‘My Dead Friend Zoe,’ ‘Porcelain War’ Win At Woodstock Film Festival

Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ directorial debut My Useless Good friend Zoe took the Grand Jury prize for Finest Function Narrative Saturday evening because the Woodstock Movie Pageant offered awards for its silver jubilee version.

The movie stars Sonequa Martin-Inexperienced, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman in a story of a feminine veteran of the battle in Afghanistan who “comes face to face together with her Vietnam vet grandfather on the household’s ancestral lake home.” The characteristic grew out of a brief movie directed by Hausmann-Stokes, himself a U.S. Military veteran who served in Iraq.

The jury, comprised of Oren Moverman, Roger Ross Williams, and Debra Granik, wrote, “For a standout central efficiency that delves into the darkness of the human psyche within the aftermath of its most excessive brutality, and for shining a light-weight on the tragic penalties of battle on those that are despatched in our title to struggle, we the jury unanimously award the Finest Function Narrative movie on the twenty fifth Annual Woodstock Movie Pageant to My Useless Good friend Zoe.”

My Useless Good friend Zoe additionally received the Haskell Wexler Award for Finest Cinematography, recognizing the work of DOP Matt Sakatani Roe. Richard Rowley served because the jury for the cinematography award, writing of My Useless Good friend Zoe, “With clear eyes and precision, this movie finds the buried guilt and trauma of a battle that we as a rustic have nonetheless failed to come back to phrases with.

“With gentle, composition, and cautious lensing, the digicam balances the movie’s delicate mixture of levity and weight, grace and cruelty, the documentary and the hallucinatory.”

My Useless Good friend Zoe additional earned an Honorable Point out for Finest Narrative modifying, recognizing the contribution of editor Ali Greer.  

Woodstock’s Grand Jury Award for Finest Function Documentary went to Porcelain Battle, directed by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev. The movie, winner of the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary at Sundance, facilities on Leontyev and his spouse, Anya Stasenko, each Ukrainian artists who collaborate on items even because the Russian invasion of their nation continues and Leontyev serves within the Ukrainian military.

Ivy Meeropol, Angela Patton, and Julie Goldman made up Woodstock’s doc jury. They wrote, partially, “This yr’s winner captivated us with its intimate portrayal of resilience and artistry within the face of battle. The movie we selected stood out for its visually gorgeous cinematography and deeply emotional storytelling, mixing the worlds of artwork and battle in a method that feels recent and impactful.

“What units this movie aside is how private and uncooked it feels. A lot of the footage was shot by the themes themselves, giving the movie an authenticity and immediacy that deeply moved us.”

Porcelain Battle additionally received the Finest Documentary Modifying Award, honoring the efforts of Brendan Bellomo, Aniela Sidorska, and Kelly Cameron. (Jurors for the modifying prize have been Sabine Hoffman, Derek McCants, and Gabriel Rhodes).

The NYWIFT Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking Award went to Troll Storm, directed by Eunice Lau. The dignity comes with a $1,000 prize and NYWIFT 6-month membership.

Brooklyn, Minnesota, directed by Jessica Clean and Erik Jensen, received two prizes on the evening together with Finest Extremely Indie. Jurors Shruti Ganguly, Sean Worth Williams, and Blair Breard wrote, “Our alternative for the winner of the Extremely Indie movie is a layered household drama that strikes by time and place. Despite the finances, the movie felt expansive and unconstrained, a testomony to assured movie craft.

“Grounded by a rebellious teenager looking for her place on the earth, whereas collaging her household’s difficult historical past, the viewers is made to look at what it means to confront and restore our previous, and to seek out reference to one another.”

Brooklyn, Minnesota additionally received the NYWIFT Excellence in Narrative Filmmaking Award, which comes with a $1,000 prize and NYWIFT 6-month membership

Woodstock, at its 25^th version, additionally offered quite a lot of honorary awards. Author-director Paul Schrader, whose newest narrative characteristic Oh, Canada screened on the pageant, obtained the Honorary Maverick Award. “Famend producer Ira Deutchman obtained the Honorary Trailblazer Award. Globally celebrated filmmakers and human rights activists Pamela Yates and Paco de Onís obtained the inaugural Artwork of Activism Award,” the pageant famous.

