The 15th edition of the GEN ART FILM FESTIVAL came to a rousing ending on Tuesday night with the NY Premiere Screening of MERCY, a morality tale starring Scott Caan set in the shark-infested waters of Los Angeles, followed by the announcement of the award winners for this year's event.

The Acura Grand Jury Award for Best Feature went to Tatiana Von Furstenberg and Francesca Gregorini’s “Tanner Hall” with both directors on hand to receive their award. The Acura Grand Jury Award for Best Short went to Vance Malone’s “The Poodle Trainer." Prizes of $10,000 and $5,000 were presented by Acura to the Feature and Short winners respectively.

Josh Radnor’s “happythankyoumoreplease” and Jeff Sousa’s “The Hirosaki Players” took home the Festival’s coveted Audience Awards. The Radnor film won a similar prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Additionally, Wonderwall.com’s “Stargazer Award” recognized Rooney Mara (“Tanner Hall”) as the most talented emerging actor with “starstuff” from this year’s festival, selected by an esteemed group of festival alumni actors: Paul Schneider, Shea Whigham and Billy Burke.  She will be featured in a special gallery on Wonderwall.com this week. The role was Rooney Mara’s first lead role, but she has since gone on to appear in indie films including “Youth in Revolt” and “Dare” both which opened theatrically early this year and late last year respectively, and she will be seen as a lead in the upcoming remake of the classic “A Nightmare on Elm Street” which opens nationally on April 30th. Rooney was on hand to accept her prize. 

Celebrities in attendance throughout the week included Adrian Grenier, Josh Radnor, Rachel Bilson, Malin Akerman, Alexis Bledel, Blythe Danner, Diane Von Furstenberg, Carla Gugino, Tom Everett Scott, Kate Mara, Tom Sturridge, Anthony Mackie, Rooney Mara, Zoe Kazan among many others.

For more information on the films and the overall festval, visit: http://www.genart.org/filmfestival/newyork/2010 

Sandy Mandelberger, Film New York Editor