The 2011 SOHO International Film Festival wrapped up in New York City last Friday, April 22nd, 2011 with its award ceremony. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of the very first NYC ICON AWARD to legendary character actor, Frank Vincent (“Raging Bull”, “Goodfellas”, “Sopranos”) honoring a New York film artist who has achieved a high degree of creative excellence over the years.
“Tanzania: A Friendship Journey” captured both the Best World Showcase and the Best Documentary awards with director Sylvia Caminer and Venance Ndibalema (one of the main characters in the documentary), accepting the silver lady statue.
“The Bad Penny” nabbed the Best Showcase Feature Film Award for U.S. Director Todd Bellanca, with “Pipe Dreams” taking Best Showcase Short Film Award for Director Ben Green.
Director Joni Steele Kimberlin’s documentary “Get Real! Wise Women Speak” won the Feature Film Audience Award, with Australian Director Lisa Kappel’s “Wordless” taking the Short Film Audience Award.
A special trophy for Excellence in Cinematography was awarded to the film “Ganap na Babae” directed by Filipino directors Rica Arevalo, Ellen Ramos and Sarah Roxas.
Other films screened at this year’s festival, included “Jesse” Fred Carpenter (director), Michael Wright, Eric Roberts, William Forsythe (actors); “Going Somewhere” Nicco Quinones (director); “One Big Hapa Family” & “Ode to a Post it Note” Jeff Chiba Stearns (director); “Mountain Thief” Gerry Balasta (director); “Beautiful” John Gallagher (director); “Salim” Pablo Docimo (director); “Ficurinie” Marco Gozzo (director); “Kindergarten Shuffle” Douglas Morse (director); “God’s Land” Preston Miller (director); “Tarima” Neal Tan (director), Fanny Serrano (actor); “One Dry Run” T.J. Thine (director/actor); “The Birds Upstairs” Christopher Jarvis (director); “Close-Up” Jose Cruz Jr. (director); “The Birthday Circle” Phillip Lepherd (director); “Lesson Plan” David Jeffrey & Phillip Neel (director); “Inconclusive” Justin Ho (director); “The Usual” Chris Spisak (director); “Lost Harmony” Taka Yamato (director); “Break” Maurice Moore (director); “A Little Story” Angel Cho (director) to name a few.
The festival also presented a special screening of “In Between” by Deborah Twiss and “The Hungry Ghosts” by Michael Imperioli, and “A Night of Independent German Cinema” featuring the films “Sie Hat Es Verdient”(She Deserved It) and the International Release of “Angel Express: Director’s Cut”.
The Festival announced next year’s dates as April 20 – 27, 2012. Submissions will open in May 2011.