ImageOut Film Awards and Juries

THE 14TH ANNUAL AUDIENCE AWARDS

Winners are selected by our audience members. Ballots are provided at every screening. Audience recognition beyond applause is very important to filmmakers. Awards make a difference when filmmakers apply for grants/funding, submit to other film festivals, and seek distribution for their work. Help us support our filmmakers!

2015 AUDIENCE AWARD UNDERWRITERS

Best Narrative Feature:
Craig Woodward and Chris Mann

Best Documentary Feature:
Sally and Jamie Whitbeck

Best Short:
H. Winn McCray

2015 AUDIENCE AWARDS

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
Akron

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Guy With The Knife

BEST SHORT FILM
Trémulo (Trembling)

The 3rd Annual Jury Awards

International and local filmmakers, festival programmers, film critics, and film lovers will be selected to form the different juries selecting the Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Short from our Festival lineup.

2015 JURY AWARD UNDERWRITERS

Best Narrative Feature:
Chuck Lundeen and John Williams

Best Documentary Feature:
Nocon & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

Best Short:
Giuseppe Erba and Mark Pierzynski

2015 JURY AWARD WINNERS

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
Margarita, With A Straw

Jury Statement: For crafting a nuanced portrait of a young woman awakening to her desires on the journey to self-love and acceptance, the jury recognizes Shonali Bose’s Margarita, With A Straw as Best Narrative Feature. Bollywood film actress Kalki Koechlin inhabits the character of Laila in all her multisexual complexity, delivering a refreshing representation of intersectionality too rarely seen on screen. The joyful depiction of multiple queer and disabled bodies of color is a potent triple-whammy that loudly and proudly proclaims to the world “we are here, and we are worthy of love.”

SPECIAL JURY AWARD
Tangerine

Jury Statement: For elevating the craft of DIY filmmaking and shifting the lens to center trans lives as told by trans people, the jury wishes to confer a Special Narrative Jury Prize to Sean Baker’s Tangerine. Mya Taylor and Kitna Kiki Rodriguez give bravura performances as Alexandra and Sin-Dee in every moment of screen time. Baker doesn’t direct his performers so much as he gives them a platform and framework to present a coherent narrative stitched together from real events in their lives.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Guy With The Knife

Jury Statement: For its unique and complex story that only enriches the diversity of the LGBTQ community, which in turn shows us as full and intricate beings, the Jury bestows the Best Documentary Feature Award to Alison J Armstrong’s The Guy With The Knife. Much like Swoon in the early 90’s, the filmmaker does not shy away from controversy or taboo, does not adhere to so much of queer cinema portraying us as tragic victims. At once there can be great understanding as well as great disgust for each character in this film. That is a great feat.

SPECIAL JURY AWARD
Game Face

Jury Statement:The parallel stories of queer folks of color as well as addressing discrimination for being gay and also for being trans are imperative for the queer community at large to understand, to accept and to fight for. The documentary Game Face shows that no matter how we identify, we are all allies of one another and we have some common ground. The bravery of the sports subjects in sharing their stories while still being active in their respective fields, not knowing how their careers would be affected, is something that needs to be applauded.

BEST SHORT FILM
Hole

Jury Statement: At once arresting and moving, Hole challenges viewers and showcases queer sexuality in a way rarely seen on screen. Ken Harrower delivers a profoundly intimate performance in this remarkable short from Martin Edralin.

SPECIAL JURY AWARD
Stealth

Jury Statement: Timely and critically relevant, Stealth thoughtfully captures the experience of needing to be true to oneself more than fitting in. Kristina Hernandez, who we will undoubtedly see again, truly shines in Bennett Lasseter’s film.