iW NEWS | "Gospel" and "Bart" Among Ft. Lauderdale Winners

Director/actor Giancarlo Esposito's "Gospel Hill" took Best Film of the Fest at the 23rd Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. The nearly month-long event began October 15 and concludes tomorrow (Tuesday), November 11. The fest's "International Film Guide Award to the Emerging American or Canadian Filmmaker" award went to Brian Hecker's prom night comedy, "Bart Got a Room," while Mark Feinberg's "Play the Game" won the audience prize for best indie feature. In other jury nods, Best American Indie went to "Lifelines" by Rob Margulies and Steve Blair's "I Do & I Don't" received best comedy. Best Director went to Mark Mahon for "Strength and Honour" and Chris Mason took Best First-Time Director for "The New Twenty." For more information and a full list of FLIFF winners, visit the festival's website. [Brian Brooks]