16 Outstanding Independent Films Honored in Awards Ceremony on March 1 2014 in New York City
Best Student Film winner Julia Walter and Best Actress Nominee Stefanie Von Poser
New York, NY (3/07/2014): If you happened to stop by the Gray Line terminal on 8th Avenue last weekend, you might have noticed that there was a lot more going on inside than tour bus ticket sales. Unbeknownst to many, this building is home to a private theater where NYC’s Winter Film Awards held their Third Annual Independent Film Festival on February 26- March 1, 2014.
WFA festival patrons included NYC local filmmakers, arts enthusiasts, and international filmmakers who traveled across the world to see their films screened in front of a live audience, some for the very first time. Among the 61 films selected for screening this year was a diverse mixture of documentaries, shorts, features, animation, music videos and horror films, including 9 student films, 17 female directors and representation from over 20 countries.
The Festival concluded on the evening of March 1 with a gala Awards Ceremonyand After-Party, held in the stunning Empire Room at the renowned event space club 230 Fifth. The dazzling awards show included live musical performances from Soleil J and Billboard artist Sessino and featured outrageous costume designs by Natasha Berezhnaya. The hosts for the evening were stand-up comedian Zach Garner and the breathtaking classically trained opera singer and runway model. Radmila Lolly. The entire show was filmed and live streamed to the web via Worldcast Inc, and viewers from all over the globe logged on to watch. Awards were given out in 16 categories including a new honorary award “Patron of the Cinema,” given to actor/screenwriter/director/editor Larry Fessenden for his outstanding contribution to the NYC film community.
AND THE WINNERS ARE …………
Best Picture ……. Behind Closed Doors (Nicolas Sicurella)
Best Actor ……. Gavin Brown (Found)
Best Actress ……. Tesha Moon Krieg (Maria)
Best Director ……. Scott Schirmer (Found)
Best Animated Film ……. Andrew: Story of a Closet Monster (Elliot Lobell)
Best Documentary ……. Not Anymore: Story of Revolution (Matthew VanDyke)
Best Foreign Language Film ……. Agnus Dei (Agim Sopi)
Best Horror Feature Film ……. The Gauntlet (Matt Eskandari)
Best Horror Short Film ……. I See Monsters (Federico Alotto)
Best Music Video ……. Masheenee Alcketiara (Ema Shah)
Best Original Score ……. Hipster! The Musical (Adam Blair)
Best Screenplay ……. Grace (Lynda Lemberg and Jeffrey Allen Russel)
Best Short Film ……. Baghdad Messi (Sahim Omar Kalifa)
Best Student Film ……. Job Interview (Julia Walter)
NY Perspectives Award ……. The Final Note (Mayeta Clark)
“I am very proud of our team this year,” says Winter Film Awards Founder and CEO George Isaacs. “As an organization we were able to use our resources to give back even more to the filmmaker. That is what we are all about – it is so important to celebrate the achievements of emerging filmmakers and we hope to watch them use this as a springboard into the industry.”
The 2014 Winter Film Awards Judges Panel was comprised of 15 industry individuals with diverse points of view, including 20-year industry veteran Frank Calo, production executive of “The Believer”, award-winning filmmaker Sam Borowski, Broadway and Hollywood composer Stephen Trask, cinematographer Mik Cribben, music personality Matt Pinfield, producer/writer/director Larry Rosen and Miss Albania Benardina Radi.
Winter Film Awards 2014 Independent Film Festival is proudly sponsored by GrayLine NY, B&H Photo, 20Grand Vodka, Coney Island Spirits, Cupcake Cartel NYC, Cyberlink, Fabric Mill, FearsMag, Final Draft Inc., Glidecam, Graphic Stock, Hunter Mountain, Indie Flix, Jo Malone London, JT Talent, Jungle Software, Pole Position Raceway, ProductionHub Inc, PS Print, Que Sabor Bakery, Ride of Fame, Rooftop Films, Sony Creative Software, SpotHero, Sweets First Bakery, Video Blocks, Viktor Koen, The Village Voice, Worldcast Inc and Ya Mastiha Liqueur
Winter Film Awards (WFA) is a volunteer-run and operated celebration of the diversity of local and international film-making. In addition to the annual Independent Film Festival, WFA hosts 4-6 events each year in New York City, including panel discussions, networking parties, a 48-Hour Film Challenge, archival cartoon screenings and other fun film-related events, and works with all local NYC film schools, colleges, arts high schools and many cultural societies.
For more information on WFA festival, sponsors, judges, and upcoming events
please visit www.WinterFilmAwards.com and find them on Facebook.