Yates has been making documentaries for over 40 years, together with the 1983 traditional When the Mountains Tremble (co-directed with Newton Thomas Sigel). Accepting the Artwork of Activism Award, Yates famous that she and de Onís are presently on a 26-tour with their newest movie, Borderland, “about immigrant leaders organizing a strong motion within the shadow of the border industrial complicated.” Reflecting on her cinematic work, Yates informed the Woodstock viewers, “I used to be typically requested and have spent my skilled profession answering, ‘Are you an artist or are you an activist?’ I’d say, ‘I’m each.’ Like a human rights lawyer who makes use of the legislation as a device to make sure human rights, we use the facility of cinema and the universality of storytelling in our follow as human rights defenders.”

Among the many filmmakers, expertise and different luminaries readily available for WFF’s 25^th version have been Paul Schrader, Amanda Seyfried, Carol Kane, Walton Goggins, Tyra Banks, Sheila Nevins, Ramin Bahrani, Oren Moverman, Sandi Dubowski, Roger Ross Williams, Carla Gutierrez, Ira Deutchman, Nancy Savoca, Carol Alt, Stacey Williams, Michael Schwartz, Tyler Nilson, and Amy Goodman.

Under is the total record of award winners offered Saturday night:

—Gigantic Footage Award For Finest Function Narrative: My Useless Good friend Zoe, directed by Kyle Hausmann Stokes.

Jurors: Oren Moverman (Producer/Author, The Messenger, I’m Not There, Unhealthy Training), Roger Ross Williams (Director, Music By Prudence, Stamped from the Starting, Cassandro), and Debra Granik (Director/Author, Winter’s Bone, Depart No Hint, All the way down to the Bone)

Jury Assertion: For a standout central efficiency that delves into the darkness of the human psyche within the aftermath of its most excessive brutality, and for shining a light-weight on the tragic penalties of battle on those that are despatched in our title to struggle, we the jury unanimously award the Finest Function Narrative movie on the twenty fifth Annual Woodstock Movie Pageant to My Useless Good friend Zoe.

—The Leon Gast Award For Finest Function Documentary: Porcelain Battle, directed by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev.

Jurors: Ivy Meeropol (Director, After the Chew, Bully. Coward. Sufferer. The Story of Roy Cohn, Angela Patton (Director, Daughters), Julie Goldman (Producer, Abacus: Small Sufficient to Jail, Life, Animated, Within the Similar Breath)

Jury Assertion: This yr’s winner captivated us with its intimate portrayal of resilience and artistry within the face of battle. The movie we selected stood out for its visually gorgeous cinematography and deeply emotional storytelling, mixing the worlds of artwork and battle in a method that feels recent and impactful.

What units this movie aside is how private and uncooked it feels. A lot of the footage was shot by the themes themselves, giving the movie an authenticity and immediacy that deeply moved us.

This quote from the movie resonates all through: “As an artist, I’m not considering documenting evil however moderately the individuals who resist it,” The concentrate on the resilience and bravado of these preventing again towards unimaginable devastation creates a deeply humanizing narrative that transcends the everyday battle documentary.

The breathtaking cinematography and stirring, magical rating solely add to the movie’s emotional depth, making it greater than only a documentary about battle however a tribute to the braveness and hope of these dwelling by it.

For its highly effective storytelling and distinctive skill to humanize such a fancy actuality, we’re thrilled to award Porcelain Battle this yr’s honor for Finest Function Documentary.

—Haskell Wexler Award For Finest Cinematography: My Useless Good friend Zoe, directed by Kyle Hausmann Stokes, cinematography by Matt Sakatani Roe.

Juror: Richard Rowley (Director, Kingdom of Silence, 16 Photographs, Soiled Wars)

Jury Assertion: This yr’s movies embody the total vary of cinematography’s potential—from the hand-held urgency of scrappy independents, to the clean-lined scope of sweeping epics, to the shallow-focused intimacy of private dramas.

It’s, as at all times, a troublesome award to provide out. However this yr, one movie stood aside.

With clear eyes and precision, this movie finds the buried guilt and trauma of a battle that we as a rustic have nonetheless failed to come back to phrases with.

With gentle, composition, and cautious lensing, the digicam balances the movie’s delicate mixture of levity and weight, grace and cruelty, the documentary and the hallucinatory.

