Celebrating record breaking crowds, the Cleveland International Film Festival welcomed 97,804 attendees to its 475+ screenings this year. Showcasing, 186 feature films and 168 shorts from 68 countries, the festival announced the winners of the competitions and awards at Sunday’s Closing Night ceremony. They are all listed below:
Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award For Best Film:
“Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine” Directed by Michele Josue
$5,000 cash prize
George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern Competition:
“Life Feels Good” Directed by Maciej Pieprzyca (Poland)
$10,000 cash prize
Nesnadny + Schwartz Documentary Competition:
“The Sarnos: A Life in Dirty Movies” Directed by Wiktor Ericsson
$7,500 cash prize
Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition:
“Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine” Directed by Michele Josue
$5,000 cash prize
American Independents Competition:
“A Birder’s Guide to Everything” Directed by Rob Meyer
$5,000 cash prize
Local Heroes Competition:
“The Sax Man” Directed by Joe Siebert
$5,000 cash prize
Global Health Competition:
“The Starfish Throwers” Directed by Jesse Roesler
$5,000 cash prize
Music Movies Competition:
“The Winding Stream” Directed by Beth Harrington
$5,000 cash prize
ReelWomenDirect Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman:
Claudia Pinto Emperador (for “The Longest Distance”)
$7,500 cash prize
Audience Choice Award for Best Short Subject:
“Fool’s Day” Directed by Cody Blue Snider
$1,000 Cash Prize
*Best Animated Short Award:
“The Numberlys” Directed by Brandon Oldenburg & William Joyce
$1,000 cash prize
*Best Live Action Short Award:
“For the Birds” Directed by Tara Atashgah
$1,000 cash prize
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