The 28th Annual Miami International Film Festival began on Friday, March 4th and wrapped up Sunday, March 13th. The Awards Ceremony took place Saturday, March 12th at the festival crown jewel, the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts.
The ceremony was followed by 2011 Oscar nominee Incendies. Earlier in the week, the Oscar winning Director Susanne Bier garnered a Tribute Award for Career Achievement.
The Innovation in Industry Award, which honors a director that presents a unique vision in international filmmaking, was awarded to Morgan Spurlock for his The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. Spurlock is best known for his documentary Super Size Me.
The Lexus Pursuit of Perfection Award, designed to honor outstanding professional and civic achievements by minorities, was awarded to Executive Producer Andy Garcia, Director Aaron Salgado, and Producer Jaydee Freixas for their work on Magic City Memoirs.
Other festival winners:
Knight Foundation Ibero-American Competition
Grand Jury Prize: Marimbas From Hell (Las marimbas del infierno) by Julio Hernandez Cordon
Honorable Mention: Half of Oscar (La mitad de Oscar) by Manuel Martin Cuenca
Knight Foundation World Competition
Grand Jury Prize: The Piano in a Factory (Gang de qin) by Zhang Meng
Honorable Mention: Intimate Grammar (Hadikduk Hapnimi) by Nir Bergman
Knight Foundation Dox Competition
Grand Jury Prize: The Interrupters by Steve James
Honarable Mention: If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front by Marshall Curry
University of Miami Shorts Competition
University of Miami Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film: Blokes (Blockes) by Marialy Rivas
Honorable Mention: Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha46 by Anthony Vouardoux
Jordan Alexander Ressler Screenwriting Award
The husband-and-wife directing and screenwriting team of Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán of Jean Gentil
Venemovies Audience Awards
Best Feature Film: Hamill by Oren Kaplan
Best Short Film: Yuri Lennon's Landing on Alpha46 by Anthony Vouardoux
Florida Focus Competition
CINEMASLAM for College filmmakers in Miami
Winner: Augustus by Bobby Douge of Miami International University of Art & Design
Honorable Mention: Nurse Interrupted by Lara Fuchsbrauner of Miami International University of Art & Design
Miami Coalition For The Homeless for High School filmmakers in Miami
Winner: Homelessness: Just Look Around by Kasey Gonzalez, Emily Galvez and Lauren Thermes, South Dade Senior High