The International Film Festival presented their 3rd Annual IFFS Excellence Awards on Monday at the 6th Annual International Film Festival Summit.

For the third consecutive year, the IFFS Excellence Awards honored and paid tribute to the dedicated professionals and executives managing film festivals. "As film festivals continue to evolve and play a larger and more pivotal role in the entertainment industry we were absolutely thrilled to honor such accomplished and dedicated professionals for their contributions at this year's summit," said Waco Hoover, CEO of the International Film Festival Summit.

The awards were presented by American actor Ernie Hudson, and he was joined by over 200 film festival professionals and directors at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

The 2009 IFFS Excellence Awards honorees were, for International Director: Graham Leggat, Executive Director, San Francisco Film Society; for International Professional: Rose Kuo, Artistic Director, AFI Fest; for National Director: Gary Meyer, Co-Director, Telluride Film Festival; for National Professional: Natalie McMenemy, Managing Director, Aspen Film; for Regional Director: Richard Paradise, Executive Director, MV Film Society; and for Regional Professional: Mary Dippell, Executive Director, Lake Arrowhead Film Festival.

The 2009 International Film Festival Summit featured the top industry leaders and directors including: SXSW, IFC, Cinetic Media, Aspen Film, San Francisco Film Society, Film Finders, New York Film Festival, HotDocs, Dallas International Film Festival, Enigma Research, Thompson On Hollywood, European Independent Film Festival, IEG, The Method Fest, Big Island Film Festival, The Woods Hole Film Feistval, Rochester High Falls Int'l Film Festival, Hollywood Black Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Foundation, Ashland Independent Film Festival, Film Threat, Phoenix Film Foundation, Atlanta Film Festival, Palm Springs Int'l Film Society, Miami International Film Festival, Florida Film Festival, Silverdocs Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival, and many many more.

Sponsors and Partners for the 2009 International Film Festival Conference included K2 Imaging, Anheuser-Busch, In Ticketing, Brown Paper Tickets, SCHED, Shubert Ticketing, ClickNPrint, Enta, Tessitura Network, Bag Tags Inc., MedTech Wristbands, Karl's Event Rental, OSA Corp., CopyCats Media, Marketing Inspirations, Pacific Link Trade, Aztec Events, XOMO, RGB Lights, Regal Tents, Mega Stage, Ticketleap & B-Side, Premier Tenting Solutions, HDICAM, AAA Flag & Banner, Celebrity Access, Production Hub, Venues Today, Film Festival Today, Film Threat, MovieMaker Magazine, NAMAC, and P3 Update.