BEST FEATURE – ACTION: INTERCESSORS
Allegory meets reality, as three women fight to survive personal turmoil and spiritual assault. Danielle Crumble; Nicole Ochoa; Teri Lee Johnston; Monica McSwain; Kat Hughes; Natasha Neary; Marlon Jones, writer/director. Adult themes. USA
BEST DOCUMENTARY – ACTION: FIREWOMAN
AFollows the work of five firewomen as they devote themselves to a most untraditional pursuit, and showcase two stages in a firefighter’s trajectory: the challenges of newbies who try to get hired by the Montreal Fire Department and life on the force as full – time squad members. Nancy Cloutier; Mélanie Drainville; Justine Forget; Anik St-Pierre; Karine Van de Walle; Richard Blackburn. co-writer/producer; Louise Leroux, co-writer/director. Adult themes. Subtitles. Canada
BEST FEATURE PRO-ACTION: WHERE WE DISAPPEAR
After committing a crime to protect her son, Anastasia is sentenced to 12 years in a Soviet prison camp. Her arrival upsets the balance of power between the inmates. Georgina Haig; Jolene Andersen; Katharine Isabelle; Vera Cherny; Osa Wallander; Arthur M. Jolly, writer; Simon Fink, director; Vanessa Pantley, producer. Adult themes. USA
BEST DOCUMENTARY PRO-ACTION: UPROOTED
FEATURE DOC – In their own words, four brave women tell how they were able to not only live through one of worst terrorism ever during the conflict in the North East of Nigeria, but also how they found strength they never knew they possessed. Zainab Hamidu; Hadiza Mustapha; Ruth Steven; Halima Bukar; Ummi Bukar Ummi Yakubu Ilse Van Lamoen Isoun, story dev. Nigeria Adult themes. Graphic language and disturbing images. Nigeria
BEST SHORT FILM – ACTION: GLASS DARKLY
GLASS DARKLY – In 1941 Holland, two Dutch sisters must resort to prostitution to deal with the turmoil of their Nazi-occupied town. Heavenly Reyna; Tori Griffith; Benjamin Schnau; Dillon Ford; Brian Bentz; Dave Penner & Eli Chance, writers/directors. Adult themes, graphic violence. Subtitles. USA
BEST SHORT PRO-ACTION: YOU TOO
A woman is followed on campus, until events take an uncommon turn. Courtney Radtke, Rachel Mumford; Sean Whalen; Minsun Park, co-writer; Teddy Tenenbaum, co-writer/director. Adult themes, intense situations. USA
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY – ACTION: GÖZDE THE FIGHTER
A celebration of Gozde Kirdar, who grew up in the VakıfBank Sports Club youth team and wore the yellow – black jersey for 19 years and retired at the ceremony held at the VakıfBank Sports Palace. Gozde Kirdar; Ahmet Mert Yavuz, director. Subtitles. Turkey
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY – PRO-ACTION: VIOLIN SCRATCHES
Gaelynn Lea is a performer and activist. She doesn’t let a disability get in the way of playing violin, writing a book, and doing TED Talks. Get a glimpse into her life, as she shares a traditional instrumental from Finland. Gaelynn Lea, performer; Rochelle Smith, interviewer and director. USA
BEST FOREIGN FEATURE: THE MEETING
The film is based on a real meeting which took place between Irishwoman Ailbhe Griffith and the man who, nine years earlier, subjected her to a horrific sexual assault. Ailbhe Griffith; Marie Keenan; Kevin McCormack; Terry O’Neill; Brenda McSweeney; Allan Keating; Alan Gilsenan, writer/director. Adult, intense themes. Ireland
BEST COMEDY: 10 MINUTES FOR A POUND
Pressures of life, combined with a spilt coffee, causes all hell to break loose at the laundromat. Jadey Duffield; Linda Louise Duan; Alan Rodriguez; Jady Duffield, writer; Jadey Duffield, Linda Louise Duan, directors. Kung fu fight action, adult language. UK
BEST FOREIGN SHORT: MOMENT
Brutally attacked by three masked men on Halloween night, a homeless girl faces her worst nightmare… until time stops… and she meets two mysterious strangers who can’t save her, but might help her save herself. Emelia Hellman; Patrick Abellard; Dayane Ntibarikure; Geoffrey Uloth, writer/director. Adult themes, violence. Canada
BEST STUDENT SHORT – ACTION: BARBELL SNATCH
Some ceilings need to be broken, some trends need to be bucked, some things only you can lift. Ira Zabolotnaya, athlete; Matthew B. W. Sheehan, director. USA
BEST DIRECTOR, FEATURE: MARLON JONES, INTERCESSORS
Allegory meets reality, as three women fight to survive personal turmoil and spiritual assault. Danielle Crumble; Nicole Ochoa; Teri Lee Johnston; Monica McSwain; Kat Hughes; Natasha Neary; Marlon Jones, writer/director. Adult themes. US
BEST DIRECTOR, SHORT: AMERICA YOUNG, PURE
