The 31st Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) recently recognized outstanding films from its diverse slate of contenders. This prestigious event, presented by HamptonsFilm, celebrated cinematic creativity from 42 nations.
Notably, nearly half of the films were directed by women. This year’s festival was extraordinary in participation, boasting 72 features and 46 shorts. The screenings comprised 8 World Premieres, 3 North American Premieres, and many more. Silvercup Studios generously sponsored the competition section screenings.
The most coveted award, Best Narrative Feature, went to 20,000 Species of Bees, directed by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren. This poignant film, which garnered a $2,500 cash prize along with $72,500 in-kind benefits, explored childhood through the eyes of an eight-year-old grappling with identity. Jury members Arianna Bocco, David Koepp, and Matt Singer lauded its sensitive portrayal.
Another highlight was Nick August-Perna’s Tell Them You Love Me, which was awarded the Best Documentary Feature. This riveting film delves into issues of power, race, gender, and disability. The Documentary Competition Jury was captivated by August-Perna’s nuanced narrative, which presented a challenging topic respectfully.
Xinying Lao’s Xiaohui and His Cows and Volker Schlecht’s The Waiting were declared Best Narrative and Documentary Short Films, respectively, each earning a $1,000 prize.
In addition to the competitive awards, HIFF honored several films with special prizes and recognitions. These included awards for filmmaking promoting peace, equality, and justice and movies focusing on animal rights and environmental protection.
The Audience Awards were another highlight, with Fresh Kills and Angel Applicant winning Best Narrative and Documentary Features, respectively. Two films, Forgotten Founders: David Hempstead, Senior, and Merv, jointly won the Audience Award for Best Short Film.
The festival also uplifted young talent through its University Short Film Awards, acknowledging emerging filmmakers with cash prizes.
Among the notable attendees were industry stalwarts like David Allen, Joanna Arnow, Jennifer Esposito, Jesse Eisenberg, Liev Schreiber, and many others.
In closing remarks, HamptonsFilm Artistic Director David Nugent expressed gratitude to the filmmakers, the audience, and the community for their warm reception and engagement. HamptonsFilm Executive Director Anne Chaisson thanked the diligent staff, sponsors, partners, and esteemed guests for ensuring another successful year of engaging discussions and dynamic film screenings.
Over the years, HIFF has awarded over $5 million to filmmakers. This year alone saw awards in cash and services totaling over $124,000.
The festival gratefully acknowledged its sponsors, which included Audi, The Macallan, King & Spalding, UBS, Variety, The Atlantic, and more.
For more details on the award winners and information about the festival, visit the official HIFF website.
