Larry Blamire's crime caper Johnny Slade's Greatest Hits took top honours for best feature at the 10th Annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival, which came to a close at the weekend after five days of film, wine, panels and galas.
Cristina Khuly's Shoot Down, which chronicles a little known political firestorm surrounding Cuban fraft refugees, and Anne Makepeace's Rain In A Dry Land, an account of Somali refugees living in the US, tied for documentary honours.
The award for Best Lounge Feature went to Sarah Kelly's 80s-themed comedy The Lather Effect, while Shyam Balse's Monsoon was named best narrative short and Leslie Iwerks' Recycled Life won for best documentary short. Lev Yilmaz' Horny claimed the Best Lounge Short prize.
The Grey Goose Audience Award for narrative feature went to Kurt Voelker's romantic comedy Park, while corresponding documentary honours were presented to Michele Ohayon's Holocaust romance documentary Steal A Pencil For Me.
All in all the festival screened 75 features and shorts and hosted among other events a star-studded tribute to Pixar and Disney chief creative officer John Lasseter that included speeches from Robin Williams, Andrew Stanton, and Bonnie Hunt.
'This special 10th anniversary festival was the perfect celebration of food, wine and, of course, some of the year's very best film,' Sonoma Valley Film Festival president and Sonoma Valley Film Festival executive director Marc Lhormer said.
'We are extremely proud of the 2007 film line-up, as well as the film-makers who joined us this weekend, who remind us why independent film is so important and continue to challenge us with their brilliant work.'
The festival opened on Apr 11 with Susanne Bier's Danish drama After The Wedding and closed on Apr 16 with the late Adrienne Shelly's drama Waitress. For more information about the festival visit the official website at www.sonomafilmfest.org.
Cristina Khuly's Shoot Down, which chronicles a little known political firestorm surrounding Cuban fraft refugees, and Anne Makepeace's Rain In A Dry Land, an account of Somali refugees living in the US, tied for documentary honours.
The award for Best Lounge Feature went to Sarah Kelly's 80s-themed comedy The Lather Effect, while Shyam Balse's Monsoon was named best narrative short and Leslie Iwerks' Recycled Life won for best documentary short. Lev Yilmaz' Horny claimed the Best Lounge Short prize.
The Grey Goose Audience Award for narrative feature went to Kurt Voelker's romantic comedy Park, while corresponding documentary honours were presented to Michele Ohayon's Holocaust romance documentary Steal A Pencil For Me.
All in all the festival screened 75 features and shorts and hosted among other events a star-studded tribute to Pixar and Disney chief creative officer John Lasseter that included speeches from Robin Williams, Andrew Stanton, and Bonnie Hunt.
'This special 10th anniversary festival was the perfect celebration of food, wine and, of course, some of the year's very best film,' Sonoma Valley Film Festival president and Sonoma Valley Film Festival executive director Marc Lhormer said.
'We are extremely proud of the 2007 film line-up, as well as the film-makers who joined us this weekend, who remind us why independent film is so important and continue to challenge us with their brilliant work.'
The festival opened on Apr 11 with Susanne Bier's Danish drama After The Wedding and closed on Apr 16 with the late Adrienne Shelly's drama Waitress. For more information about the festival visit the official website at www.sonomafilmfest.org.
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