“Garden” and “Broadway” Take Top Florida Fest Prizes

A scene from Sean Baker's "Prince of Broadway."

Sean Baker’s “Prince of Broadway” won the jury prize for best narrative feature feature at the recent Florida Film Festival, which took place near Orlando, FL March 27 - April 5. FFF’s jury award for best documentary went to Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s “The Garden,” while “Poundcake” by Rafael Monserrate took both the audience prize for best narrative feature and a special jury nod for original screenplay. The ten-day festival screened 162 films for the festival’s 18th edition.

“This year’s award-winners reflect the incredible talent and diversity of indie filmmaking from around the world,” said Matthew Curtis, Programming Director.  “We have been very fortunate to see filmmakers willing to take risks and audiences who have embraced the unexpected.”

2009 Florida Film Festival Awards

Feature Films

“Prince of Broadway,” directed by Sean Baker (Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature)
         
“Poundcake,” written by Troy Hall and Kevin Logie (Special Jury Award for Original Screenplay)
         
“Poundcake,” directed by Rafael Monserrate (Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature)

Documentaries
         
“The Garden,” directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy (Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature)
         
“Prodigal Sons,” directed by Kimberly Reed (Special Jury Award for Fearless Filmmaking)
“The Garden,” directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy (Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature)
“Pickin’ & Trimmin,’” directed by Matt Morris (Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short)

Short Films
“Glory at Sea,” directed by Benh Zeitlin (Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short)
         
“I Am So Proud of You,” directed by Don Hertzfeldt (Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short)
         
Jasmine Jessica Anthony in “Water Pills,” directed by Blake Sennett (Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance)
         
“Tales of Mere Existence,” directed by Lev Yilmaz (Audience Award for Best Short Film)

International Films
NEIL YOUNG:  DON’T BE DENIED, directed by Ben Whalley, UK (Audience Award for Best International Feature)
“Instead of Abracadabra,” directed by Patrik Eklund, Sweden (Audience Award for Best International Short)

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