Somerville International Film Festival 2023 Awards

After a four-year hiatus, the Somerville International Film Festival was back this past weekend with an eclectic line-up of indie films from the US and around the globe. The festival made its comeback under the new management of Cinematory LLC, an established expert at serving the needs of respected international film festivals that share a common artistic vision. Aiming to inspire, motivate and award new talent, the festival took place in the bustling Davis Square neighborhood at the historic Somerville Theatre.

 

Chosen out of almost 1500 entries, this year's official selection featured 28 local and international films. Somerville International Film Festival is pleased to share with you today the award winners of its 2023 edition:

 

Best Narrative Feature Film: Provo (USA) by Emma Thatcher. “A self-destructive ex-Mormon finds out her abusive father is on his deathbed and road trips to Utah to reckon with her past.”

 

Best Documentary Feature Film: Score Until The Last Day (Greece) by Aris Tsiaras. “Alphonso Ford was a successful basketball player, carrying a big secret, leukemia. This is the incredible story of one of the biggest scorers that ever lived, the story of the greatest American basketball player, Americans never heard of. “

 

Best Narrative Short Film: Bellybutton (USA) by Hilary Eden. “A Y2K teen girl struggles to connect fantasy and reality when she gets a piercing on her birthday.”

 

Best Documentary Short Film: Everything is Free (USA) by Timothy Leong. “Take a look at the Somerville Facebook group that connects people with needs to people with excess: Everything Is Free. Through the stories and experiences of four different people, we get a better understanding of what makes a community.”

 

Best Animated Film: Slate Lines (USA) by Sarah E. Jenkins. “A line travels through slate ruins in post-industrial Wales.”

 

Best Underground Film: Disused (Sweden) by Susanne Walström, Ester Holmén. “A young woman suffers a sudden loss. Isolated from the outside world in a barren desert landscape, she processes her experience to understand and accept her feelings.”

 

Best Experimental Film: Winded (USA) by Joe Lueben. “Crafted entirely out of AI imagery, Winded is a reminder that the pandemic is not over despite society's attempts to move on and forget.”

 

Congratulations to all!