The 29th annual Miami International Film Festival wrapped and presented juried awards in the following competition categories: Ibero-American and Documentary; Short Film, and Ibero-American Opera Prima.
THE 2012 MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS ARE:
KNIGHT FOUNDATION IBERO-AMERICAN COMPETITION:
Knight Foundation Grand Jury Prize: Bonsái from Chile, a co-production with Argentina, Portugal and France, directed by Cristián Jiménez – a $30,000 USD cash prize awarded by the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which will be split with US distributor Strand Releasing.
Grand Jury Discretionary Prize: Blood of My Blood, from Portugal, directed by João Canijo– a $5,000 USD cash prize awarded by the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Grand Jury Discretionary Prize: Violeta Went to Heaven, from Chile, a co-production with Argentina and Brazil, directed by Andrés Wood – a $5,000 USD cash prize awarded by the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
KNIGHT FOUNDATION IBERO-AMERICAN DOCUMENARY COMPETITION:
Knight Foundation Grand Jury Prize: The Imposter from United Kingdom, directed by Bart Layton – a $10,000 USD cash prize awarded by the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Honorable Mention: Unfinished Spaces, from USA, directed by Alysa Nahmias and Benjamin Murray
Honorable Mention: The Strawberry Tree, from Canada, directed by Simone Rapisarda Casanova
THE JORDAN ALEXANDER RESSLER SCREENWRITING AWARD:
Bonsái from Chile, a coproduction with Argentina, Portugal and France, screenplay by Cristián Jiménez, based on the novel by Alejandro Zambra —a $5,000 USD cash prize awarded by the Jordan Alexander Ressler Charitable Fund; open to films in the Ibero-American Competition
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SHORTS COMPETITION:
University of Miami Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film: Catharsis, from France, directed by Cédric Prévost —a $2,500 USD cash prize awarded by the University of Miami
LEXUS IBERO-AMERICAN OPERA PRIMA competition –
Lexus Opera Prima Award: Expiration Date, from Mexico, directed by Kenya Márquez — $5,000 USD cash prize sponsored by Lexus, official automotive sponsor of MIFF.