This years’ Cinematography Award goes to: Cinematographer Matt Sakatani Roe for My Useless Good friend Zoe.

—NYWIFT Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking Award: Troll Storm, directed by Eunice Lau

Introduced by NYWIFT Board Member Kim Jackson, an award of $1,000 is given to every Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking recipient, plus a certificates and a NYWIFT 6 month membership.

Jury Assertion: We recognize Eunice Lau’s journalistic method to social justice in selecting her topic in Troll Storm. Shining a light-weight, throughout these unprecedented political instances, on a Jewish lady’s private battle towards antisemitism reveals us simply how simply we may discover ourselves changing into the goal of dangerous harassment. And by selecting to withstand, unjust oppression shouldn’t be solely made seen it’s held accountable.

 —NYWIFT Excellence in Narrative Filmmaking Award: Brooklyn, Minnesota, directed by Jessica Clean and Erik Jensen.

Introduced by NYWIFT Board Member Kim Jackson, an award of $1,000 is given to every Excellence in Narrative Filmmaking recipient, plus a certificates and a NYWIFT 6 month membership.

Jury Assertion: The directing duo Jessica Clean and Erik Jensen captured a contemporary coming of age story that’s each entertaining and interesting. Reflecting numerous household points, the movie explores how generational trauma may be healed when one has the assist and braveness to face up for what they consider.

—World of HA Change-Maker Award: Sabbath Queen, directed by Sandi Dubowski.

The Change-Maker Award honors a filmmaker whose work, both narrative or documentary, most successfully delves deep right into a urgent up to date concern and generates a constructive dialog. The award comes with a $5,000 money prize courtesy of World of HA.

Jury assertion: 21 years within the making, Sabbath Queen follows a radical and individualistic non secular chief in his quest to problem the norms, observe his desires, and encourage a big artistically pushed neighborhood that, collectively, strives for tolerance, respect for human life, and peace for all.

—Finest Brief Documentary Award: Bob’s Funeral, directed by Jack Dunphy. Honorable Point out: I Am Prepared, Warden directed by Smriti Mundhra.

Jurors: Josh Alexander (Author/Producer, Loudmouth, Jay Myself, United Skates), Emma Pildes (Director/Producer, The Janes, Spielberg, Jane Fonda in 5 Acts, Very Ralph), and John Hoffman (Director, The Barber of Little Rock, Fauci, The Antidote, Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman)

Jury Assertion: The Award for Finest Documentary Brief this yr goes to Bob’s Funeral; an idiosyncratic, tender and sometimes hilarious portrait of 1 very complicated and a few would possibly say, neurotic household, navigating the troublesome terrain of strained relations and demise. The movie heralds a singular and fantastic new filmmaking voice. By means of a assured assemblage of household archive, handheld verite, together with two funerals and a few nicely earned nudity together with expertly realized animated sequences, we witness a story-teller pushing the sides of his craft to heartfully and humorously discover the customarily troublesome contours of affection, anger, connection and disconnection that may outline households. The jury felt that in its comedian and delightfully entertaining methodology, Bob’s Funeral is as deeply radical and impactful because the issue-driven movies typically honored with jury distinction at movie festivals.

Honorable Point out: The jury want to lengthen an honorable point out to I Am Prepared, Warden, a movie with scenes of such honest and ferocious humanity that they are going to possible stick with us perpetually. To seize moments like these requires not only a mastery of craft however a filmmaker with the soulfulness and deep nicely of compassion for his or her topics. Congratulations on creating an distinctive piece of labor.

—Finest Brief Narrative Award: Obraza (Resentment), directed by Gleb Osatinski

Jurors: Ryan Werner (Head of Cinetic Advertising), Scott Macaulay (Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Filmmaker Journal), and Lawrence Inglee (Producer, The Messenger, Swiss Military Man, The Day After Tomorrow)

Jury Assertion: For its daring and suave immersion into the conflicted psyche of an adolescent dealing with prejudice whereas striving for a brand new life, the jury awards the Brief Movie Award to Gleb Osatinski for “Resentment.”

—Finest Scholar Brief Award: Some Sort of Bug, directed by Andy Rose H. Fidoten. Honorable Point out: Future is Panorama, directed by Muschirf Shekh Zeyn.

