The 25th Anniversary edition of the Sarasota Film Festival (SFF) closed on Sunday, April 2 with On A Wing And A Prayer, directed by Sean McNamara, and announced the Jury and Audience Award winners.
Other People’s Children directed by Rebecca Zlotowski took home this year’s Narrative Feature Jury prize and Invisible Beauty directed by Bethann Hardison & Frédéric Tcheng was the Documentary Feature Jury prize winner.
In Other People’s Children, Zlotowski shows a bold portrayal of mid-life female subjectivity, and Virginie Efira delivers a performance that leaves a startling, unforgettable impression with her subtle command of the screen. The film also captures Paris’s beauty without resorting to familiar tropes.
Beautifully crafted and featuring exquisite archival footage, Invisible Beauty offers a unique look at Bethann Hardison through past stories from she, and those she has worked so hard to champion. The film’s narrative elegantly captures the subjects’ resilience and ability to overcome adversity, and fight for what they deserve — a place on the runway.
Other awards including the festival’s Independent Visions Award went to Late Bloomers directed by Lisa Steen; Inés Unfortunately, directed by Anna Salinas won Best US Narrative Short; Hidden Gems, directed by Marquis Dawsey, Best Documentary Short; and Astroman, directed by Alistair Simpson, Best International Short.
Festival patrons also awarded KT Curran’s Bridge to the Other Side with the Local Audience Award, recognizing local productions from Gulf Coast filmmakers, and Bethann Hardison & Frédéric Tcheng’s Invisible Beauty with the Industry Audience Award.
At the Closing Day celebrations, Emmy-nominated actress-producer Roma Downey was honored with the Sarasota Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. Downey also produced On A Wing And A Prayer.
During the festival, SFF also honored Emmy Award-winning comedian and television host Jay Leno with the festival’s Career Achievement Award; and Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of Grammy Award-winning folk-rock duo Indigo Girls with the Sarasota Maestro Award.
Congratulations to the 2023 winners of The Sarasota Film Festival Awards:
Jury Awards
Narrative Feature Competition Winner
“Other People’s Children” Director: Rebecca Zlotowski
Documentary Feature Competition Winner
“Invisible Beauty”
Directors: Bethann Hardison & Frédéric Tcheng
Narrative Feature Jury Special Mention
“Bridge to the Other Side” Director: KT Curran
Documentary Feature Jury Special Mention
“The Conspiracy”
Director: Maxim Pozdorovkin
Independent Visions Competition Winner
“Late Bloomers” Director: Lisa Steen
US Narrative Short Competition Winner
“Inés Unfortunately” Director: Anna Salinas
Documentary Short Competition Winner
“Hidden Gems”
Director: Marquis Dawsey
International Short Competition Winner
“Astroman”
Director: Alistair Simpson
Audience Awards
Local Audience Award Winner
“Bridge to the Other Side” Director: KT Curran
Industry Audience Award Winner
“Invisible Beauty”
Directors: Bethann Hardison & Frédéric Tcheng