The 2008 Cinequest Juries were put to the task selecting winners from over 150 films from 34 countries. What they discovered were myriad worlds that challenged, excited and surprised. Their job to find the top films was not an easy one, and reaching a unanimous vote was nearly impossible because the films truly affected them in many ways and heated debates were sparked because of the passion each felt for the stories that were revealed.

Cinequest Awards
Cinequest is proud to announce the following award winners for the 2008 Festival:
NARRATIVE FEATURES

Maverick Spirit Award (Cinequest’s top prize)
SUPERHEROES
Director: Alan Brown

Best First Feature
IT’S BETTER IF GABRIELA DOESN’T DIE
Director: Sergio Umansky

Special Jury Award for Narrative Feature
A BETTER LIFE
Director: Andrew James

DIRECTORS AWARDS

Global Visions Award
THE TRAP
Director: Srdan Golubovic

New Visions Award
WHO IS K.K. DOWNEY?
Directors: Darren Curtis and Pat Kiely


DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

Best Documentary Feature
AUTISM: THE MUSICAL
Director Tricia Regan

Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature
DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER
Director: Kurt Kuenne


SHORTS

Best Student Short Film
MAMITAS
Director: Nick Ozeki

Best Documentary Short Film
BROADCAST COWBOY
Director: David Washburn

Best Animated Short Film
PAPIROFLEXIA
Director: Joaquin Baldwin

Best Narrative Short Film
CENTIGRADE
Director: Colin Cunningham


AUDIENCE AWARDS
To be announced Monday, March 10, 2008.

MAVERICK SPIRIT AWARD RECIPIENTS
The following individuals received Maverick Spirit Awards at Cinequest 18 for their Maverick careers in the film industry: Michael Keaton, Michael Arndt, Bobby Moresco and Danny Glover.



SCREENPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS

First Place
SWITCHBACK
Writer: Bill Schreiber


Second Place
VERA
Writer: Caitlin McCarthy

Third Place
THE ORCHARD
Writer: Diane Stredicke


In addition, THE BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM & TELEVISION ARTS/LA continues to celebrate the filmmaking artistry of the short film by selecting top winners at festivals around the world. For the 2008 Cinequest Film Festival, the members of BAFTA / LA have chosen:

First Place Winner - BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM & TELEVISION ARTS/LA
SOFT
Director: Simon Ellis

Runners Up – Certificates of Excellence - BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM & TELEVISION ARTS/LA
RATTLESNAKES
Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson

CHIEF
Director: Brett Wagner


Cinequest Film Festival 18 occurred from February 27 – March 9, 2008 www.cinequest.org