The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Crissy Field
Beach in San Francisco. (Photo: Omar P.L.
Moore/PopcornReel.com)
The Golden Gate Awards at The 51st San
Francisco International Film Festival
By Omar P.L. Moore/The Popcorn Reel
May 8, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO, California
In a scant 20 minutes or so, all of the recipients of this year's Golden Gate
Awards at the 51st San Francisco International Film Festival were announced last
night, bringing this edition of the longest-running film festival in the
Americas to an unofficial close. Numerous filmmakers were in attendance at
the California Culinary Academy just a matter of hours ago on Wednesday where
the Golden Gate Awards were held, including identical twin brothers and Bay Area
filmmakers Logan Miller and Noah Miller, who talked about their film "Touching
Home". The film marks their debut as directors, and they act, write,
produce and edit the feature film, which also stars Ed Harris. The twins,
who mentioned that they had never traveled outside the United States, sometimes
spoke at the same time last night. "It was cathartic", said Logan Miller
of the film and its impact. He mentioned that their father had passed away
several months before, and that the film was a tribute and testament to him, and
their way of saying goodbye to him in a proper and loving way. Both spoke
in warm and reverential tones about Mr. Harris, whom they doggedly pursued for
the role of their father in the film. Several times they contacted Mr.
Harris and on each occasion he politely declined. Finally, a screenplay
landed directly at Mr. Harris' door and after reading it he relented. The
story goes that the twin Millers received a cell phone call from none other than
the man himself. Mr. Harris was in.
And the rest, as "they" say, is history.
Judge Juan Guzman of Chile, the subject of Elizabeth Farnsworth and Patricio
Lanfranco's documentary "The Judge and The General", were also on hand with Ms.
Farnsworth to witness the Golden Gate Awards. Judge Guzman, whose years of
painstaking investigation of the criminal charges against former Chilean
president General Augusto Pinochet are chronicled in the documentary. The
judge, for all the stress, strain and demands of the years of investigation,
looked none the worse for wear, smiling politely to those to whom he was
introduced.
Alex Rivera also was in attendance. Mr. Rivera is the director of "Sleep
Dealer", a film which a producer here described as a sci-fi version of a
political drama involving people on varying economic levels. The ambitious
film was a hit with audiences at this year's Festival. Food, fun and a lot
of conversation could be had, with chefs from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary, part of
the Academy. Crepes and all manner of delicacies were on display for the
masses to indulge in.
The winners of the Golden Gate Awards at the 51st San Francisco International
Film Festival last night:
Documentary Feature:
"Up the Yangtze", directed by Yung Chang
(Canada, 2007)
Bay Area Documentary Feature: "Faubourg
Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans", Dawn Logsdon (USA, 2008)
Documentary Feature Special Jury Prize:
"Forbidden Lie$", Anna Broinowski (Australia, 2007)
Documentary Short: "The Ladies",
Christina A. Voros (USA, 2007)
Bay Area Short, First Prize: "The
Cabinet", Todd Herman (USA, 2007)
Bay Area Short, Second Prize: "On the
Assassination of the President", Adam Keker (USA, 2007)
Narrative Short: "Thick Skinned",
Jean-Bernard Marlin, Benoit Rambourg (France, 2007)
Animated Short: "Madame Tutli-Putli",
Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski (Canada)
New Visions: "Cabinet", Todd
Herman (USA, 2007)
Work for Kids and Families: "When I Grow
Up", Michelle R. Meeker (USA, 2007)
Youth Work: "Writing History with
Lightning: The Triumph and Tragedy of America's First Blockbuster",
Charlotte Burger (USA, 2007)
New Directors Award: "Vasermil",
directed by Mushon Salmona (Israel, 2007)
New Directors Special Jury Mention:
"Wonderful Town", Aditya Assarat (Thailand, 2007)
FIPRESCI Prize: "Ballast", Lance
Hammer (USA, 2007)
FIPRESCI Special Jury Mention: "Glasses",
Naoko Ogigami (Japan, 2007)
Chris Holter Humor in Film Award: "Time
to Die", Dorota Kedzierzawska (Poland, 2007)
Television Honors:
TV Documentary Long Form:
"Calavera Highway", directed by Renee
Tajima-Peña (USA/Mexico, 2007)
TV Documentary Short Form: "The Mystery
of the Second Painting", Muriel Edelstein (France, 2007)
TV Narrative Long Form: "Operation
Turquoise", Alain Tasma (France, 2007)
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