Press release

The 4th Annual Mammoth Lakes Film Festival (MLFF) announced this year’s juried and audience award winners at the Closing Night Award Ceremony at the Sierra Event Center in Mammoth Lakes on Sunday, May 27, 2018. The festival, held from May 23-27, screened over 70 films, including 63 in MLFF’s competition categories. Each of the festival winners received an Orson the Bear Award, handcrafted by Josh Slater of Bear in Mind Carvings located in Mammoth Lakes.

MLFF Jam

“This year’s festival exceeded our expectations on many levels. We welcomed more filmmakers, audience members, and media than in any of our other three years,” said Festival Director Shira Dubrovner. “Against the backdrop of our beautiful city, we were honored to host such an artistic collection of films that continues our commitment of bringing dynamic storytelling to our appreciative community.”

This year’s festival grew bigger in multiple ways. For example: Last year drew 80 filmmakers; this year the film festival welcomed 140 filmmakers from all over the world, including Australia, Sweden, Finland, India, the Netherlands, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Poland, and Italy. The festival sold 2,300 tickets in 2017; it sold 2,855 in 2018. There were also more North American, International, and West Coast premieres than previous years, with movies such as Damsel, Love, Gilda, and White Tide continuing on with major distribution contracts.

“The number of attending filmmakers from all over the world and the quality of their work, combined with the involvement of the Mammoth Lakes community, brought to life a series of scintillating events and thought-provoking discussions at this year’s festival,” said Festival Programmer Paul Sbrizzi.

This year’s full list of Juried and Audience Awards are:

Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature ($1,000 cash prize, $10,000 Panavision Camera Rental Grant and $10,000 Light Iron Post Production Package): My Name Is Myeisha
Jury Award for Best International Feature ($500 cash prize): Tower. A Bright Day (Special Mention: Vidar the Vampire writer/director/actor Thomas Aske Berg)
Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature ($1,000 cash prize): White Tide (Special Mention: Buddha.mov)
Jury Award for Best Narrative Short ($500 cash prize and $5,000 VER Rental Grant): Shadow Animals(Special Mentions: Babies and In A Month)
Jury Award for Best Documentary Short ($500 cash prize): David and The Kingdom
Jury Award for Best Animation Short ($500 cash prize): Cocoon, Cocoon (Special Mention goes to Nevada)
Special Jury Award for Bravery ($1,000 cash prize): Minding the Gap
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature ($1,000 cash prize and $5,000 Panavision Camera Rental Grant): Rock Steady Row
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature ($1,000 cash prize): Crime + Punishment

This year’s jury consisted of:

Narrative Features Jury: Tim Rhys (MovieMaker Magazine), Nicole Sperling (Vanity Fair) and Rachel Winter (Producer)
Documentary Features Jury: Allison Amon (EVP Sales & Development, Bullitt), Lindsey Bahr (Associated Press) and Peter Baxter (Filmmaker; President/Co-Founder, Slamdance)
International Features Jury: Shalini Dore (Variety), Alonso Duralde (The Wrap) and Vincent Spano (Actor)
Shorts Jury: Ana Souza (Sundance Film Festival) and Scenery Samundra (Tru Thoughts, NTS Radio)

“It has been my privilege to be a part of the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival since it’s conception,” said Documentary Features jury member Allison Amon (EVP Sales & Development, Bullitt). “The festival continues to grow both in scope and reputation, and it is incredibly inspiring to be here in the most beautiful landscape and surrounded by the creativity the festival attracts.”

Mammoth Lakes Film Festival 2018 sponsors included: Honda, Panavision, Light Iron, VER, Town of Mammoth Lakes/Measure U, Mono County, Tambour Foundation, Paul and Kathleen Rudder, Sierra Nevada Resort & Spa (preferred lodging partner), Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Blue Moon, Black Box Wine, Chapman University and many others.

For more information, visit www.MammothLakesFilmFestival.com.

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About Mammoth Lakes Film Festival:

The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, held in the scenic and majestic setting of Mammoth Lakes in the Eastern Sierra region of California, brings together world-class cinema, emerging filmmakers, industry veterans, and audiences from around the world to celebrate films with thought-provoking stories. The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival is a DBA under Mammoth Lakes Foundation—the nonprofit founded in 1989 by Dave McCoy (who also founded Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in 1953). Dave McCoy turns 103 years old this August and is excited to be a part of the fourth annual Mammoth Lakes Film Festival. Visit www.MammothLakesFilmFestival.com for more information or connect on Facebook and Twitter.

About Mammoth Lakes Foundation

The Mammoth Lakes Foundation offers free education (books and tuition) to any Mono County resident and/or high school graduate who pursues an AA degree at Cerro Coso Community College and provides year-round theatre programming at Edison Theatre. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, please contact the Foundation at (760) 934-3781 or visit MammothLakesFoundation.org. Our nonprofit work is only possible through your generosity.

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