Jurors: Jamie Buckner (Producer, Asphalt Metropolis, The Sixth Reel, Catch the Truthful One), Susan Jacobs (Music Supervisor, Huge Little Lies, American Hustle, Cruella, True Detective) and Clare Manchon (Composer/Music Division, Flip Each Web page, The Insufferable Weight of Large Expertise, Black Field)

Jury Assertion: Some Sort Of Bug is a couple of mom daughter relationship, the judgments forged inside their relationship, and within the broader world. It’s a really distinctive take with a whole emotional arc, nice performances, cinematography, manufacturing design and music. It’s mature, affected person, sensible, witty, poignant filmmaking. This movie feels as if it may very well be a pilot to a complete collection, we need to see extra. We will’t wait to see what Andy Fidoten does subsequent.

Honorable Point out: Future Is Panorama was skillfully executed. The lead was highly effective. The unfolding of this deeply suspenseful story was pushed by nice cinematography, modifying and narrative. A heartbreaking look into actuality for thus many migrants attempting to work exhausting and match right into a society that rejects them on so many ranges.

—Finest Brief Animation Award: The Wild-Tempered Clavier by Anna Samo

Jurors: Pleasure Buran (Animator, Netflix, NBC, Cartoon Community, Amazon Studios), Noelle Melody (Animator, Netflix, NBC, Cartoon Community, Amazon Studios) and Patrick Smith (Director/Animator, Past Noh, Gun Store, Onward Ye Costumed Souls)

Jury Assertion: The successful quick is a intelligent and refreshing tribute to the custom of drawing straight on movie, utilizing this premise to untangle the animator’s private struggles and psychological anguish. This playfully experimental movie has been meticulously crafted to specific this private story that engages the viewer straight; in story, design, and approach. Additionally, this movie has a vibrant aura of private independence, like a painter on the easel, the viewers is invited to witness the animator’s thought course of, by peering by the artist’s personal POV. The winner of Finest Animated Brief goes to The Wild-Tempered Clavier by Anna Samo.

—Grey Schwartz Extremely Indie Award: Brooklyn, Minnesota directed by Jessica Clean and Erik Jensen.

Jurors: Shruti Ganguly (Director/Producer, To Kill a Tiger, Initials SG, Tripped Up), Sean Worth Williams (Director/Cinematographer, The Candy East, Good Time, Between The Temples), and Blair Breard (Producer, The Savant, Whereas You Had been Breeding, Scenes From A Marriage)

Jury Assertion: Our alternative for the winner of the Extremely Indie movie is a layered household drama that strikes by time and place. Despite the finances, the movie felt expansive and unconstrained, a testomony to assured movie craft.

Grounded by a rebellious teenager looking for her place on the earth, whereas collaging her household’s difficult historical past, the viewers is made to look at what it means to confront and restore our previous, and to seek out reference to one another.

We’re excited to provide the award to Brooklyn, Minnesota.

—Finest Documentary Modifying Award: Porcelain Battle, edited by Brendan Bellomo, Aniela

Sidorska, Kelly Cameron.

Jurors: Sabine Hoffman (Editor, Pachinko, Passing, The Glorias, Maggie’s Plan), Derek McCants (Editor, Nova, Witnesses to the Holocaust, Beginning Over), and Gabriel Rhodes (Editor, Gaucho Gaucho, Time, The First Wave, Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.)

Jury Assertion: Each movie nominated for this yr’s Documentary Modifying Award fantastically captured a narrative of braveness within the face of adversity. The jury was profoundly affected by the multitude of characters persevering by private struggles and every story was expertly crafted by the modifying.

With a fragile contact, the editors of this yr’s winner created a wealthy sense of intimacy regardless of the big scale of its story. We discovered the movie to be artfully crafted and extremely transferring. The editors have been in a position to fuse a strong depiction of unlikely warriors in a battle zone with a loving and stunning portrait of artists.

This yr’s winner of the Documentary Modifying Award goes to: Porcelain Battle and its editors Brendan Bellom, Kelly Cameron and Aniela Sidorska

 —Finest Narrative Modifying Award: Los Frikis, edited by Jon Otazua. Honorable Point out: My Useless Good friend Zoe, edited by Ali Greer.

