Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) announced its Jury and Audience Awards for the inaugural film festival which ran November 9 – 13, 2011.
The coming-of-age film Mamitas, based on director Nicholas Ozeki’s award-winning short film of the same name took the top prize Best Narrative and the cash award of $10,000. In the film, cocky teenager and self-proclaimed Casanova Jordan Juarez thinks he knows everything about girls. But one day, while teaching his best friend how to pick up “hot mami chulas,” he learns just what it means to be a man who can truly connect with a woman.
The complete list of winners:Jury Awards for Narrative Features:
Best Narrative Feature ($10,000 Cash Prize presented by Meadowood Napa Valley; wine from Gustavo Thrace) Mamitas, directed by Nicolas Ozeki
Special Jury Award for Creative Excellence (wine from Hill Family) David, directed by Joel Fendleman and co-directed by Patric Daly
Mt. Veeder Peak Performance for Best Acting in a Narrative Feature ($1000 Cash Prize and wine from Mt. Veeder Appellation) Amber Jaeger in Take Me Home, directed by Sam Jaeger
Jury Awards for Documentary Films:
Best Documentary Feature (wine from Peju) Kumare, directed by Vikram Gandhi
Special Jury Mention for Social Impact (wine from Trinitas) First Generation, directed by Adam and Jaye Fenderson
Best Documentary Subject (wine from Chappellet) Jack Sanderson in Becoming Santa, directed by Jeff Myers
Best Documentary Short Subject (wine from Chiarello) Sin Pais, directed by Theo Rigby
Special Jury Prize for Artistic Vision (wine from Broman) Library of Dust, directed by Ondi Timoner and co-directed by Robert James
Jury Awards for Narrative Short Films:
Best Narrative Short (wine from Laderra) Fatakra, directed by Soham Mehta
Special Jury Mention for Creative Achievement (wine from Hope and Grace) Grave Dawn, directed by DJ Turner
Audience Awards:
Favorite Narrative Feature (wine from Jessup) Mamitas, directed by Nicholas Ozeki
Favorite Documentary Feature (wine from Cornerstone) Wild Horse, Wild Ride, directed by Alex Dawson and Greg Gricus
Favorite Documentary Short Subject (wine from Tallulah) Sin Pais, directed by Theo Rigby
Favorite Narrative Short (wine from Freemark Abbey) Grave Dawn, directed by DJ Turner
Favorite Lounge Feature (Narrative or Doc) (wine from Houdini) The Other F Word, directed by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins
The second annual Napa Valley Film Festival will take place November 7 – 11, 2012.