The seventh annual Montclair Film Festival took place April 26 through May 6, 2018, and on Saturday night, the festival announced the winners of the 2018 film competitions at the festival’s annual awards ceremony.
“This year’s competition program features the work of artists who directly challenge us to deepen our thinking about the world in which we live” said Montclair Film Executive Director Tom Hall. “We are honored to share these films with our audiences, and congratulate all of our filmmakers on their outstanding work.”
First Reformed, directed by Paul Schrader, was awarded the festival’s Fiction Feature Prize; with Julianne Nicholson receiving a Special Jury Prize for her performance in Matthew Newton’s Who We Are Now.
Hale County This Morning, This Evening, directed by RaMell Ross, took home the Bruce Sinofsky Award in the festival’s Documentary Feature competition. This award was established in memory of Bruce Sinofsky and was presented by Mr. Sinofsky’s daughter, Claire Sinofsky. A Special Jury Prize was awarded to Black Mother, directed by Khalik Allah.
We The Animals, directed by Jeremiah Zagar, was awarded with the Future/Now prize honoring emerging low-budget American independent filmmaking, with a Special Jury Prize given to Helena Howard for her performance in Madeline’s Madeline, directed by Josephine Decker.
Crime + Punishment, directed by Stephen Maing, took home the New Jersey Films Award, which honors a select group of films made by New Jersey artists, with Liyana receiving a Special Jury Prize for directors Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp.
Dark Money, directed by Kimberly Reed, took home the 4th Annual David Carr Award for Truth in Non-Fiction Filmmaking, which honors a filmmaker, selected by the festival, who utilizes journalistic techniques to explore important contemporary subjects and is presented in honor of Mr. Carr’s commitment to reporting on the media. The award was presented by Mr. Carr’s daughter, the filmmaker Erin Lee Carr.
2018 Montclair Film Festival Awards Winners
Fiction Feature Competition Winner
First Reformed, Directed by Paul Schrader
Fiction Feature Competition – Special Jury Prize
Julianne Nicholson for her performance in Who We Are Now, Directed by Matthew Newton
Bruce Sinofsky Prize for Documentary Feature Competition Winner
Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Directed by RaMell Ross
Documentary Feature Competition – Special Jury Prize
Black Mother, Directed by Khalik Allah
Future/Now Competition, presented by the Horizon Foundation For New Jersey – Future/Now Competition Winner
We The Animals, Directed by Jeremiah Zagar
Future/Now Competition – Special Jury Prize
Helena Howard for her performance in Madeline’s Madeline, Directed by Josephine Decker
New Jersey Films Competition Winner
Crime + Punishment, Directed by Stephen Tiang
New Jersey Films Competition – Special Jury Prize,
Liyana, Directed by Aaron Kopp and Amanda Kopp
Junior Jury Award
American Animals, Directed by Bart Layton
Junior Jury Special Jury Prize for Social Impact
Crime + Punishment, Directed by Stephen Tiang