2009 Florida Film Festival Shorts Winners
Glory at Sea, Pickin’ & Trimmin’ Grab American Independent Awards
Apr 8, 2009
The Orlando, Florida-based Festival, wrapped on Sunday night, April 5, after 10 days of screenings and special events and a total of 162 films (including independent movies from all over the world).
The American Independent Competition
The American Independent Competition winners for the Festival include narrative and documentary shorts, plus a special prize for best international short. The Competition also awarded prizes for best full-length narrative features and documentaries. Each competing film vied for up for three different awards: a Grand Jury Award for best film in that category; a Special Jury Award given at the jury’s discretion for exceptional achievement; and an Audience Award determined by audience votes.
Florida Film Festival programming director Matthew Curtis said in a prepared statement: “This year’s award-winners reflect the incredible talent and diversity of indie filmmaking from around the world. We have been very fortunate to see filmmakers willing to take risks and audiences who have embraced the unexpected.”
American Independent Competition Winners – Grand Jury Awards/Shorts
Glory at Sea
- Florida Film Festival winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short.
- In post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, a group of mourners build a boat to reunite with drowned loved ones.
- Director: Benh Zeitlin
- Run Time: 25 minutes
- Florida Premiere
- Additional Information: This film was screened in the Shorts Program #1: Lost in Space.
Pickin’ & Trimmin’
- Florida Film Festival winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short.
- Some locals at a Bluegrass barber shop in North Carolina pick and trim.
- Director: Matt Morris
- Run Time: 23 minutes
- Florida Premiere
- Additional Information: This film was screened with the full-length documentary Smile ‘Til It Hurts: The Up With People Story.
I Am So Proud of You
- Florida Film Festival winner of the Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short.
- This dark look at mortality uncovers hidden family secrets.
- Director: Don Hertzfeldt
- Run Time: 22 minutes
- Florida Premiere
- Additional Information: This film screened in the Shorts Program #5 Animated Shorts.
Water Pills
- Florida Film Festival winner of the Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance (Jasmine Jessica Anthony).
- An emotionally unstable stage mother (Winona Ryder) tries to break her daughter into a film career.
- Director: Blake Sennett
- Run Time: 27 minutes
- East Coast Premiere
- Additional Information: This film screened in Shorts Program #2 Return to Sender.
American Independent Competition Winners – Audience Awards/Shorts
Tales of Mere Existence
- Florida Film Festival winner of Audience Award for Best Short Film.
- Three unique animated commentaries on life: “Different Kinds of Boyfriends I Have Been,” “The Various Kinds of Jobs I Could Get,” and “How We Managed to Not Really Date Each Other.”
- Director: Lev Yilmaz
- Run Time: 10 minutes
- World Premiere
- Additional Information: This film was screened in the Shorts Program #5 Animated Shorts.
Instead of Abracadabra
- Florida Film Festival winner of the Audience Award for Best International Short.
- An aspiring magician hopes to impress the girl next door with his tricks.
- Director: Patrik Eklund (Sweden)
- Run Time: 22 minutes
- Florida Premiere
- Additional Information: In Swedish with English subtitles. This film screened in the International Shorts Program.
For more information about short films, read Short Films Find New Fans. For more information about the 2009 Florida Film Festival, visit the official website.
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