SOHO International Film Festival announces 2012 AWARDEES; DANNY AIELLO Tribute

April 28, 2012 - PRLog -- NEW YORK, NY - Another highly successful SOHO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SohoFilmFest) concluded last Friday, April 20, 2012, with industry celebrities in attendance throughout its week-long run at Sunshine Cinema.

Now in its third year, the festival has grown steadily each year, attracting an increasing number of independent filmmakers and films from all over the world. Founded by Jorge Ballos, the festival attracted hundreds of submissions this year from around the world.  Carlos Santiago headed the screening committee, which chose 65 films in categories ranging from documentaries and shorts, to features and special screenings.  The program featured films from the US,  Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Australia, Israel, Kenya, Japan, Spain, Turkey, and Bangladesh, and included 11 World Premieres and 33 New York Premieres.

“It's been a thrill to experience the growth of the festival," says Executive Director Sibyl Santiago. "The quality of the programming, the enthusiasm of the filmmakers, and the support of the audiences at our many sold out screenings bodes well for the future of SohoFilmFest.”

Closing night featured a tribute to Danny Aiello hosted by director John Gallagher, with the Oscar-nominated actor regaling the audience with reminiscences of his outstanding career in movies and on Broadway.  He previewed his new music videos in collaboration with Hasan, and offered advice to the many young filmmakers and actors on hand.  This event was followed by a 15th anniversary screening of Gallagher's NYC Indie cult comedy "The Deli," with many of the cast in attendance, including Mike Starr, Heather Matarazzo, Tony Sirico, and Joseph D'Onofrio.

Among the many guests of the festival were Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer with her directorial effort "The Unforgiving Minute," actress Beth Grant ("The Artist") with her filmmaking debut "The Perfect Fit," Carrie Preston (“True Blood”, “The Good Wife”) with her Sundance selection "That's What She Said," Australian director Michael Rymer (“Battlestar Galactica”, “Queen of the Damned”) with his feature “Face to Face,” recording artist Kevin Jonas, Michael Emerson (“Lost,” “Person of Interest”), Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Kevin Brown (“30 Rock”) with his film “The Shining Night,” producer Mark Lipsky (“The Nutty Professor,” “Digger 3D”), Victor Colicchio (“Summer of Sam”), Dan Conte (“The Sopranos”), actress-director Deborah Twiss (“Kick-Ass”), New York soul legend Milo Z, producer Louis Baldonieri and Dean McCann, an executive with the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting.

The panel “Paths of Glory: Distribution Battle Plans for Indie Filmmakers” featured CAVU Pictures’ distributors Isil Bagdadi and Michael Sergio, and The Orchard’s Doug Shineman, and entertainment attorney and former Miramax executive John Logigian in a rousing seminar that focused on distribution and marketing for independent films.

Filmmakers, actors, guest and friends were treated to nightly soirees at downtown nightspots presented by NiteTables.com, Los Vascos Wines, Voli Light Vodkas and Greenhouse NYC.  Awards Night was held on April 20, 2012 at W.I.P. (Work in Progress), with honors going to:

SHORT FILM AUDIENCE AWARD Winner: “THE PERFECT FIT” (US) Directed by: Beth Grant; FEATURE FILM AUDIENCE AWARD Winner:  “FORGETTING THE GIRL” (US) Directed by: Nate Taylor; BEST DOCUMENTARY Winner: “STREET JOURNEYS” (US/Kenya) Directed by: Tracy Christian; BEST SHOWCASE SHORT FILM Winner: “KINDERSPIEL” (GERMANY) Directed by: Lars Kornhoff; BEST WORLD SHOWCASE Winner:  “YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW (English Title)”(GERMANY) Directed by: Tim Trachte; BEST SHOWCASE FEATURE FILM Winner:  “STRINGS” (US) Directed by: Ben Foster & Mark Dennis; GRAND JURY AWARD Winner: “THE MULBERRY TREE” (US) Directed by: Mark Heller

Submissions for the 2013 SOHO International Film Festival commence on May 1st, 2012. The festival is produced with the support of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, bearing the logo “Made in NY”.

For more information, photos or interviews, please contact press@sohofilmfest.com l Website: www.sohofilmfest.com  l  Facebook, YouTube & Twitter@: SohoFilmFest