Opening night film Ezra directed by Tony Goldwyn won the Audience Award for best feature film at the 13th Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) which took place from February 28 – March 3, 2024, screening 20 narrative and documentary features, 37 shorts, and three episodics. Bobby Cannavale won the inaugural Best Performance in a Film Award for his role in the film.
The Jury award for Best Narrative Feature Film went to Tiger Stripes, directed by Amanda Nell Eu and Maya and the Wave, directed by Stephanie Johnes won for Best Documentary Feature Film.
At the festival Annette Bening and David O. Russell received the Vision Award, Ted Hope received the Pioneer Award presented by Variety, and Julia Cox received the High Scribe Award.
The Sun Valley Film Festival is set to return next year, February 26 – March 2, 2025.
The full list of award winners are as follows:
SVFF 2024 Award Winners
Best Performance in a Film Award
WINNER: Bobby Cannavale for his role in Ezra
Audience Award Winners
Awarded to the film, episodic, and short which received the most votes from audience attendees.
FEATURE WINNER: Ezra, directed by Tony Goldwyn
EPISODIC WINNER: Photographer “Paul Nicklen & Cristina Mittermeier: Win or Die,” directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin
SHORT WINNER: Abundance: The Farmlink Story, directed by Owen Dubeck
Best Narrative Feature Film
Awarded to the best narrative feature film in the Festival.
WINNER: Tiger Stripes, directed by Amanda Nell Eu
HONORABLE MENTION FOR PERFORMANCE: Melissa Barrera in Your Monster directed by Caroline Lindy
Jury members were Ted Hope (American Independent Film Producer), Anna McMurphy (Chief People Officer, MNTN), George Prentice (Morning Edition Host and Reporter for NPR, Boise State Public Radio).
Best Documentary Feature Film
Awarded to the best documentary feature film in the festival.
WINNER: Maya and the Wave, directed by Stephanie Johnes
HONORABLE MENTION: Maestra, directed by Maggie Contreras
Jury members were Sam Bisbee (Producer and Founding Partner of Park Pictures Features), Tatiana Siegel (Executive Editor Film & Media, Variety), and Todd Traina (Executive Producer, Edge of Everything).
One in a Million Awards
The One in a Million Awards honor feature length stories made for under one million dollars. One narrative and one documentary film are each awarded. Respective juries noted above selected these winners.
NARRATIVE WINNER: Long December, directed by Thomas Torrey
DOCUMENTARY WINNER: Invisible Nation, directed by Vanessa Hope
The SVShorty Award
The best short film across all categories.
WINNER: Shut Up & Fish, directed by Raul Sanchez and Pasqual Gutierrez
SPECIAL MENTION: The Sperm Bank, directed by Margaux Susi
Jury members were Maggie Contreras (Director, Maestra), Thomas Torrey (Director, Long December), and Ian Michaels (Producer, Wayward).
The Gem State Award
The best short film made in Idaho. The films in the Idaho Shorts program are eligible for this award.
WINNER: The Balloonist, directed by Heather Parkinson Dermott and Kai Barry
SVFF Film & Screenwriting Competition Winners
High Scribe Award
The High Scribe honors an emerging voice in screenwriting with Howard Owens (Founder of Propagate Content, with recent credits including Hillary, Killing Kennedy, and Running Wild with Bear Grylls) serving as judge of the contest. Three finalists were selected and the below winner was chosen:
WINNER: Aman and Flor Against the Motherfucking World, written by Emilie McDonald
SVJR Film Competition
Showcases student-made films and encourages students in their craft, storytelling and self-expression.
HOT SHOT WINNER: The Overlocks’ Dilemma, directed by Julian Felix Aaronson
2nd PLACE: Happiness in the Palm of Her Hand, directed by Ella Janes
3rd PLACE: Anna McGee’s Wild Ride, directed by Ava Bounds
The Gem State Jr. Award
The best short film made in Idaho by a Junior Filmmaker. The films in the Idaho Shorts program are eligible for this award.
WINNER: Kenai River King, directed by Bentley Allen Zylstra