Seattle 2016: CAPTAIN FANTASTIC Takes Home Top Prize, GLEASON & GIRL ASLEEP Also Honored

SIFF 2016 GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AUDIENCE AWARDS

SIFF celebrates its films and filmmakers with the Golden Space Needle Audience Awards. Selected by Festival audiences, awards are given in five categories: Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Short Film. This year, over 90,000 ballots were submitted.
 

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD - BEST FILM
Captain Fantastic, directed by Matt Ross (USA 2016)

First runner-up: Hunt for the Wilderpeople, directed by Taika Waititi (New Zealand 2016)
Second runner-up: A Man Called Ove, directed by Hannes Holm (Sweden/Norway 2015)
Third runner-up: Truman, directed by Cesc Gay (Spain/Argentina 2015)
Fourth runner-up: The Olive Tree, directed by Icíar Bollaín (Spain/Germany 2016)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD - BEST DOCUMENTARY
Gleason, directed by Clay Tweel (USA 2016)

First runner-up: Maya Angelou and Still I Rise, directed by Bob Hercules, Rita Coburn Whack (USA 2016)
Second runner-up: The IF Project, directed by Kathlyn Horan (USA 2016)
Third runner-up: The Queen of Ireland, directed by Conor Horgan (Ireland 2015)
Fourth runner-up: Life, Animated, directed by Roger Ross Williams (USA 2016)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD - BEST DIRECTOR
Javier Ruiz Caldera, Spy Time (Spain 2015)

First runner-up: Icíar Bollaín, The Olive Tree (Spain/Argentina 2016) 
Second runner-up: Elite Zexer, Sand Storm (Israel 2016) 
Third runner-up: Megan Griffiths, The Night Stalker (USA 2016)
Fourth runner-up (TIE): Anne Fontaine, The Innocents (France/Poland 2016) /Rúnar Rúnarsson, Sparrows (Iceland/Denmark/Croatia 2015)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD - BEST ACTOR
Rolf Lassgård, A Man Called Ove (Sweden/Norway 2015)

First runner-up: Ricardo Darín, Truman (Spain/Argentina 2015)
Second runner-up: Lou Diamond Phillips, The Night Stalker (USA 2016) 
Third runner-up: Manolo Cruz, Between Sea and Land (Colombia 2016)
Fourth runner-up: Christian Friedel, 13 Minutes (Germany 2016)
Special Mention: Jumpy the Dog, In A Valley of Violence (USA 2016)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD - BEST ACTRESS
Vicky Hernandez, Between Sea and Land (Colombia 2016)

First runner-up: Yulia Peresild, Battle of Sevastopol (Ukraine/Russia 2015)
Second runner-up: Anna Castillo, The Olive Tree (Spain/Argentina 2016) 
Third runner-up: Royalty HIghtower, The Fits (USA 2015)
Fourth runner-up (TIE): Kate Beckinsale, Love & Friendship(Ireland/France/Netherlands 2016) / Lou de Laâge, The Innocents(France/Poland 2016)

GOLDEN SPACE NEEDLE AWARD - BEST SHORT FILM
Alive & Kicking: The Soccer Grannies of South Africa, directed by Lara-Ann de Wet (USA/South Africa 2016)

First runner-up: Taking Flight, directed by Brandon Oldenburg (USA 2015)
Second runner-up: These C*cksucking Tears, directed by Dan Taberski (USA 2016)
Third runner-up: Icebox, directed by Daniel Sawka (USA 2016)
Fourth runner-up: Hope, directed by Aïda Senna (Morocco 2015)

LENA SHARPE AWARD FOR PERSISTENCE OF VISION
The IF Project, directed by Kathlyn Horan (USA 2016)

This award is given to the female director's film that receives the most votes in public balloting at the Festival. Lena Sharpe was co-founder and managing director of Seattle's Festival of Films by Women Directors and a KCTS-TV associate who died in a plane crash while on assignment. As a tribute to her efforts in bringing the work of women filmmakers to prominence, SIFF created this special award and asked Women in Film Seattle to bestow it.

SIFF 2016 COMPETITION AWARDS

SIFF confers five juried competition awards: SIFF Official Competition, Ibero-American Competition, New Directors Competition, New American Cinema Competition (FIPRESCI Prize), and Documentary Competition. The winners in each juried competition receives $5,000 in cash.