Years after the air outside became unbreathable – two lovers face the odds in what’s left of their home. Kiriana Stanton; Erin Eldershaw; Adrian Walters; Phi Hunyh; Kiriana Stanton, writer; America Young, director. Adult themes. USA
BEST ACTRESS: CASSANDRA EBNER, A DEADLY PLACE
A woman returns home after her father’s death only to be reunited with friends of the family who hold secrets about her past that she will come to face in deadly measures. Cassandra Ebner; Iain Belcher; Shawn Blair McKinney; Douglas Chapman; Rachel Renaud; J.R. Giurissevich, writer/director. Adult themes. Adult language. Violence. Canada
BEST ACTOR: REZA SHEIKH ANSARI, AMERICA
An Iranian journalist couple wants to move to America to escape the difficulties of their country. The woman receives her visa but her husband doesn’t. He stays in Iran and watches his wife find success on television and falls into a state of depression. Mojdeh DaieKey; Zara Molaei; Baset Rezaee; Modar Sakkour; Mehrnoosh Fetrat, writer/director. Adult themes. Subtitles. Iran
BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY: RUEFUL WARRIOR
Alien soldier Yalalia finds herself caught up in a conflict of moral and physical standings with a group of soldiers from Earth. Her integrity is tested to the limit as she desperately attempts to maintain peace at all costs. Michelle Fahrenheim; Oliver Park; Claire Cartwright; James Ballanger; Christina Forrest; Simon Pengelly; Mark Owen, writer/director. Adult themes, intense fight action violence. UK
BEST FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY: WHAT DIDN’T KILL ME
You’re walking home and you see something you shouldn’t have… what if that something sees you? Savira Windyani; Michael S. Garcia; Madison Sanaye; Jesse Howland; Savira Windyani & Michael S. Garcia, writers; Jason Coulter, director. Graphic violence. Adult themes. USA
BEST SCREENPLAY – ACTION: HARD JACK/p>
BEST SCREENPLAY – PRO-ACTION: WARPAINT
A young girl aspires to be a singer in London’s Edwardian music halls but after witnessing abuse and injustice, changes course to lead the fight against the all-powerful theatre owners, quickly gaining the support of performers, back-stage workers and audiences. Written by Helen Taylor
FINALIST 1ST PLACE: FEATHER
A female boxer seeks revenge against the killer of her father. Written by Johanna Juntunen
FINALIST 2ND PLACE: ROSES AND RATTLESNAKES
An team of extraction specialists reunites after seven years to save the estranged daughter of one of their own from rival drug cartels. Written by Colin Simpson
FINALIST 3RD PLACE: THE HARDEST HIT
After a star college quarterback at a win-at-all-costs university is accused of sexual battery, an inexperienced attorney persuades her client to reject a large settlement and take the case to trial instead. Written by Sam Juergens
BEST SCREENPLAY – STUDENT: THEN AND THERE, HERE AND WHERE
On the eve of her 13th birthday, Orabella discovers a family secret that will change her life forever. Written by Esabella Strickland
Artemis’ Women Powered Music, sponsored by:
BEST COMPOSER: FAREWELL
Dramatic score by Jaimie Pangan. USA
BEST SCORE: BOY EATS GIRL
The original score for BOY EATS GIRL: A Zombie Love Story, short film. Christy Carew, Composer. USA
BEST ARTIST: COWBOY BOOTS
Nikki Morgan, singer/songwriter; Donny Walker; Zachariah Jarrett; Kaitlin Foley; Diana Lawrence; Alexandra Olslavsky; Lake County Symphony Orchestra. USA
BEST THEME SONG: ALLELUIA
Theme song from the short film, Bird’s Eye. Composed by Erin Beute; additional rap lyrics by Scott Poiley. Additional mash-up music by Carl Orff, O FORTUNA. As sung by LEVITICAL RISE. USA
BEST SONG: FADE
Guitar meets female vocalist railing against injustice in an Electro-Pop bar and things get a bit rowdy. Fay Gauthier, Toshi Yanagi, Ted Jacobs, Prod. USA
BEST FOREIGN COMPOSER: SPIRIT VISIONS
A symphonic tone-poem based on a majestic theme. Composer Margaret Brandman was given an opportunity to improvise on the magnificent Sydney Town Hall pipe organ. Margaret Brandman, composer, pianist; Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Pavel Šnajdr. Australia/p>
BEST FOREIGN THEME SONG: ALONE WITH BEES
Explores the idea that your relationship with the past, the enemy within, can be reconciled and transformed into something sweet. Written, arranged, and performed by Connie Lansberg. Mark Fitzgibbon-piano, Ben Hanlon-double bass, Peter Hodges drums. Produced by Connie Lansberg. Australia
