Top Film Festival Awards Go to Actor Bruce Willis and International Filmmakers

Top Film Festival Awards Go to Actor Bruce Willis and International Filmmakers

THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE, SPOONER, KAREN KINGSBURY'S LIKE DANDELION DUST AND UNDER OUR SKIN WIN TOP AWARDS IN JURIED COMPETITIONS

SONOMA, Calif., April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Actor Bruce Willis, along with international filmmakers, took home top honors at the Twelfth Annual Sonoma International Film Festival where Willis was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award at a special Tribute evening hosted by the Festival's Chairman, Kevin McNeely. The festival was held in Sonoma, Calif., April 1-5.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090409/DC97041)

Canadian film, The Necessities of Life, and American films Karen Kingsbury's Like Dandelion Dust, Spooner and Under Our Skin received top Juried Awards. THX AWARD for Best Creative Audio was presented to Punching the Clown. The Carolyn Stolman Award Humanitarian was presented to A Grandmother's Tribe.

The Twelfth Annual Sonoma International Film Festival presented by The Wall Street Journal, announced the winners of its competition at the Highway 12 Lounge in downtown Sonoma, Calif. This year's Festival featured more than 66 films including features, documentaries and short films from 18 countries. Bruce Willis was honored with the festival's first ever Lifetime Achievement Award on Sat. April 4.

"We are extremely proud of these filmmakers and actors accomplishments and honored to have had these films as part of our Festival," said Louisa Percudani, executive director of the Sonoma International Film Festival.

"It's especially gratifying and exciting to see that the members of our juries selected a diverse group of films from filmmakers and actors who are all at an early stage of their careers," said Cevin Cathell, director of programming for the Festival.

   Following are the awards, winners and their prizes:   Best Narrative Feature   Karen Kingsbury's LIKE DANDELION DUST  

3L bottle of Schug 2003 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Heritage Reserve Bottle 11 of 12

   Best World Feature   THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE   Magnum of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2001 Behler Reserve Merlot    Best Lounge Feature   SPOONER  

Signed 3L bottle of Roessler Cellars 2006 Santa Rita Hills Peregrine Pinot Noir

   Best Actor   Ethan Peck in ADOPT A SAILOR   Magnum of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2004 "Old Vines" Zinfandel    Honorable Mention Best Actor   Maxwell Perry Cotton in Karen Kingsbury's LIKE DANDELION DUST    Best Actress   Mira Sorvino in Karen Kingsbury's LIKE DANDELION DUST   Magnum of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2004 "Old Vines" Zinfandel    Best Documentary   UNDER OUR SKIN   3L bottle of Moon Mountain Vineyard 2004 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon    Best Short   NEXT FLOOR   3L Bottle of O'Brien Estate 2006 Seduction Napa Valley Red    Best Local Short   SUNSET   Signed 3L bottle of Petroni Vineyards 2006 Poggio Alla Pietra    Best Animated Short   TERMINUS   Magnum of Larson Family Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon    Audience Award - Narrative Feature   Karen Kingsbury's LIKE DANDELION DUST   3L bottle of Kenwood Jack London Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon    Audience Award - Doc Feature   SPEED AND ANGELS   3L bottle of Kenwood Jack London Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon    Special Jury Prize Local Short   The D.D.   Magnum of Gundlach Bundschu 2004 Rhinefarm Vineyard Merlot     Special Jury Prize Shorts Category   THE 8TH SUMURAI   3L bottle of Benziger Family Winery 2005 Merlot    THX AWARD FOR BEST CREATIVE AUDIO   PUNCHING THE CLOWN   Winner received a professional 5.1 Studio Monitor Mackie System Set    THE CAROLYN STOLMAN HUMANITARIAN AWARD   A GRANDMOTHER'S TRIBE    2009 Sonoma International Film Festival Jurors  

A distinguished and diverse panel of jurists selected the winning films in this year's Festival. Jurors included:

   Narrative Feature Jury   Derek Power   Robert Mark Kamen  Veteran Hollywood Screenwriter    Documentary Jury   Jason White  Documentary Filmmaker   Gary Weimberg  Documentary Filmmaker    Highway 12 Winery Lounge Features Jury   Melanie Miller   David Garber  Lantern Lane Entertainment    Shorts Jury   Donn Finn  Mali Finn Casting   Jason White  Documentary Filmmaker    About the Sonoma International Film Festival  

Set amidst the unparalleled beauty of the Sonoma Valley wine country, the 12th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival welcomes filmmakers and film lovers to an intimate and luxurious extended weekend, pairing great food, fine wine and more than 66 new independent films from around the world. The Sonoma International Film Festival, which IFC News acclaimed as a "sun-drenched, wine-soaked cinematic magic carpet ride," invites guests to enjoy some of the year's best new independent films, specialty events, luxurious parties, wine and food pairings - and casual mingling with top filmmakers and celebrities from around the world.

About the 2009 Sonoma International Film Festival Sponsors

The Film festival is presented by The Wall Street Journal and at the Premiere level of sponsorship, the festival is being brought to the community by long time supporter Comcast/IFC. Comcast/IFC is joined by WineCountry.com and Sonoma Valley Sun. Major sponsors include: City of Sonoma, THX, Kearsley, ZABIT Communications and AT&T The Real Yellow Pages. Supporting sponsors include: Sonoma County Tourism Bureau, Kenwood Vineyards, Peet's Coffee & Tea, YELP, Sonoma Valley Bank, Frank Howard Allen Realtors - The Wine Country Group, Consulate General of Sweden, Highway 12 Vineyard and Winery, B-Side Entertainment, New Belgium Brewing Company and Lexis Hybrid Living.

About the Sonoma International Film Society

The Film Society presents year-round events and programs which celebrate the senses - the best in film, food, wine, music and art, center stage in Sonoma Valley. Membership is all inclusive for monthly special event, the Cinema Series, and each spring, the Film Festival where the best of independent filmmaking is showcased. In 2003, the Film Society founded the Student Works Program with a vision toward empowering young filmmakers. Through dozens of weekend and after school film workshops, both at the middle and high school level, hundreds of students have be immersed in the process of filmmaking under the direction of film teacher Peter Hansen. The Film Society, through its members and granting organizations, have contributed state-of-the-art equipment, staffing and scholarships to this program an opportunity for students to present their films at this world-class festival. For more information about becoming a Film Society member, visit www.sonomafilmfest.org or call 707-933-2600.

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Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090409/DC97041
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Sonoma International Film Festival

CONTACT: Angela Nibbs, maven communications, +1-415-225-7090,
angela@maven-pr.com, for Sonoma International Film Festival

Web Site: http://www.sonomafilmfest.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment