The Circuit

Boasting the largest short film festival and market in the US, the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films announced their award winners. Jury members included director John Dahl ("You Kill Me"), Bijan Tehrani from Cinema Without Borders. Time Magazine's Rebecca Winters Keegan, Kimberly Yutani, short film programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, and Amotz Zakai from Echo Lake Entertainment.

The fest has been chosen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an award-qualifying festival for the Best of Festival Award.  This year the top award went to Simon Ellis' "Soft."  Ellis will also receive $2000 and a Showbiz Software package.


BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD

"Soft" (UK), Simon Ellis


FUTURE FILMMAKER AWARD - $2,000 & Showbiz Software Package

Dee Rees, "Pariah" (USA)


PANAVISION GRAND JURY AWARD - Panavision Camera Package valued at $60,000 & two days studio time courtesy of Casablanca Studios, Palm Springs, CA

Moon Molson, "Pop Foul" (USA)


AUDIENCE FAVORITE LIVE ACTION SHORT

"I Hate Musicals" (USA), Stewart Schill


AUDIENCE FAVORITE DOCUMENTARY SHORT

"Freeheld" (USA), Cynthia Wade


AUDIENCE FAVORITE ANIMATION SHORT

"The Needful Head" (USA), Zeth Willie


JURY CATEGORY AWARDS

BEST Live Action UNDER 15 minutes

First Place ($2,000) - "Contact"/"Raak" (Netherlands), Hanro Smitsman

Second Place ($500) - "Offside" (Israel), Erez Tadmor andGuy Nattiv


BEST Live Action over 15 minutes:

First Place ($2,000) - "The Tonto Woman" (UK/Spain), Daniel Barber

Second Place ($500) "Deface" (USA), John Arlotto


BEST Animation:

First Place ($2,000) - "Madame Tutli-Putli" (Canada), Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski

Second Place ($500) - "Love at First Sight" ("De la Vista Nace el Amor") (Mexico), Miguel Anaya



BEST Documentary:

First Place ($2,000) - "Freeheld" (USA), Cynthia Wade

Second Place ($500) - "Salim Baba" (India), Tim Sternberg


BEST STUDENT Live Action UNDER 15 minutes:

First Place - "Clear Cut, Simple" (USA), Vineet Dewan

Second Place - "Pleasance" (Australia), Amy Gebhardt


BEST STUDENT Live Action over 15 minutes:

First Place - "Pariah" (USA), Dee Rees

Second Place - "Cricket Head" (USA/South Africa), Grant Greenberg


BEST STUDENT Animation:

First Place - "The Needful Head" (USA), Zeth Willie

Second Place - "Windows Masks Doors" (USA), Sarah Orenstein


BEST STUDENT DOCUMENTARY:

First Place - "Left in Baghdad" (USA), Peter Jordan, John Kane

Second Place - "Unattached" (USA), J.J. Adler


KODAK AWARD FOR BEST STUDENT CINEMATOGRAPHY

First Place ($1,000 in Kodak film stock.) - Andrew McLeod (cinematographer), "Pleasance" (Australia)

Second Place ($500 in Kodak film stock) - Carlos Davis Colin Calderón (cinematographer), "If Eyes Can't See" ("Ojos que no Van") (Mexico)


SPECIAL AWARDS

The Alexis Award for Best Emerging Student Filmmaker - "Cricket Head" (USA/South Africa) directed by Grant Greenberg.  The film follows a forty-something teacher, who goes to ever-increasing lengths to win a student's affections.  The recipient will receive a Final Cut Pro package, courtesy of Apple Computer valued at $2,500. 

Presented by Jason Reitman's production company Hard C Productions the The Hard C Hi Five to Lo-Fi Award for Best Low Budget Short - "Egg Love" (Canada/USA) directed by Jonah Bekhor and Zach Math.

The Cinema Without Borders Best International Film Award - "Milan" (Germany/Serbia/Montenegro) directed by Michaela Kezele.