The top winners over the weekend at the Ojai Film Festival included cinematographer Michael Chapman and actor Craig T. Nelson, both of whom took home the Lifetime Achievement Awards. Of the films to come out on top, Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath’s “Enemies of the People” collected the Best Documentary Feature award, while Soenke Wortmann’s “Pope Joan” nabbed Best Narrative Feature.
Executive Director Jamie Fleming made mention of the closing ceremony’s highlight moment in a press release: “In a gesture indicative of the growing momentum of the Ojai Film Festival, an evening highlight was Panavision’s Suzanne Lezotte personally announcing The Limelight Award for Best Student Film with a surprising and touching presentation of a $60,000 camera rental grant.”
Below is the complete list of winners:
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Actor Craig T. Nelson (presentor: Erika Christensen)
Cinematographer Michael Chapman
FESTIVAL THEME AWARD, “Surviving Hitler: A Love Story,” John-Keith Wasson
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“Enemies of the People,” Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath
Honorable Mentions:
“Stolen,” Violeta Ayala and Daniel Fallshaw
“A Life Ascending,” Stephen Grynberg
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
“Ingelore,” Frank Stiefel
Honorable Mentions:
“Nico’s Challenge,” Steve Audette
“A Simple Question: The Story of STRAW,” Kevin White
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
“Pope Joan,” Soenke Wortmann
Honorable Mentions:
“The Space Between,” Travis Fine
“Tricks,” Andrzej Jakimowski
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
“Sofia”, Shervin Kermani
Honorable Mentions:
“A Dream in Hanoi,” Gerald Herman
“Wall Boy,” Sascha Ettinger Epstein
BEST STUDENT FILM – LIMELIGHT AWARD, “Kavi,” Gregg Helvey
BEST ANIMATED FILM
“Pigeon: Impossible,” Lucas Martell
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