Orlando Hispanic Film Festival Announces 2009 Audience Award

Oct. 6, 2009 - PRLog -- The Orlando Hispanic Film Festival (OHFF) announce the 2009 Audience Award, Feature Documentary "The Borinqueneers" directed by Noemi Figueroa Soulet.  Additional winners of the Third Orlando Hispanic Film Festival (OHFF) were announced at the awards ceremony in the Plaza Cinema Café in downtown Orlando September 19, 2009. OHFF competition award winners are selected by an official award selection committee consisting of jurors representing a diverse pool of entertainment and educational professionals in Florida. 

The film festival attracted close to six thousand attendees—tripling the size of the event from year one. September 16th’s opening night blue carpet event, in honor of major sponsors JetBlue and the Orlando Magic, hosted celebrities Steven Bauer and Maria Conchita Alonso and attending filmmakers.  Also in attendance were the event's MC Joey Colon (Orlando Magic) and community leaders including Mayor Buddy Dyer, Commissioner Tony Ortiz, Blanquita Trabold (Casa De Mexico's Executive Director), Patrick Meson (representing the Consulate of Mexico), Ramon Ojeda (President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando) - among many others to help kick off and Hispanic Heritage Month and OHFF.

“This year’s festival was a success – the amount of great films we received representing 16 different countries to the attendees and partners who supported this year's festival was overwhelming.  We are proud that we are able to acknowledge the winning films in an Award Ceremony dedicated to our independent Latino filmmakers”, says James Schoepflin Executive Director of the OHFF.

Following are the winners for the 2009 Orlando Hispanic Film Festival based on their categories. Also available online at: http://www.ohfilmfestival.com/parties.html

Best Feature Film – ESL

Jury Award Feature Film– Morenita

Honorable Mention Feature Film– Vote for Me

Best Short Film – Bajo Siete Llaves

Jury Award Short Film – Las Estrellas Del Estuario

Honorable Mention Short Film – Lost Brother

Honorable Mention Short Film – En La Memoria

Best Documentary – El Sistema

Jury Award Documentary – Bienvenidos A Fleischmanns

Honorable Mention Documentary – Personal Che

Best Short Documentary - A Class Apart

Jury Award Short Documentary – The Edge of the Sea

Honorable Mention Short Documentary – Chocolate Country

Honorable Mention Short Documentary – New American Soldier

Best Animation – O Pintor De Ceos

Jury Award Animation – Tomboy

Best 3D Animation – Rocket Baby

Best Director – Breno Silveira, Once Upon a Time in Rio

Best Ensemble Cast – Morenita

Best Cinematography – Dennis Maloney, Vicious Circle

Best Actor Male – Cristian Castillo, El Cementerio De Los Elefantes

Best Actor Female – Vitoria Frate, Once Upon a Time in Rio

Audience Award - The Borinqueneers

About the Orlando Hispanic Film Festival
The Orlando Hispanic Film Festival (OHFF) is a competitive independent film festival and a high energy platform that recognizes independent filmmakers from around the world who integrate the Hispanic culture in their work and exposes the talent of Hispanic actors, directors, producers, screenwriters and cinematographers. The event draws a wide variety and fast growing independent film audience and provides a highly desirable platform where independent filmmakers from around the world can showcase their work to industry professionals and the entire Central Florida Community. During the Festival, awards are presented to top selected films, including the Audience Award where the public actively participates in the selection of the winning film. www.ohfilmfestival.com

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Standard Entertainment Inc. is a privately owned Production and distribution company which produces the only competitive Latino film festival in Florida.