The Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) wrapped on Sunday March 20, 2011 with record-breaking attendance and success. Celebrating international women directors, the festival attracted notable talent from around the world including Mackenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time, American Graffiti), Tyler Blackburn (Pretty Little Liars), Anne Tait (Iron Road) and Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol and The Notorious Betty Page).

The Female Eye is a competitive festival that presents various awards to talented filmmakers and screenwriters. The Festival held an inspiring award gala at sponsoring hotel, Novotel Toronto Centre, 45 The Esplanade on Sunday evening. The gala ceremonies welcomed filmmakers, screen writers, actors, industry guests and film fans. The Female Eye Film Festival is proud to announce this year’s award recipients for their outstanding achievements:

2011 FEMALE EYE FILM FESTIVAL AWARD RECIPIENTS

HONOURARY AWARDS:

Honourary Director – MARY HARRON (Canada)

Honourary Maverick – ANNE TAIT (Canada)

Honourary Best Actress – MACKENZIE PHILLIPS (U.S.A.)

BEST FILM AWARD WINNERS:

Best of Show – PEACH PLUM PEAR, Director ALANA MORSHEAD (U.S.A.)

Best Debut Feature – AMAZON FALLS, Director KATRIN BOWEN (Canada)

Best Canadian Feature – THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, Director DEBORAH CHOW (Canada)

Best Documentary – MY SLAVE SISTER MYSELF, Director GWEN RAGSDALE (U.S.A.)

Best Experimental – SMALL, STUPID AND INSIGNIFICANT, Director VALERIE BUHAGIAR (Canada)

Best Short Film – MENTAL, Director JOY GOHRING (U.S.A.)

Best Animation – TERRANAUGHTS, Director ADRIENNE DROZDOWSKI (U.S.A.)

Award Statues designed and welded by Willie Aninic.

SCREENPLAY AWARD WINNERS:

Best Screenplay: AFTERMATH, written by NATALIE HANSON (U.S.A.)

Best Reserve Screenplay: QUEEN OF VENGENCE, written by MARK WINZER (U.S.A.)

Best Fresh Voice: THAT WHITE GIRL, written by JOHNNY SANCHEZ (U.S.A)

Best Low Budget: DAISY’S HEART, written by DOROTHY A. ATABONG (U.S.A.)

AWARD CERTIFICATES OF EXCELLENCE:

Breakthrough Debut Performance – ALANNA MASTERSON (U.S.A.), PEACH, PLUM, PEAR

Certificates of Excellence were presented to six Canadian Aboriginal female youth, all debut filmmakers who participated in the 3rd Female Eye Super 8 Experimental Filmmaking Workshop: Funded by the Ontario Arts Council, Produced in partnership with ANDPVA and LIFT. Presentation sponsored by WARC Gallery.

Other FeFF HIGH LIGHTS:

THE FEMALE EYE BEST IN THE BIZ SERIES – HONOURARY DIRECTOR, MARY HARRON. Mary Harron enthralled audience members with engaging, entertaining and eye opening tales about her adventures in show biz and her transition from journalist to filmmaker.

BEST IN THE BIZ – TRIBUTE: 2011 HONOURARY MAVERICK- ANNE TAIT. The Female Eye Maverick Award recognizes innovation, creativity, and perseverance in the Film and Television Industry. Toronto Based Anne Tait is a Producer, Writer, Broadcaster and Casting Director who has successfully worked with notables such as Peter O’Toole and Sam Neill.

BEST IN THE BIZ SCREEN TRIBUTE – CAYLE CHERNIN:

A screen tribute to beloved Actor Cayle Chernin who passed away Feb. 18th, 2011 due to ovarian cancer; as part of this tribute, Director, Don Shebib provided a glimpse of the much anticipated sequel Down the Road Again starring Jayne Eastwood and Cayle Chernin, cast members of the original Goin Down The Road (1969). Cayle graced the screen of the FeFF since inception in 2001, appearing in many films directed by local Toronto filmmakers. Proceeds donated toThe Cayle Chernin Memorial Fund.