AFI Dallas Report: Awards

The inaguaral AFI Dallas International Film Festival drew to a close today with a flurry of screenings and the announcement of award winners.

* Target Award, Narrative Feature: SHUT UP AND SHOOT ME
* Target Award, Documentary: NEW YEAR BABY
* Best HD Feature presented by HDNet: SHARKWATER
* Audience Award, Narrative Feature: MUSIC WITHIN
* Audience Award, Documentary: DARIUS GOES WEST: THE ROLL OF HIS LIFE
* Audience Award, Short: THE LITTLE GORILLA
* Grand Jury Prize, Texas Competition: A LAWYER WALKS INTO A BAR
* Special Jury Prize, Texas Competition: EVE OF UNDERSTANDING
* Grand Jury Prize, Student Competition: REDEMPTION MADDIE
* Grand Jury Prize, Animation Competition: ONE RAT SHORT
* Grand Jury Prize, Short Competition: LITTLE FARM
* Honorable Jury Mention, Shorts: BITCH
* Special Jury Mention, Documentary: WHERE THE SUN RISES

I may have more comments on films in the next few days, but in short: the festival far exceeded my rather modest expectations. I'm pleased to see a film fest in my current hometown with both ambition and a desire to improve. From all reports, the filmmakers were treated exceedingly well, and many local residents attended a film festival for the first time in their lives. It was quite nice to see so many people at so many different screenings. Of course, it wasn't perfect -- and I'm already compiling a wish list for what I hope will be accomplished next year -- but to my mind it was certainly a success.