The Hamptons

The 27th Hamptons International Film Festival, presented by HamptonsFilm, today announced their award winners at a ceremony in East Hampton. The 2019 festival was dedicated to Michael Lynne, a HIFF Board Member for almost two decades, and Mark Urman a member of HIFF’s Advisory Board for eleven years, both of whom passed away earlier this year.

A WHITE, WHITE DAY, directed by Hlynur Pálmason, won the Award for Best Narrative Feature, sponsored by Warby Parker. OVERSEAS, directed by Sung-a Yoon, received the Award for Best Documentary Feature, sponsored by Investigation Discovery. JUST ME AND YOU, directed by Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers received the Award for Best Narrative Short Film, and GHOSTS OF SUGAR LAND, 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, these actors received Special Jury Mentions for Acting Performances: Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir for IN 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, original, director-driven, low-budget independent films from both emerging and established filmmakers who have completed 50% 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 handed to 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, which is accompanied by a cash prize of $2,000, is named in honor of two people who spent their entire lives fighting for those values.

The festival also announced the recipients of the University Film Awards, short films highlighting the extraordinary 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).

The Audience Award and the Zicherman Family Foundation Screenwriting Award will be announced tomorrow. New in 2019, the Zicherman award for $10,000 is presented to an early-career screenwriter who has demonstrated singular vision and dedication to their craft. This award seeks to both celebrate their current work and encourage the development of future projects.

As previously announced, 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. 2019 Breakthrough Artists included Aldis Hodge (CLEMENCY), Camila Morrone (MICKEY AND THE BEAR), and Lulu Wang (THE FAREWELL).

This year’s narrative jury was comprised of American novelist, playwright, screenwriter and director Peter Hedges , whose film credits include BEN IS BACK, ABOUT A BOY, and DAN IN REAL LIFE; Dori Begley , Executive Vice President, Magnolia Pictures,some upcoming and recent titles include SCANDALOUS, CUNNINGHAM, COLD CASE HAMMARSKJÖLD, and MIKE WALLACE IS HERE; and Scott Feinberg , Awards Columnist for The Hollywood Reporter and host of “Awards Chatter” podcast.

The Documentary Jury included Jannat Gargi, producer, whose documentary credits include GHOST FLEET, STEP, BALLET NOW, and BODY TEAM 12; Alison Wilmore, Film Critic at Vulture and Chair of the New York Film Critics Circle; and Jill Burkhart, Senior Director of Documentary Programming for EPIX.

This year the Festival was honored to partner with the New York Film Critics Circle for the eleventh year. “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, HamptonsFilm Artistic Director. “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,” said Anne Chaisson, HamptonsFilm Executive Director. “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.”

Attendees of the 2019 festival included Waad al-Kateba, Hamza al-Kateab, Annabelle Attanasio, Alec Baldwin, Bob Balaban, Christine Baranski, Noah Baumbach, Candice Bergen, Anke Blondé, Ebs Burnough, Ric Burns, Lesley Chilcott, Chinonye Chukwu, Brian De Palma, Tom Dolby, Mati Diop, Tracy Edwards, Jonathan Eirich, Alex Gibney, Lauren Greenfield, Tom Harper, Fred Hechinger, Aldis Hodge, Oren Jacoby, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Susan Lacy, Mark Landsman, Todd Leiberman, Tracy Letts, Alex Lewis, Marcus Lewis, Matthew Miele, Rob Morgan, Camila Morrone, Kathrine Narducci, Tim Blake Nelson, Lena Olin, Andrew Patterson, Ed Perkins, Tracy Pollan, Jonathan Pryce, Jane Rosenthal, Toni Ross, Ira Sachs, Brooke Shields, Trey Edward Shults, George Stephanopoulos, Jenno Topping, Lulu Wang, Edward Watts, James Waterston, Ali Wentworth, Alfre Woodard, Treva Wurmfeld, and more.

HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Feature sponsored by Warby Parker
A WHITE, WHITE DAY, directed by Hlynur Pálmason

HIFF Award Winner for Best Documentary Feature sponsored by Investigation Discovery
OVERSEAS, directed by Sung-a Yoon

The HIFF Award Winner for Best Narrative Short Film
JUST ME AND YOU, directed by Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers

The HIFF Award Winner for 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 for 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

HIFF Narrative Feature Jury

Peter Hedges , American novelist, playwright, screenwriter and director whose film credits include BEN IS BACK, ABOUT A BOY, and DAN IN REAL LIFE

Dori Begley , Executive Vice President, Magnolia Pictures, some upcoming and recent titles include SCANDALOUS, CUNNINGHAM, COLD CASE HAMMARSKJÖLD, and MIKE WALLACE IS HERE

Scott Feinberg , Awards Columnist for The Hollywood Reporter and host of “Awards Chatter” podcast.

HIFF Documentary Feature Jury

Jannat Gargi , producer, whose documentary credits include GHOST FLEET, STEP, BALLET NOW, and BODY TEAM 12

Alison Wilmore , Film Critic at Vulture and Chair of the New York Film Critics Circle

Jill Burkhart , Senior Director of Documentary Programming for EPIX

The Festival is pleased to welcome back returning Premiere Sponsor Audi, Lead Sponsors Delta and Altour, Signature Sponsors Netflix, Douglas Elliman, and JP Morgan, and Official Media Sponsors WNBC, The East Hampton Star, and Purist Magazine.