SIFF 2016 OFFICIAL COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
Girl Asleep (Australia 2016), directed by Rosemary Myers
JURY STATEMENT: The Jury would like to recognize an ambitious feature debut. Truly original, theatrical, and impeccably choreographed, this coming of age story woke us up. Stylish, quirky but substantive, and with every frame filled with evocative and hilarious detail, the Jury Prize for best film in the official competition of the 2016 Seattle International Film Festival goes to Girl Asleep by Rosemary Myers.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
Moon in the 12th House (Israel 2016), directed by Dorit Hakim
JURY STATEMENT: This film takes what seems like an ordinary story and transcends into a beautiful expression of pure cinema. For its originality, confidence, strong performances, and elegant structure, we’re pleased to give an additional Special Jury Mention to Moon in the 12th House by Dorit Hakim.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
Radio Dreams (Iran/USA 2016), directed by Babak Jalali
JURY STATEMENT: Whoever thought Metallica could be responsible for an existential crises? For its wit and humor, and for immersing us into the idiosyncratic world of a local radio station, we’re pleased to give a Special Jury Mention to Radio Dreams by Babak Jalali.

New in 2016, the SIFF Official Competition is juried by a team of international industry members. Nominated films, selected by SIFF programmers for their excellence, must be World, North American, or US premieres. The SIFF Official Competition Jury comprises Ania Trzebiatowska (Visit Films), Phillipp Englehorn (Cinereach), and Lindsey Bahr (Associated Press).

2016 Entries:
Battle of Sevastopol (d: Sergey Mokritskiy, Ukraine/Russia 2015, North American Premiere)
Burn Burn Burn (d: Chanya Button, United Kingdom 2015, US Premiere)
Creepy (d: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Japan 2016, North American Premiere)
Eternal Summer (d: Andreas Öhman, Sweden 2015, North American Premiere)
Girl Asleep (d: Rosemary Myers, Australia 2016, North American Premiere)
Holding the Man (d: Neil Armfield, Australia 2015, North American Premiere)
Moon in the 12th House (d: Dorit Hakim, Israel 2016, World Premiere)
News From Planet Mars (d: Dominik Moll, France/Belgium 2016, US Premiere)
Radio Dreams (d: Babak Jalali, Iran/USA 2016)
The Scent of Mandarin (d: Gilles Legrand, France 2015, North American Premiere)
The Sound of Trees (d: François Péloquin, Canada (Québec) 2015, US Premiere)
Welcome To Norway! (d: Rune Denstad Langlo, Norway 2016, North American Premiere)

SIFF 2016 IBERO-AMERICAN COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
You'll Never Be Alone (Chile 2016), directed by Alex Anwandter
JURY STATEMENT: The jury would like to award You'll Never Be Alone, the feature debut from Chilean writer-director Alex Anwandter. Anwandter's creative storytelling, nuanced characters, and social consciousness proves that he's a bright talent rising in Ibero-American cinema.

New in 2016, the SIFF Ibero-American Competition aims to highlight the increasing power, creativity, and influence of storytelling in the region. The Ibero-American Competition is for films having their US premiere during the Festival and without US distribution. The SIFF Ibero-American Competition Jury comprisesClaudia Landsberger (BaseWorx For Film), Raymond Phathanavirangoon(Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab), and Sam Lansky (Time Magazine).

2016 Entries:
Awaiting (d: Daniela Fejerman, Spain/Lithuania 2015, North American Premiere)
Deconstructing Dani García (d: Iñigo Ruiz, Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas, Spain 2015, North American Premiere)
How Most Things Work (d: Fernando Salem, Argentina 2015, US Premiere)
Nueva Venecia (d: Emiliano Mazza de Luca, Uruguay/Colombia/ Mexico 2016, US Premiere)
The Pretty Ones (d: Melisa Liebenthal, Argentina 2016, North American Premiere)
Red Gringo (d: Miguel Ángel Vidaurre, Chile 2016, North American Premiere)
Warehoused (d: Jack Zagha, Mexico 2015, US Premiere)
You’ll Never Be Alone (d: Alex Anwandter, Chile 2016, US Premiere)

SIFF 2016 NEW DIRECTORS COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
Sand Storm (Israel 2016), directed by Elite Zexer
JURY STATEMENT: This first-time director brings a sense of wonder and a surprising, sobering emotional maturity essential for those pursuing this endeavor.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
Before the Streets (Canada (Québec) 2016), directed by Chloé Leriche
JURY STATEMENT: We were struck by the accomplishment of a first-time director going in and establishing an intimate tone, and being kind of fearless in her approach.

