The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival just celebrated its 10th year with a bang. The festival, held between August 21-25 in Middlebury, Vermont, honored two exceptional films—Los Frikis and Porcelain War—as among the best of this year’s crop of films.
Headlining WINNERS
Los Frikis, a film created by the dynamic duo—Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson—scooped up the ‘Best Narrative Feature’ award. The film traces the journey of Cuban punk rockers in the early ’90s who purposely infected themselves with HIV-positive blood. The intent? To live confined—but peacefully, in the isolated sanatoriums of communist Cuba.
Porcelain War also deserves its share of the spotlight. Directed by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev, it walked away with not one, but two awards. The film bagged the ‘Best Documentary Feature’ and the ‘Gamble-Paison Prize for Best International Feature Film.’ The story follows a dedicated couple, Slava and Anya, and their dog, Frodo, as they navigate the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While Anya creates delicate porcelain art amidst ceaseless bombing, the others join the frontlines in a special ops unit.
Festival Gems Worth Noting
While these two films stole the show, other films also left a lasting impression. Rachel Seed’s film, ‘A Photographic Memory’—an intimate exploration of the mother she never knew—won the ‘Ralph Steiner Prize for Poetic Cinema.’
‘Mediha,’ directed by Hasan Oswald, took the ‘Hernandez/Bayliss Prize for the Triumph of the Human Spirit.’ It tells the daring tale of an Iraqi-Yazidi teenager who overcame the gruesome ordeal of being kidnapped and held captive by ISIS.
A Quick Look at Other Winners
From award-winning shorts like ‘A Good Day Will Come’ and ‘Oasis’ to audience favorites like ‘My Place Ozerna’ and ‘The Quilters.’ New Wave, Promise Fall, Running for the Mountains, and others also found themselves at the receiving end of accolades.
Honoring the Individuals Behind the Lens
Not just films, the festival also acknowledged the people behind the success of these works. Various honorees included renowned film stalwarts like Oliver Stone, John Patrick Shanley, Paul Tazewell, Bess O’Brien, and Andy Mitchell. Their contributions to the world of cinema were duly recognized, and their indelible impact well appreciated.
Wrapping UP the Festival
Year after year, the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival underscores its dedication to nurturing first and second-time filmmakers. It serves as a dynamic platform that promotes fresh narratives, showcases diverse voices, and celebrates the spirit of independent cinema. As they close their tenth year, undoubtedly, they’ve got their eyes set on the horizon, ready to unearth more unique storytellers.
So, here’s raising a toast to all the winners, participants, and festival organizers for delivering yet another successful year of films that provoke, inspire, and entertain. Now, let the countdown to the 11th festival begin!
