. The project personified a pet goldfish and taught viewers about love. “The rich diversity of films and the welcoming atmosphere has brought audiences in droves,” said Anderson.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022) received a Special Jury Award for ensemble acting. In Daniel Goldhaber, environmental activists protested climate change. The Grotto (2022) earned a Special Jury Award for its screenplay. In Joanna Gleason’s movie, a man survived a serious accident and attempted to recover.
Barbara Doyle, Professor, Film Producing, Emerson, Former Tri-Star executive, Nicole Collins, Women Make Moviesand Derek Horne, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Distribution Coordinator during Panel: Distribution And Marketing Your Film – Making It Happen!
The fifth annual Shorts Challenge had the theme of ‘envisioning tomorrow.’ The judges chose six finalists for the prize. Josh Greene and Luke Harris’ ‘YOU WILL NOT REPLACE US’ won. The team will take home production and post-production packages. The critics supported the project’s journey to the big screen.
USC School of Cinematic Arts alumn Kayla Sun won the Fuji Film Best Student Film Award. In her short film, The Code of Family (2022), a grandmother learned computer science. Through education, the elderly woman honored her husband’s legacy. Sun received an X-H2S camera and lens kit. Director of Programming Derek Hone was, “thrilled to welcome Fujifilm as a creative partner this year to support emerging talent.”
Bethann Hardison earned the Black Experience Impact Award. The festival recognized her fashion and beauty entrepreneurial accomplishments. During Maryland Hall’s Black Experience Showcase, she received the award. Also, the event screened her co-directed documentary Invisible Beauty (2023). Viewers learned from a Q&A with co-director Frédéric Tcheng, producer Lisa Cortés, and Hardison.
Below is the full list of Annapolis Film Festival jury award winners:
Best Feature Film
Flamin’ Hot (directed by Eva Longoria)
Special Jury Award for Ensemble Acting
How To Blow Up A Pipeline (directed by Daniel Goldhaber)
Special Jury Award for Original Screenplay
The Grotto (directed and written by Joanna Gleason)
Best Feature Documentary
Little Richard: I Am Everything (directed by Lisa Cortés)
Best Short Film
The Family Circus (directed by Andrew Fitzgerald)
Best Short Documentary
Spokespeople (directed by Ryan Mekenian)
Best Student Film presented by Fujifilm
The Code of Family (directed by Kayla Sun)
Below is the full list of the Audience Award winners:
Best Feature Film
Flamin’ Hot (directed by Eva Longoria)
Best Documentary Feature
No Legs. All Heart. (directed by Pablo Durana)
Best Short Film
Almost Winter (directed by Austin Kolodney)
Best Short Documentary
Freedom Swimmer (directed by Olivia Martin McGuire)
Best Short Animation
Something Fishy (directed by Christina Woo)