Festival programmers select 12 films remarkable for their original concept, striking style, and overall excellence. To be eligible, a film must be a director's first or second feature and without US distribution at the time of selection. The SIFF New Directors Jury comprises Patrick Brice (writer and director, The Overnight), Cameron Yates (Cinereach), and Bob Byington (director, 7 Chinese Brothers).

2016 Entries:
Antonia (d: Ferdinando Cito Filomarino, Italy/Greece 2015, North American Premiere)
Before the Streets (d: Chloé Leriche, Janis Ottawa, Canada (Québec) 2016, US Premiere)
Coconut Hero (d: Florian Cossen, Germany/Canada 2015, North American Premiere)
Family Film (d: Olmo Omerzu, Czech Republic/Germany/Slovenia/France/Slovakia 2015, North American Premiere)
The Lure (d: Agnieszka Smoczynska, Poland 2015)
Nakom (d: Kelly Daniela Norris, TW Pittman, Ghana/USA 2016)
The Paradise Suite (d: Joost van Ginkel, Netherlands/Sweden/ Bulgaria 2015)
Rara (d: Pepa San Martín, Chile/Argentina 2016, North American Premiere)
Sand Storm (d: Elite Zexer, Israel 2016)
Sparrows (d: Rúnar Rúnarsson, Iceland/Denmark/Croatia 2015, 99 min)
The Violators (d: Helen Walsh, United Kingdom 2015)
Where Have All the Good Men Gone (d: René Frelle Petersen, Denmark 2016, World Premiere)

SIFF 2016 NEW AMERICAN CINEMA COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
Middle Man (USA 2016), directed by Ned Crowley
JURY STATEMENT: Middle Man's impressive script, terrific performances, and fresh, innovative approach to storytelling were inspirational. Its provocative and darkly comic nature gave it the feel of a fable and dared to let us guess what was real and what wasn't. Ned Crowley shows us that gruesome events are tragic, yes, but they can also be hysterically funny. Well done!

Festival programmers select 10 films without US distribution at the time of selection that are sure to delight audiences looking to explore the exciting vanguard of New American Cinema to compete for the FIPRESCI Award for Best New American Film. The SIFF New American Cinema Jury comprises Marco Lombardi (Cinematografo), Marietta Steinhart (Ray Filmmagazin), and Anne Brodie (Monsters and Critics).

2016 Entries:
11:55  (d: Ari Issler, Ben Snyder, USA 2016)
All the Birds Have Flown South (d: Joshua H. Miller, Miles B. Miller, USA 2016, World Premiere)
Americana (d: Zachary Shedd, USA 2016,  World Premiere)
The Architect (d: Jonathan Parker, USA 2016, World Premiere)
As You Are (d: Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, USA 2016)
Claire in Motion (d: Lisa Robinson, Annie J. Howell, USA 2016)
Free In Deed (d: Jake Mahaffy, USA/New Zealand 2015)
Middle Man (d: Ned Crowley, USA 2016, World Premiere)
The Night Stalker (d: Megan Griffiths, USA 2016, World Premiere)
Transpecos (d: Greg Kwedar, USA 2016)

SIFF 2016 DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION WINNER
GRAND JURY PRIZE
Death By a Thousand Cuts (Dominican Republic/Haiti/USA 2016), directed by Juan Mejia Botero and Jake Kheel
JURY STATEMENT: A haunting and heartbreaking work of investigative filmmaking that uses an unsolved murder-mystery as a window onto an important geopolitical turf war in which there are no easy heroes or villains.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
The IF Project (USA 2016), directed by Kathlyn Horan
JURY STATEMENT: A deeply emotional and affecting portrait of an innovative rehab program whose participants transform their lives through the power of writing.

Unscripted and uncut, the world is a resource of unexpected, informative, and altogether exciting storytelling. Documentary filmmakers have for years brought untold stories to life and introduced us to a vast number of fascinating topics we may never have known existed. The SIFF Documentary Jury comprises Scott Foundas (Amazon Studios), Britta Erickson (Denver Film Society), and Kevin Polowy (Yahoo! Movies).

