Henrick Vartanian
The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival 2016 concluded on Sunday, May 29th, with the Closing Night Party taking place at Sierra Events Center. Over 50 films were screened in five days, including premieres, presentation of the first ever Sierra Spirit Award to legendary director Joe Dante.
Taking home the Jury Award, for Feature Narrative, was Bodkin Ras (from Netherlands), a first time feature by director Kaweh Modiri. This Dutch film, shot in the remote town of Forres Scotland, caught the Jury by surprise with its intriguing blend of documentary and fiction. The jury believed that the film contained lyrical images, a poetic construction, with poignant performances achieved indelible haunting effects that stay with the viewer.
Bodkin Ras was awarded: $10K Camera package from Panavision, a $10K Post production package from Light Iron, a $1,000.00 in cash, and Mammoth Lakes Film Festival’s official Orson trophy
Jury Award for Feature Documentary went to Iranian film, Sonita directed by Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami. The film follows a talented, compelling young Afghani woman trying to bridge the gap between her seemingly impossible dreams while navigating a life as an undocumented immigrant in Iran and trying to detach from the suppressive culture of her homeland, Afghanistan. Filmmaker, Ghaemmaghami, took an untraditional role to change the course of the young woman’s path which caught the attention of the jury.
The film was awarded: Scarlett Red Digital Cinema Camera package, $1,000 dollars cash, and the Orson festival trophy.
Under the Sun (from Russia) directed by Vitaly Mansky, garnered a Special Mention in Feature Documentary category. The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival Documentary Award for Courage is given to such films. The filmmaker undertook a project under challenging conditions and revealed to us a world rarely seen in the west.
Mad (from the U.S.) by director Robert G. Putka, received a Special Mention Feature in the Narrative category. A powerful film about mental illness, and the trickle-down effect it has upon a mother’s relationship with her two grown daughters, their relationship with each other, and the challenges of living the broken lives they’ve inherited from their mom.
U.S. production Buddymoon starring David Giuntoli and Flula Borg won the Audience Award for Feature Narrative, and Iranian Documentary Sonita won the Jury Award in Feature Documentary categories at the 2nd annual Mammoth Lakes Film Festival.
Audience Award for Feature Narrative went to Buddymoon, a bro-bonding nature comedy, directed by director Alex Simmons, starring internet sensation, actor Flula Borg (Pitch Perfect2) and actor David Giuntoli (NBC’s Grimm). The film was awarded a GoPro Hero4 Black, and the Orson trophy.
Audience Award for Feature Documentary was given to Learning to See, by director Jake Oelman, his film being awarded with a GoPro Hero4 Black, and an Orson trophy
Serving on the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival Jury this year were the following members:
Narrative Features – John Fiedler, Kelly Leow, and John Wirth;
Documentary Features – Allison Amon, John Scheinfeld, and Katherine Tulich
Shorts – Bojana Sandic and Amanda Salazar
All Orson trophies handed out during the closing night ceremony, each with their own personality were all created by local artist Josh Slater.
For the complete list of winners, check out the festival’s official website.
