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 White Plains, NY - The award winners from the weekend’s 9th Annual Westchester International Film Festival have been announed. 11 films and a screenplay have taken top honors in 2008 film festival.
The award winners are as follows:
BEST FEATURE
The Flyboys. An action adventure film telling the story of two boys from a small town who find their courage tested when they accidentally stow away aboard an airplane owned by the mob. By Dan Urness.
BEST INTERNATIONAL
KINGS. Six young men reunite at a wake in the West of Ireland where they are forced to face up to the reality that they no longer have any real place to call home. With a cast largely speaking Irish Gaelic, Kings is the first bilingual feature produced in the Emerald Isle. By Tom Collins.
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Nice Bombs. Filmmaker Usama Alshaibi returns to Baghdad to reunite with his family after nearly 24 years. The film explores Usama’s dual role as both Iraqi and American and captures conflicting reactions to life today.
BEST SHORT
Made in Japan. In this film from Spain a young man tells an elaborate, unlikely story to his girlfriend in an attempt to get out of trouble. By Ciro Altabas.
BEST STUDENT-RESIDENT
Pieta. The story of a woman who remains alone in a decrepit, gray room pacing back and forth, repeatedly reliving the death of the man she was responsible for killing. By David Lombroso of New Rochelle.
BEST STUDENT-NON-RESIDENT
Dear Lemon Lima. A lonely girl with a vivid imagination struggles to plant seeds of love after her narcissistic sweetheart breaks her heart. By Suzi Yoonessi.
BEST ANIMATED
Coucou Clock. As soon as the master leaves his house, the cooking equipment in the kitchen become alive and do what they prefer to do: playing a evil darts game between a corkscrew and a vase. But one day a new one arrives in the kitchen. By Cailleau Francois.
BEST SCREENPLAY
Redeeming the Graces. By David Forte.
AUDIENCE CHOICE
The Dough Boys. A slice of life drama about Lou and Frank, two Bronx brothers running the family bakery. Faced with Lou’s gambling problem the shop is about to be taken from them by the neighborhood gangster and his brother has no idea. By Louis Lombardi.
HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION
1st Place: Inside Out. Larry D’Bello, Hastings High School.
2nd Place: Corrupted. Patrick McDevitt, Eastchester High School.
3rd Place: Das Haus. Mike Gugger, White Plains High School.
More than 50 films were screened during the three-day event at the City Center National Amusements’ 15 Cinema de Lux in White Plains. Winners of the juried competition received their awards in a closing ceremony Sunday night.
For more information on any of the winners, contact Iris Stevens, director of the Westchester County Film Office, at (914) 995-2917.
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