FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: 2019 Naples International Film Festival nearly triples cash prizes for filmmaker awards and Bill Gallagher’s RUNNER runs away with two of them

The 2019 Naples International Film Festival announced the filmmaker award winners during the Closing Night Awards Ceremony on Sunday, October 27. The jury prize for Best Narrative Feature (and a cash prize of $7,500) went to Amber McGinnis’ INTERNATIONAL FALLS, and the jury prize for Best Documentary Feature (and $7,500) was given to Bill Gallagher’s RUNNER. Gallagher’s film also took NIFF’s Audience Award for Documentary Feature (and an additional $2,000), while R.J. Daniel Hanna’s MISS VIRGINIA was the Audience Choice for Narrative Feature (also receiving $2,000).

The cash prizes given to the award-winning filmmakers for 2019 was $27,500, which nearly tripled the amount awarded the previous year.

NIFF’s trio of judges for the 2019 edition included Amazon Studios’ Annalisa Shoemaker, screenwriter Larry Gross (48 HRS., WE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE), and screenwriter/producer Colette Freedman (QUALITY PROBLEMS, MILES UNDERWATER). In addition to their best Narrative and Best Documentary selections chosen from four films competing in each category, the jury also awarded a Special Achievement in Direction Award to Hilary Brougher for her work on SOUTH MOUNTAIN. The special award also included a $2,500 cash prize.

The filmmaker awards selected by the programmers’ committee included; New Zealand filmmaker Rebecca Tansley winning NIFFs first Focus on the Arts Award and $5000 for her film, THE HEART DANCES; Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts’ FOR SAMA winning the Impact Award for the social and racial awareness explored through their documentary work; Leon Chambers’ ABOVE THE CLOUDS winning the Indie Spirit Award; and Peter Michael Dowd’s MR. JIMMY selected as the Programmers’ Choice honoree. Matt Ratner’s STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN took the Best First Feature honors, while PRINCESS OF THE ROW star Tayler Buck won this year’s Rising Star Award. British filmmaker Andrew Margetson’s HOUSEKEEPING received NIFF’s Audience nod (and $1000) for “Best Short Film”.

NIFF screened 54 films (16 narrative features, nine documentary features, 29 short films) representing 20 countries during the four-day film festival. That total marked a 5% increase over the previous year, as NIFF continued its growth pattern in nearly all areas. The premiere list includes one world premiere, three films making their North American premieres, four East Coast premieres, and 28 Florida premieres. In addition to the films, more than 24 filmmakers attended the post-screening Q&A conversations and panel discussions during the festival and, as is the style of the Naples International Film Festival, were present throughout the festival, interacting and connecting with the film fans. Those filmmakers included New Zealand’s Tansley, the U.K.’s Margetson, Japan’s Akio “Jimmy” Sakurai, in addition to FROM THE VINE director Sean Cisterna, who traveled from Spain to attend the film festival, which was recently included in MovieMaker Magazine’s annual “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” list.

NIFF opened with a gala presentation of Van Maximilian Carlson’s PRINCESS OF THE ROW at Artis—Naples’ Hayes Hall, with the film’s stars (Tayler Buck and Edi Gathegi) and co-writer and producer Shawn Austin receiving sustained ovations when they appeared onstage following the screening. At the after party, Sakurai, the subject of the documentary, MR. JIMMY, stunned the Opening Night attendees with a performance of Led Zeppelin classics on acoustic guitar. Screenings and filmmaker panels followed for the next three days and evenings at Silverspot Cinema to full houses throughout, including an appearance by beloved character actor (and recipient of this year’s Artis—Naples Award) Joe Pantoliano at both of the screenings of his film, FROM THE VINE.

The Naples International Film Festival wrapped things up in entertaining and interdisciplinary style following the filmmaker awards with a special presentation of Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark featuring a live performance of John Williams’ classic score by the Naples Philharmonic, conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly. Pantoliano officially received his 2019 Naples International Film Festival Artis—Naples Award (which honors a filmmaker, actor or artist who exemplifies the multidisciplinary approach to the arts that is at the heart of Artis—Naples) prior to the performance.

The 2019 Naples International Film Festival Award Winners:

Naples International Film Festival Artis—Naples Award

Joe Pantoliano

NIFF JURY AWARDS

Best Narrative Feature – $7500

INTERNATIONAL FALLS
Director: Amber McGinnis

Best Documentary Feature – $7500
RUNNER
Director: Bill Gallagher

Special Achievement in Direction – $2500

SOUTH MOUNTAIN

Director: Hilary Brougher

NIFF PROGRAMMERS’ AWARDS

Focus on the Arts Award – $5000

THE HEART DANCES

Director: Rebecca Tansley

Impact Award
FOR SAMA
Directors: Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts

Indie Spirit Award
ABOVE THE CLOUDS 
Director: Leon Chambers

Programmers’ Choice Award
MR. JIMMY
Director: Peter Michael Dowd

Best First Feature

STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN
Director: Matt Ratner

Rising Star Award
Tayler Buck
PRINCESS OF THE ROW

NIFF AUDIENCE AWARDS

Audience Award Winner, Narrative Feature – $2000
MISS VIRGINIA
Director: R.J. Daniel Hanna

Audience Award Winner, Documentary Feature – $2000
RUNNER
Director: Bill Gallagher

Audience Award Winner, Best Short Film – $1000

HOUSEKEEPING

Director: Andrew Margetson