“MY RIGHT EYE” (The Apple of My Eye), written and directed by Josecho de Linares (Spain) was the big winner – winning the GRAND JURY PRIZE – when the 39th Seattle International Film Festival announced this year’s ShortsFest Jury Award winners. The film is described as the story of  “Zurdo who has a a special relationship with his grandmother. Since he went away to study they have lost contact. On the last day of summer Zurdo decides to visit her with the intuition that he might not see her again.”

Trailer Cortometraje / Short Film: Mi Ojo Derecho (My Right Eye) from Josecho de Linares on Vimeo.

SIFF 2013 SHORTSFEST AWARD WINNERS 

LIVE ACTION 
GRAND JURY PRIZE 
My Right Eye (The Apple of My Eye), directed by Josecho de Linares (Spain)    
JURY STATEMENT: For its beautifully crafted and profound exploration of love and loss told through touching performances that depict a young man’s authentic journey of rediscovery, the jury awards Best Narrative Short to The Apple of My Eye, written and directed by Josecho de Linares. 


SPECIAL JURY PRIZES 
Penny Dreadful, directed by Shane Atkinson (USA) 
Mobile Homes, directed by Vladimir de Fontenay (USA/France) 
Decimation, directed by Wade Jackson (USA)      
JURY STATEMENT: For its stylish direction and a terrific performance by Oona Laurence as a young kidnap victim who turns the tables on her abductors, the jury would like to give a Special Jury Mention to the short film Penny Dreadful.   The jury would also like to award a Special Jury Mention to Mobile Homes, a suspenseful, moving narrative with where the main characters stumble upon a most unexpected means of escape.

The jury awards a Special Jury Mention for outstanding ensemble filmmaking supported by the Northwest filmmaking community to the cast and crew of Decimation, written and directed by Wade Jackson.

DOCUMENTARY  
GRAND JURY PRIZE  
Keep a Modest Head, directed by Deco Dawson (Canada) 

JURY STATEMENT: Although there were many great films to discuss and debate, ultimately there was one film that the jury unanimously felt was particularly worthy of receiving the Best Documentary Short award. For its brilliantly surrealistic imagining of the life of the last of the surrealists, the jury gives its award to 

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

Today, directed by Philip Montgomery (USA)   
JURY STATEMENT: For its touching and inspiring story about a man who learns to find meaning in his life’s work even after a tragic accident, the jury awards a Special Jury Mention to Today, directed by Phillip Montgomery.    

ANIMATION 
GRAND JURY PRIZE

Woody, directed by Stuart Bowen (Australia)      
JURY STATEMENT: For the award for Best Animated Short, the jury has unanimously decided upon a film that told a lovely story about a guy who was just like everyone else, but wanted deeply to be something different than what he was. The filmmakers took the art of film as a visual medium to heart – with no dialogue and without facial expressions, they crafted a complete story that evoked compassion for the character. The jury awards Best Animated Short toWoody, directed by Stuart Bowen.   

SPECIAL JURY PRIZES 

Malaria, directed by Edson Oda (Brazil) 
The Hunter, directed by Marieka Walsh (Australia)   
JURY STATEMENT: For its intriguing and original visual storytelling, combined with the tautness of an old-school Western, the jury awards a Special Jury Mention to Malaria, directed by Edson Shundl Oda.   We had a very difficult time making a final decision between two films. After much discussion, the jury has decided to award a Special Jury Mention to The Hunter, directed by Marieka Walsh, for its beautifully simple, yet deeply emotional illustrations integrated into a folk-tale of a story.   

FUTUREWAVE SHORTS AWARDS 
WAVEMAKER AWARD (GRAND PRIZE)

The Painted Girl, directed by Ben Kadie (USA)   

THEFILMSCHOOL PRODIGY CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS

A Quest for Peace: Nonviolence Among Religions, directed by Matthew Evans (USA) 
Runner up: Laser Rabbit, directed by Matt Wells (USA)