aGLIFF ANNOUNCES 2021 AWARD WINNERS FOR PRISM 34
Austin’s oldest film festival, aGLIFF (All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival) announces jury award winners for PRISM 34 which took place August 26 – September 6, 2021, both virtually and in-person in Austin, TX.
This year’s jury was selected based on each of their expertise and accomplishments in their respective fields, and in the art of film and filmmaking. Jurors deliberated extensively before submitting their choices; this year’s jurors were Erin C. Buckley, Shawn Cotter, Gary Jaffee, Susan Sandler, Kristal Sotomayer, Mari Walker, Jenn Brown, Ryan Spahn, and Jonathan Wysocki.
A full list of this year’s jurors including bios for PRISM 34 is available at agliff.org/jury.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the party we threw under difficult circumstances. It is essential for filmmakers to be able to experience their work on the big screen with a live audience, something that cannot be replicated virtually,” said aGLIFF Artistic Director Bears Rebecca Fonté. “I’m also real proud of our board that they chose to support filmmakers in this difficult time by providing travel and accommodations for over a dozen of them to attend the festival.”
Additionally, filmmakers were awarded prizes at the Queer Black Voices Fund celebrating queer black filmmakers in the industry. After two weekends of successful online and in-person events festival organizers will announce dates for PRISM 35 in the coming weeks.
Images for Opening Night and the Queer Black Voices Fund event can be found HERE.
“While it wasn't the grand festival we had planned, PRISM 34 was superb in every way. From the North American premiere of Blitzed: The 80's Blitz Kids Story on opening night to the Drive-In & Drag event with director D'Arcy Drollinger and local drag icon Nadine Hughes, it was truly special,” said aGLIFF acting President Todd Hogan-Sanchez. “We screened over 100 films and hosted nearly three dozen filmmakers from around the world. It was a remarkable 12-days of celebrating LGBTQ+ stories on film."
This year’s audience award, known as “The Humdinger,” was selected by the viewers of aGLIFF Prism 34 and named after festival founder, Scott Dinger.
SCOTT DINGER AUDIENCE AWARD:
Audience Award Prize: FIREBIRD directed by Peeter Rebane | Southwest Premiere
JURIED COMPETITION:
Best Documentary Jury Prize: LITTLE GIRL directed by Sebastien Lifshitz =
Documentary Jurors: Susan Sandler, Kristal Sotomayer, and Mari Waker
“LITTLE GIRL directed by Sebastien Lifshitz is receiving the aGLIFF Documentary Award recognizing the exceptional portrait of a radiant family supporting their daughter and the painful sacrifices they make along the way. In particular, the powerful cinematography in intimate settings, meditative pacing, and evolution of the characters brought about a graceful portrayal of a child in the face of resistance in an idyllic French community to live her authentic life. We hope this honor will bring attention to this film as a perfect example of what advocacy should look like as we confront institutional battles -at school and within communities- to support queer youth.”
Honorable Mention: NORTH BY CURRENT directed by Angelo Madsen Minax | Southwest Premiere
“The jury also provided an honorable mention to North by Current directed by Angelo Madsen Minax as a searing, inventive documentary and exceptional personal statement about the secrets and lies we keep within families.”
Best Narrative Jury Prize: LOVE, SPELLS, AND ALL THAT written & directed by Ümit Ünal
Narrative Jurors: Jenn Brown, Ryan Spahn, and Jonathan Wysocki
“Ümit Ünal's captivating tale of long-lost love and second chances transports us to a beautiful island where anything is possible - even magic itself. Featuring superb performances from Selen Uçer and Ece Dizdar, the two actors deftly draw us into their enchanted entanglements, reminding us that it is never too late to surrender to destiny. For its stellar cinematography, flourishing single-take scenes, inspired direction, and its remarkable ability to tell a grand story on a small scale, we award “Love, Spells, and All That” with the 2021 aGliff Jury Award for “Best Film.””
Best Short Jury Prize: WHAT IS A WOMAN? directed by Marin Håskjold
Shorts Jurors: Eric C. Buckley, Shawn Cotter, and Gary Jaffee
“In Norwegian writer/director Marin Håskjold’s “What is a Woman?” a locker room debate on the rights of a trans woman grows into a wide-reaching exploration of gender as something lived and experienced by real individuals. Håskjold’s camera peers at its subjects with documentary-like objectivity, compelling us to reconsider our assumptions about human bodies while Håskjold’s terrific cast brings grounded authenticity to the diverse perspectives represented in the story. As Governor Abbott and the Texas Legislature continue to wage war on trans people, “What is a Woman?” captures a critical conversation happening in Norway, in Texas, and around the world. With singular vision, Håskjold moves that conversation forward.”
QUEER BLACK VOICES FUND AWARDEES:
PURE directed by Natalie Jasmine Harris
SMOKE, LILIES, AND JADE directed by Deondray Gossfield and Quincy LeNear Gossfield
FEED ME directed by Soma Okoye
The Queer Black Voices Fund was created in response to the events last year surrounding the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Javier Ambler, among other incidents between police officers and African Americans. The fund has been set up to ensure that queer Black filmmakers, directors, writers, and actors are represented as part of aGLIFF programming every year. The organization will begin awarding grants this year to cover costs associated with submitting and showing qualified films as part of PRISM 34 and aGLIFF’s year-round programming. The fund also will be used to cover travel expenses to bring filmmakers to Austin for special events surrounding the festival when possible.
aGLIFF board member, Lenore Shefman of Shefman Law gave the fund a jump start by pledging to match donations made to the Queer Black Voices Fund up to $5,000, which was matched during the 2020 festival. The fund has raised nearly $12,0000 to date and aGLIFF continues to fundraise as part of its ongoing commitment to future Queer Black filmmakers.
