iW NEWS | "Foul" Wins Top Prize at Palm Springs Shorts Fest

British director Simon Ellis' short about a weak father encountering a gang of teen thugs, "Soft" won the "Best of Festival Award" at the 2007 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films. The $2,000 prize also includes eligibility for Oscar consideration. Dee Rees' "Pariah" took the festival's "Future Filmmaker Award ($2,000 and "showbiz software package"). The fest's "Panavision Grand Jury Award went to Moon Molson's "Pop Foul," which also won a Student Academy Award. The Panavision prize includes a package valued at $60,000 and two days studio time from Casablanca Studios in Palm Springs. In announced audience prizes, the award for live action short went to "I Hate Musicals" by Stewart Schill, while Cyntia Wade and Laurel Hester's "Freeheld" took best doc short. And best animation short went to Zeth Willie's "The Needful Head." PSIFSF screened 332 shorts with 73 world premieres from 40 countries during the fest in the California desert community August 23 - 29. For more information including other award winners, visit their website. [Brian Brooks]