2016 Entries:
Action Comandante (d: Nadine Angel Cloete, South Africa/Lesotho 2016, World Premiere)
The 1,000 Eyes of Dr. Maddin (d: Yves Montmayeur, France 2015, US Premiere)
Finding Babel (d: David Novack, USA/Ukraine/ Russia/France 2015, World Premiere)
Mr. Gaga (d: Tomer Heymann c: , Israel/Sweden/Germany/Netherlands 2015, 100 min)
Death by Design (d: Sue Williams, China/Ireland 2016, World Premiere)
The IF Project (d: Kathlyn Horan, USA 2016, World Premiere)
Death By a Thousand Cuts (d: Juan Mejia Botero, Jake Kheel c: , Dominican Republic/Haiti/ USA 2016, US Premiere)
The Revolution Won’t Be Televised (d: Rama Thiaw, Senegal 2016, US Premiere)
Naledi: A Baby Elephant's Tale (d: Ben Bowie, Geoff Luck, USA/Botswana 2016, World Premiere)
Tsukiji Wonderland (d: Naotaro Endo, Japan 2016, World Premiere)
The Queen of Ireland (d: Conor Horgan, Ireland 2015, North American Premiere)
We the People 2.0 (d: Leila Conners, USA 2016, World Premiere)

SIFF 2016 FUTUREWAVE AND YOUTH JURY AWARDS

YOUTH JURY AWARD FOR BEST FUTUREWAVE FEATURE
Girl Asleep (Australia 2016), directed by Rosemary Myers
JURY STATEMENT: For its eccentric blurring of the lines between reality and fantasy and its captivatingly sweet weirdness.

YOUTH JURY AWARD FOR BEST FILMS4FAMILIES FEATURE
Oddball (Australia 2015), directed by Stuart McDonald
JURY STATEMENT: For its entertaining, emotional telling of an amazing true story that combines mystery, comedy, and adventure.

WAVEMAKER AWARD (GRAND PRIZE)
Sable Mire (USA 2015), directed by Bogui Adjorlolo and Isaac Pauls
JURY STATEMENT: For its ambitious portrait of familial relationships infused with dramatic tension, stylish cinematography, strong acting performances, and a provocative ending.

FUTUREWAVE AUDIENCE AWARD
The Archer Hadley Story (USA 2016), directed by Ben Root and Alex Treviño

PRODIGY CAMP SCHOLARSHIP
The winner will be awarded a full scholarship to the Prodigy Camp.
Children (Jordan 2015), directed by Marah Al Hassan

SIFF 2016 SHORT FILM JURY AWARDS

All short films shown at the Festival are eligible for both the Golden Space Needle Audience Award and Jury Award Shorts Competition. Jurors will choose winners in the Live Action, Animation, and Documentary categories. Each jury winner will receive $2,500 and winners in each of the three categories may also qualify to enter their respective films in the Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.

LIVE ACTION

GRAND JURY PRIZE
Killer (USA 2016), directed by Matt Kazman
JURY STATEMENT: The grand jury prize is awarded to Killer. Well conceived, masterfully executed and the perfect use of the short form, Killer captures the universally positive and negative aspects of adolescence. The filmmaker takes an uncomfortable moment and hilariously crafts a story that is innocent, memorable and authentic.

SPECIAL JURY MENTION
Bitchboy (Sweden 2016), directed by Måns Berthas
JURY STATEMENT: We would like to award a special jury prize to the film for its uniqueness of vision and to the filmmaker whose risk taking left an indelible impression. The film is an unforgettable visual orchestration of black metal, grandma and death, culminating in one badass short.

DOCUMENTARY

GRAND JURY PRIZE
These C*cksucking Tears (USA 2016), directed by Dan Taberski
JURY STATEMENT: We’re proud to present the Best Documentary Short Award toThese C*cksucking Tears! We thought that Patrick Haggerty had such an amazing story, and was such a great character with such a huge passion for country music and the film really showcased that – as well as detailing his struggles with being shut out of Nashville just because he’s a gay man.

ANIMATION

GRAND JURY PRIZE
Carlo (Italy 2015), directed by Ago Panini
JURY STATEMENT: We’re proud to present the Best Animated Short Award toCarlo! We felt it was a whimsical but also profound look at a man in love. We liked the way it championed the “everyman” in pursuit of his dream date, and how it used a fantastical metaphor for love. In addition, we felt the animation really had a style that stood out.

SHORT FILM JURIES FOR SIFF 2016

LIVE ACTION: Mel Eslyn (producer, The One I Love, Lamb, The Intervention),Amy Lillard (Washington Filmworks), and Kathleen McInnis (See-Through Films, LLC).

DOCUMENTARY AND ANIMATION: John Anderson (Wall Street Journal, Time,Newsday, and America magazine), Daniel Hoyos (Seattle Shorts Film Festival), and Amie Simon (Three Imaginary Girls).