After screening 56 feature and short films, Mammoth Lakes Film Festival (MLFF) announced its Festival juried and audience award winners during the virtual Closing Night Award Ceremony on Sunday, September 20, 2020.
The Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature, went to Residue directed by Merawi Gerima; and the Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature, went to Feather & Pine directed to Star Rosencrans and Michael James Beck.
Desire Path directed by Marjorie Conrad won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature; and the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature, went to The Wind. A Documentary Thriller directed by Michał Bielawski.
“While our film festival looked very different this year, that didn’t take away from the lineup of films we were able to present from amazing and innovative filmmakers,” said Festival Director Shira Dubrovner. “Even from afar, it was great to gather online with our filmmakers and audience to bring them screenings, panels, meet-ups, virtual wine tastings, and Q&As. The Airplane! conversation was definitely a highlight of my year!”
Mammoth Lakes Film Festival 2020 Winners
Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature, with a $1,000 cash prize, $10,000 Panavision Camera Rental Grant and $13,500 Light Iron Post Production Package, goes to Residue (dir. Merawi Gerima).
The Jury Honorable Mention for Narrative Feature, with a $500 cash prize, goes to Marlene(dir. Andreas Resch).
Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature, with a $1,000 cash prize, goes to Feather & Pine (dir. Star Rosencrans and Michael James Beck).
The Jury Honorable Mention for Documentary Feature, with a $500 cash prize, goes to Democracy on the Road of Saveh (dir. Turaj Kalantari).
The Special Jury Award for Bravery, for a documentary film that goes above and beyond and takes risks in making their film, with a $1,000 cash prize, goes to Pier Kids (dir. Elegance Bratton).
Jury Award for Best Narrative Short, with a $500 cash prize and $5,000 VER Rental Grant, goes to Follow Me (dir. Elinor Nechemya).
The Jury Honorable Mention for Narrative Short, with a $250 cash prize, goes to They Won’t Last(dir. Portlynn Tagavi).
Jury Award for Best Documentary Short, with a $500 cash prize, goes to Huntsville Station (dir. Chris Fillippone and Jamie Meltzer).
Jury Award for Best Animation Short, with a $500 cash prize, goes to Fourfold (dir. Alisi Telengut).
The Jury Honorable Mention for Animation Short, with a $250 cash prize, goes to Cage Match (dir. Bryan Lee).
During the Award Ceremony, the festival also announced the winner of their first annual Screenplay Competition. Screenwriter Matthew Dixon was selected by a panel of industry judges out of ten finalists for his screenplay, Fish Story. He will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to pitch his script to the Russo Brothers’ AGBO Films.