Jurors: John David Allen (Editor, The Golden Bowl, Le Divorce, The White Countess, Metropolis of your Closing Vacation spot), Sabine Hoffman (Editor, Pachinko, Passing, The Glorias, Maggie’s Plan), Joanna Naugle (Editor, The Bear, Ramy, Huge Mouth), and Barry Alexander Brown (Editor, Do The Proper Factor, BlacKkKlansman, Malcolm X)

Jury Assertion: The jury want to award a particular Honorable Point out to a movie that explores the deeply private drama of a younger lady regaining her life after a traumatic incident. This movie brings consideration to the essential concern of veterans’ psychological well being by a touching friendship and surprising moments of levity, seamlessly edited with nice empathy by Ali Greer: My Useless Good friend Zoe.

There was one movie that basically impressed the jury when it comes to its dynamic rhythm, nuanced characters, and fantastically crafted montages. It shined a light-weight on critical and heartbreaking true occasions whereas balancing moments of pleasure and humor that felt genuine and charming. It’s clear this movie was thoughtfully and expertly assembled within the reducing room by absolutely immersing us in Nineties Cuba, capturing the power and individualism of punk music, and showcasing a stellar ensemble whose performances stayed with us lengthy after viewing. For these causes, we’re thrilled to provide the 2024 WFF Finest Narrative Modifying Award to Jon Otazua and his work on Los Frikas.

—Honorary Maverick Award: This yr’s Honorary Maverick Award was awarded to acclaimed author and director Paul Schrader.

The award was offered by acclaimed actor Amanda Seyfried who labored with Schrader on First Reformed. Identified for his provocative contributions to each mainstream and unbiased movie, Schrader’s collaborations with Martin Scorsese—together with Taxi Driver (Winner — Palme d’Or, Cannes Movie Pageant), Raging Bull, The Final Temptation of Christ and Bringing Out the Useless—are thought of a few of the most impactful works of screenwriting of the 20th century. Schrader’s many writer-director credit embody American Gigolo, Gentle Sleeper and First Reformed for which he was nominated for an Academy Award®. Different credit embody Affliction, The Card Counter; Grasp Gardener and his newest movie Oh, Canada, during which he reunites with American Gigolo star Richard Gere. A particular screening of Oh, Canada, happened on Saturday, October 19 adopted by a dialog with Schrader.

—Honorary Trailblazer Award: This yr’s Honorary Trailblazer Award was awarded to famend producer Ira Deutchman.

The award was offered by acclaimed director, producer, and screenwriter Nancy Savoca. Deutchman has been making, advertising and distributing movies since 1975, having labored on greater than 150 movies together with a few of the most profitable unbiased movies of all time. He was one of many founders of Cinecom and later created Positive Line Options—two corporations that have been created from scratch and, of their respective instances, helped outline the unbiased movie enterprise. Deutchman co-founded Rising Footage, the primary digital projection community in america and a pioneer in delivering dwell cultural occasions into film theaters. Deutchman’s newest tasks embody characteristic documentary Looking for Mr. Rugoff, Nickel & Dimed and Radio Ladies. In 2017, Deutchman was awarded the Highlight Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sundance Artwork Home Convergence for his service to unbiased movie advertising and distribution. He’s a Professor Emeritus within the College of the Arts at Columbia College, the place he has taught since 1987 and was the Chair of the Movie Program from 2011 to 2015.

—Artwork of Activism Award: Globally celebrated filmmakers and human rights activists Pamela Yates and Paco de Onís have been honored with the inaugural Artwork of Activism Award.

The award was offered by famend journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. Yates and de Onís are famend for his or her Guatemala trilogy, which incorporates When The Mountains Tremble, Granito: How To Nail A Dictator and 500 Years. These movies have been showcased globally and used as key forensic proof within the genocide trial towards Efraín Ríos Montt in Guatemala. Yates serves because the senior artistic director with de Onís serving as the manager director at Skylight, a not-for-profit human rights media group that mixes cinematic arts with the search for justice to encourage the protection of human rights. Their newest documentary, BORDERLAND | The Line Inside, directed by Yates and produced by de Onis, screened at this yr’s pageant and investigates the expensive border industrial complicated that targets immigrants.