2020 Filmmakers Award Winners

Filmmakers Award Winners

Outstanding Short Film – Comedy – Age of Bryce  
Outstanding Short Film – Comedy – Seance-ing
Outstanding Director – Comedy – David Feagan, Brian Elliott – Age of Bryce
Outstanding Screenplay – Comedy – Alix Angelis – Seance-ing
Outstanding Acting, Cast – Comedy – Bryers Cucumber Tostino’s
Outstanding Acting, Individual – Comedy – Patrick Tamisiea – Bryers Cucumber Tostino’s
Outstanding Acting, Duo – Comedy – Suzan Mikiel, Allison Youngberg – Ex-Sisters-In-Law
Outstanding Cinematography – Comedy – Rachel Dusa – Bryers Cucumber Tostino’s

Outstanding Short Film – Drama – Alina
Outstanding Short Film – Drama – Planet Earth calling Ana
Outstanding Short Film – Drama – Valley
Outstanding Director – Drama – Rami Kodeih – Alina
Outstanding Screenplay – Drama – Nora Mariana Salim – Alina
Outstanding Acting, Cast – Drama – Valley
Outstanding Acting, Individual – Drama – Laia Manzanares – Planet Earth calling Ana
Outstanding Cinematography – Drama – Matt Schween – Tides

Outstanding Short Film – Experimental – Miniature Chess
Outstanding Director – Experimental – Martin Gerigk – Haiku
Outstanding Screenplay – Experimental – Phil Cheney – Miniature Chess
Outstanding Performance, Cast – Experimental – Miniature Chess
Outstanding Performance, Individual – Experimental – Kennedy Knopf – SHE
Outstanding Performance, Inanimate Object – Experimental – Chip the shopping cart – The Myth of Winter
Outstanding Cinematography – Experimental – Julie Kim – SHE

Outstanding Short Film – Horror – Eleanor
Outstanding Short Film – Horror – Household Demons
Outstanding Director – Horror – Austin Rourke – A Strange Calm
Outstanding Screenplay – Horror – Chris Dawson – Eleanor
Outstanding Acting, Cast – Horror – A Strange Calm
Outstanding Acting, Individual – Horror – Yael Gonen – Eleanor
Outstanding Cinematography – Horror – Zach Stoltzfus – Household Demons

Outstanding Music Video – Black Metal Romance – Joey Danger, Director

2020 Programmer’s Prize Winners

Cyber Underground
Fyrvaktaren: Bathtub By The Sea
Grade A
Sam & Emma
Your Heart Is Mine

A message from SOFF programmer Jeff Howard:

Every year it’s a challenge for me when we look at the votes from the juries and tabulate which films are getting awards.  Invariably I see see some omissions that I cannot abide.  Sometimes it’s that coincidence that a film repeatedly comes in second place for various awards without actually getting an award.  Sometimes it’s the fact that I see every film more than once.  Your opinions change a lot with multiple viewings and this makes my perspective different from other jury members.

How to fix the problem?  I do not want to be a programmer who lobbies jury members to change their votes.  Instead we invented the Programmer’s Prize so that I get to honor films that slipped through the cracks and I sleep a little better at night.

For SOFF 2020, I wanted to have around fifteen of these.  (Part of me wants every official selection to get an award like a children’s soccer league.) As much as it pained me, I narrowed it down to the five you see above.

Achan and Ezra

2020 Official Selection: Short Length Narrative Film – Comedy

Two Jews in the holy land attempting to flee the chaos of the 3rd Crusade come across an unconscious Crusader on a lonely desert road, and a comedic encounter ensues as they debate whether to help him, kill him, or ignore him all together.

Director(s): Yan Fisher
Writer(s): Omri Rose
Producer(s): Stav Raskin Remeniuk, Yan Fisher, Omri Rose
Cast: Yaron Shavit, Aaron Vodovoz, Omri Rose

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Perfectly capable of agreeing on nothing.

Go to 2020 Official Selections Page

High Strung

2020 Official Selection: Short Length Narrative Film – Drama

When two Asian-American brothers with an overbearing sports dad must play each other at a junior tennis tournament, is there really a winner?

Director(s): Melissa Kan
Writer(s): Zheng Nathan Nie & Melissa Kan
Producer(s): Maxon Moulton
Cast: Christian Alexander Cruz, Kieran Tamondong, Zhan Wang

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Everyone plays favorites.

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Tristan and Isaac

2020 Official Selection: Short Length Narrative Film – Drama

Two lovers get swept up in a romance with no concern for consequences.

Director(s): Michaela Myers
Writer(s): Michaela Myers
Producer(s): Michaela Myers and Karina Wolfe
Cast: Michaela Myers, Andrew Bowen, Deborah Geffner

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When your whirlwind romance has consequences.

Go to 2020 Official Selections Page

Ex-Sisters-In-Law

2020 Official Selection: Short Length Narrative Film – Comedy

Ex-Sisters-In-Law hilariously confronts the meaning of family, friendship and economic disparity when sheltered Millicent reunites with Deniz, the pragmatic woman who divorced Millicent’s brother twenty years ago!

Director(s): Suzan Mikiel
Writer(s): Suzan Mikiel and Allison Youngberg
Producer(s): Suzan Mikiel and Allison Youngberg
Cast: Suzan Mikiel and Allison Youngberg

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Even after divorce, you’re still my sister

Go to 2020 Official Selections Page

Requiem for a Crab

2020 Official Selection: Short Length Narrative Film – Comedy

A dark comedy about family, loss, love…and a crab.

Director(s): Patrick Tiberius Gehlen
Writer(s): Patrick Tiberius Gehlen
Producer(s): Steven Wagner
Cast: Charles Desrochers, Steve Hofvendahl, Lise Porter, Sam Krumrine

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Charlie’s been feeling a little crabby lately.

Go to 2020 Official Selections Page