The 20th annual Woodstock Film Festival came to a close with the annual Maverick Awards Ceremony where the top jury prizes went to Swallow, by Carlo Mirabella-Davis for Best Narrative Feature, and 17 Blocks, directed by Davy Rothbart for Best Documentary Feature. The Ultra Indie Award went to Seneca, directed by Jason Chaet.
The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature went to Run with the Hunted, Jon Swab’s first solo directed film, and the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature went to Parkland Rising, Cheryl Horner McDonough’s impactful Documentary on the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, FL.
Renowned producer, activist and philanthropist Abigail E. Disney received the Honorary Trailblazer Award for her work creating film and television programming centered around promoting social justice. The award was presented to Disney by 2018 honorary Maverick Award recipient Julie Taymor.
Woodstock Film Festival 2019 Awards
AUDIENCE AWARDS
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature went to Run with the Hunted, Jon Swab’s first solo directed film, in which a young boy, Oscar, commits a noble murder and is forced to run away from his rural hometown, leaving behind his best friend Loux to join a ragtag band of lost children.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature went to Parkland Rising, Cheryl Horner McDonough’s impactful story of artist and activist Manuel Oliver, David Hogg, and others connected to the tragic February 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, FL, as they build a national movement for gun reform.
MAVERICK AWARDS
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
Best Narrative Feature – Swallow, by Carlo Mirabella-Davis with an honorable mention to Once Upon a River, directed by Haroula Rose.
The jurors also gave special recognition to actors Haley Bennett for best female performance in Swallow and Tim Guinee for best male performance in Ash.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Best Documentary Feature – 17 Blocks, directed by Davy Rothbart with honorable mentions to Maxima, directed by Claudia Sparrow and Accept the Call, directed by Eunice Lau.
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
The Neighbor’s Window, directed by Marshall Curry with an Honorable Mention to Tattoo, directed by Farhad Delaram
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Best Short Documentary – A Sister’s Hope, directed by Michael Marantz
BEST STUDENT SHORT
Best Student Short – Marriage Material, the Musical!, directed by Oran Zegman with an Honorable Mention to Miller & Son, directed by Asher Jelinsky
ULTRA INDIE AWARD
Ultra Indie Award – Seneca, directed by Jason Chaet with an honorable mention to Tawny Cypress for her performance as “Inez” in Inez & Doug & Kira
ANIMATION AWARD
Animation Award – Sweet Night by Lia Bertels and Honorable Mention goes to Anna Samo, Lisa LaBracio for The Opposites Game.
HASKELL WEXLER AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography – Ash, directed by Andrew Huculiak, cinematography by Joseph Schweers
JAMES LYONS EDITING AWARD FOR NARRATIVE FEATURE
James Lyons Editing Award for Narrative Feature – Daren Navarro and Tom Quinn for Colewell. Honorable Mentions for Alex Lora and Frank Dale Arroyo for The Garden Left Behind
JAMES LYONS EDITING AWARD FOR DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
James Lyons Editing Award for Documentary Feature – Jennifer Tiexiera for 17 Blocks
Carpe Diem Andretta Award – Youssef Delara for his film Foster Boy.