IndependentFilm.com

(Woodstock, NY) – October, 6th, 2008. Presenters at the Award Ceremony, held at beautiful Backstage Productions in Kingston, NY, included Mark Duplass, Karen Durbin, Amy Gossels, Ryan Harrington, Sabine Hoffman, Sloane Klevin, Ellen Kuras, Ang Lee, Melissa Leo, Pamela Marvin, Mary Stuart Masterson, Bill Plympton, Maggie Renzi, John Sayles, John Sloss, Morgan Spurlock, David Strathairn, Amy Taubin, Haskell Wexler.

“This has been an amazingly warm and welcoming and genuine award ceremony,” Trailblazer Award Recipient and Academy Award Nominee James Schamus said.

“It was wonderful too see how the festival has grown …. and still has maintained its particular charm and eccentricity and hands on feel.  All a testament to your guidance and instincts.  Brava!”: actor David Strathairn.

"We had a good time. Thanks for having us. The awards ceremony was one of the best ones we have ever been to. It had such a great feel," said famed indie producer and former Schamus partner Ted Hope.
Look below for a list of our Award Winners, Jurors and Sponsors. 

THE HONORARY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was presented to cinematographer Haskell Wexler, by writer/director/actor John Sayles, producer Maggie Renzi, and actor David Strathairn (award previously announced).

THE HONORARY TRAILBLAZER AWARD was presented to James Shamus, CEO of Focus Features and award winning writer/producer, by director Ang Lee and actor Melissa Lee (award previously announced).

THE HONORARY MAVERICK AWARD was presented to director/screenwriter/-actor/editor/comic book writer, Kevin Smith, by producer John Sloss (award previously announced).

THE AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE goes to LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (Dir. Tomas Alfredson) followed closely by ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO (Dir. Kevin Smith) and PRIDE AND GLORY (Dir. Gavin O’Connor).

THE AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY goes to PLAYING FOR CHANGE: MUSIC FOR PEACE (Dir. Jonathan Walls and Mark Johnson) followed closely by MILTON GLASER: TO INFORM AND DELIGHT (Dir. Wendy Keys) and AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD (Dir. Dan Stone and Patrick Gambuti Jr.). 

THE LEE MARVIN BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE AWARD went to PRINCE OF BROADWAY (Dir. Sean Baker)
With a HONORABLE MENTION to MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY (Dir. Barry Jenkins)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE went to IN A DREAM (Dir. Jeremiah Zagar)
The Diane Seligman Award for BEST SHORT NARRATIVE went to GLORY AT SEA, (Dir. Benh Zeitlin)
The Diane Seligman Award for BEST STUDENT SHORT FILM went to SIKUMI (On the Ice), (Dir. Andrew Okpeaha Maclean)
The Diane Seligman Award for BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY went to PICKIN’ AND TRIMMIN’, (Dir. Matt Morris)
The Maverick Award for BEST ANIMATED FILM went to BERNI’S DOLL, (Dir. Yann J (Jouette))
The Haskell Wexler Award for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY went to AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, (Dir. Dan Stone; Cinematographers Daniel Fernandez, Tim Gorski, Simeon Houtman, James Joyner, Jonathan Kane, Mathieu Mauvernay, and John “Rip” Odebralski)
The James Lyons Award for BEST EDITING of a FEATURE DOCUMENTARY went to IN A DREAM, (Editors, Keiko Deguchi and Jeremiah Zagar)
The James Lyons Award for BEST EDITING of a FEATURE NARRATIVE went to WERE THE WORLD MINE, (Editor, Jennifer Lilly)

The Woodstock Film Festival has an outstanding group of industry leaders who make up the jury for each category of competition: 
Feature Jurors: Matt Dentler, Mark Duplass, Ted Hope and Mary Stuart Masterson
Feature Documentary Jurors: Rachel Grady, Morgan Spurlock and Molly Thompson
Shorts Jurors: Peter Bowen, Karen Durbin and Ross Partridge
Short Doc Jurors: Ryan Harrington, Stephen Nemeth and Timothy Sternberg.
Student Short Film Jurors: Amy Gossels and Jeremiah Newton
Animation Jurors: Signe Baumane, Bill Plympton and Patrick Smith.
Cinematography Juror: Haskell Wexler
Editing Jurors (Narrative): Sabine Hoffman, Brian A. Kates and Kate Williams
Editing Jurors (Documentary): Sabine Hoffman, Sloane Klevin and Susan Littenberg
The Maverick Award Trophies are designed and hand-crafted by artist Steve Heller, who shows his work at his Fabulous Furniture gallery in Boiceville, NY.
The Awards Ceremony was co-sponsored by the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce, and was followed by a party sponsored by 120db Films, with beverages provided by Barefoot Wines and Fuze.
The Sponsors for the 2008 Woodstock Film Festival are:
Gold Sponsor: 120 dB Films 
Silver Sponsors: A & E Indie Films; Ciroc Vodka, Diageo North America; Time 
Superstar Sponsors: 100.1 WDST; BMI; Fuze; Lowel Light 
Award Sponsors: Inbaseline; Final Cut Studio Pro; Filmtracker.com; The James Lyons Estate; The Lee Marvin Estate; Lowel Ligh; Panavision, NY; Post Factory, NY; Steve Heller’s Fabulous Furniture; Writer’s Guild of America, East
Official Wine: Barefoot Wine & Bubbly 
Media Support: Chronogram; Daily Freeman; DiscMakers; Insideout 
Event Support: Backstage Productions; Emerson Resort & Spa; Libation NYC; Lotus Gallery; Oriole 9; New World Home Cooking; Sal Guido; Skytop Steakhouse & Brewery; Waste Management, Kingston
Food Support: Larabar; Adam’s Fairacre Farm; Bread Alone; Bistro to Go; Catskill Mountain Organic Coffee; Hurley Ridge Market; Lucky Chocolates; Organic Nectars
Foundation Support: Dutchess County Arts Council; ETC (Experimental TV Center); JP Morgan Chase; Lee and Peter Mayer Foundation; M & T Bank; The Perry & Martin Granoff Family Foundation

ABOUT THE WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL

Since 2000, the Woodstock Film Festival has established itself as one of the foremost independent film events in the country by premiering exceptional films; hosting the most talented emerging and established professionals in the movie industry; presenting A-list concerts, parties and panels, and creating stimulating, innovative programming year-round.
The Woodstock Film Festival is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to present an annual program and year-round schedule of film, music, and art-related activities that promotes artists, culture, inspired learning, and diversity. WFF’s sister organization, The Hudson Valley Film Commission, promotes sustainable economic development by attracting and supporting film, video and media production throughout the region.

Tags: Woodstock, woodstock film festival 2008