8th Annual Imagine This Women's Film Festival Announces Award Winners
[NY, NY – The 8th Annual Imagine This Women's International Film Festival (ITWIFF) is proud to announce the winners of its prestigious awards, celebrating excellence in cinema created by women and non-binary filmmakers. This year's festival, which ran from September 22 - October 1, 2023, showcased over 125 films from 33 countries and featured 12 captivating screenplays.
ITWIFF's mission is to empower and amplify the voices of women and non-binary filmmakers in the film industry. The festival serves as a platform for these talented filmmakers to share their stories, perspectives, and creativity with a global audience.
The following award categories and winners were announced during a special awards ceremony:
Best Feature Award Winners
Best Narrative Feature Jess Plus None, Directed by Mandy Fabian
Best Documentary Feature Storming Caesars Palace, Directed by Hazel Gurland-Pooler
Best International Narrative Feature Heights And Depths, Directed by Sándor Csoma
Best International Documentary Feature Dying For Gold, Directed by Catherine Meyburgh, Richard Pakleppa
Best Short Award Winners
Best Narrative Short Film Look Back At It, Directed by Felicia Pride
Best Documentary Short Film Lifeline, Directed by Jess Philipps
Best International Narrative Short Film Bazigaga, Directed by Jo Ingabire Moys
Best International Documentary Short Film Wave Women UK, Directed by Lolly Michaels
Best Director Paulette Randall Mbe (Tell Me You Love Me)
Best Animated Short Film Grownup, Directed by Jee Kim
Best Drama Backlog, Directed by Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal
Best Comedy Sunrise Ruby, Directed by Amberlee Colson, Steven Anderson, Thomas Simon
Best Sci-Fi The Draft, Directed by Raphaela Wagner
Best Horror Kamathipura, Directed by Aayushman Pandey
Best Thriller Savage Dawn, Directed by Tamiah Bantum
Best Experimental Among Us, Directed by Mara Trachtenberg
Best NY Film Passenger Seat Directed by Neha Gautam
Best Emerging Storyteller Object Of Desire Directed by Naomi Christie
Best Student Storyteller Heather Directed by Sarah Forest
Best Cinematography The Summers Of Your Winter, Directed by Nei Loya
Best Actor Richard Rankin (Hello, Muscles)
Best Actress Enuka Okuma (Woman Meets Girl)
Best TV Pilot/Web Series Award Winners
Best TV Pilot Refugia, Directed by Liana Cornell
Best Web Series Odd/Even, Directed by Ya-Ting "Itchy" Yang
Best Music Video Winner
Best Music Video Icons Directed by Sophia Amato
Best Screenplay Award Winners
Best Original Screenplay She's All Right, Written by Shon Keane, Melanie Williams Oram
Best Original Short Screenplay The Last Call, Directed by Phenice Arielle
Best Drama Screenplay Closer To Fine, Written by Marisa Forrest
Best Animated Screenplay Freesia, Written by Emerson Tenney
Best TV Pilot Screenplay The Goat, Directed by Maggie Scudder
Best VR Award Winner
Best VR Reimagined Volume Ii: Mahal Directed by Michaela Ternasky-Holland
Best Audience Award Winners
Audience Award Champion Directed by Kim J.Y. Han
Audience Award - Best NY Filmmaker Taking Back August, Directed by Katherine Gotard
The esteemed panel of judges, consisting of industry professionals and film enthusiasts, carefully reviewed and deliberated upon the submissions to select the winners in each category. The winning films and screenplays stood out for their exceptional storytelling, creativity, and impact.
In addition to the awards, ITWIFF featured a wide range of events, including panel discussions, workshops, Q&A sessions, and table reads. These events provided opportunities for attendees to engage with filmmakers and gain insights into the art and craft of filmmaking.
"We are thrilled to honor these talented filmmakers and storytellers who have contributed their unique voices and visions to the world of cinema," said Patrice Francois, Festival Director of ITWIFF. "Their dedication to storytelling and commitment to diversity in film are truly inspiring. We look forward to continuing to support and celebrate their work."
ITWIFF extends its sincere congratulations to all the award winners and participants in this year's festival. The festival's dedication to championing women and non-binary filmmakers remains steadfast, and it looks forward to continuing to provide a platform for these voices in the years to come.
For more information about the Imagine This Women's Film Festival and to explore the list of award-winning films and screenplays, please visit here.
About Imagine This Women's International Film Festival (ITWIFF):
The Imagine This Women's Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to showcasing films and screenplays created by women and non-binary filmmakers from around the world. Founded on the principles of empowerment, diversity, and creativity, ITWIFF aims to amplify the voices of underrepresented storytellers in the film industry. The festival features a diverse selection of films, panel discussions, workshops, and special events designed to celebrate the art of cinema and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.