NANTUCKET FILM FESTIVAL’S SHOWTIME TONY COX SCREENPLAY COMPETITION AWARD GOES TO
JEAN OF THE JONESES BY STELLA MEGHIE
AWARD FOR BEST SCREENWRITING IN A FEATURE FILM GOES TO SARAH KOSKOFF FOR HELLO I MUST BE GOING
AWARD FOR BEST SCREENWRITING IN A SHORT FILM GOES TO NASH EDGERTON AND DAVID MICHOD FOR BEAR
Ethel and The Intouchables tie for Audience Award Best Feature Film
Ernesto wins Audience Award for best short
Nantucket, MA (June 25, 2012) – The 17th annual Nantucket Film Festival (NFF) came to a close today with an awards ceremony held on the ocean side terrace of the White Elephant Hotel. Stella Meghie’s JEAN OF THE JONESES was recognized as the winner of the Showtime Tony Cox Screenplay Competition. The award for best screenwriting in a feature film was presented to Sarah Koskoff for HELLO I MUST BE GOING. The Award for best screenwriting in a short film went to Nash Edgerton and David Michod for BEAR.
Other juried awards included best storytelling in a documentary which went to Alison Klayman for her film AI WEI WEI: NEVER SORRY. Mike Birbiglia garnered the best writer/director award for his film SLEEPWALK WITH ME.
The Festival also awarded the sixth annual Adrienne Shelley Excellence in Filmmaking Award, which bestows a cash prize to a female filmmaker in honor of the late director. The award was presented to Olivia Silver, for her film ARCADIA.
Best Short juried award went to Jake Wyatt for his film METRO. The Teen View Award went to THE PROCESSION, written and directed by Academy Award nominated Robert Festinger.
The Nantucket audiences awarded both Rory Kennedy’s ETHEL and Eric Toledano and Oliver Nakache’s THE INTOUCHABLES with their votes for best feature film and Corinne Ladeinde’s ERNESTO took the audience award for best short.
“Tony Cox was a man that stood for individual creative expression and we are honored to be able to present an award in his name,’ said Executive Director Colin Stanfield. “We were thrilled by the breadth of talent on display throughout this year’s Festival, which enabled us to successfully engage our audiences on many levels.”
“This year’s festival was larger than ever both in the number of films and live events,” added Artistic Director Mystelle Brabbée. “This was an exceptional year for independent films and it made it easier for us to create the largest and strongest film program to date.”
This year’s festival hosted the returning All Star Comedy Roundtable presented by Ben Stiller and was filmed by EPIX network to air in August. Host Bill Hader interviewed Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, and Ben Stiller in the auditorium of Nantucket High School.
NBC’s News Anchor Brian William hosted the Screenwriters Tribute Awards from the Siaconset Casio. Nancy Meyers accepted the Screenwriting Tribute, which was given to her by her longtime friend and Academy award winning actress Diane Keaton. Richard Corliss presented the New Voices In Screenwriting to Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeilin. Rory Kennedy accepted the Special achievement in Documentary filmmaking storytelling award which her brother Douglas Kennedy and HBO’s Nancy Abraham presented to her.
The Compass Rose Acting Award was presented to Frank Langella by Time Out New York and the President of this year’s New York Film Critics Circle Josh Rothkopf.
Special guests who attended NFF 2012 included Emmy Award nominee Mike O’Malley, Diane Keaton, Mike Birbiglia, Nancy Meyers, Ben Stiller, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Frank Langella, Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, Bill Hader, Brian Williams, Chris Matthews, Ethel Kennedy, Rory Kennedy, Douglas Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Tom Bodett, Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitey, Jim Taylor, Richard Corliss, Ty Burr, Joshua Rothkopf, Stephen Root, Steve Zahn, Cara Seymour, Tom Cavanaugh, Festival co-founders Jill & Johnathan Burkhart and many more.
The screenplay competition jury was comprised of Ty Burr (Film Critic for Boston Globe), Gill Holland (producer), and Savina Neirotti (director of TorinoFilmLab).
ABOUT THE NANTUCKET FILM FESTIVAL
The Nantucket Film Festival was founded by brother and sister team Jill and Jonathan Burkhart in 1996 to promote the cultural awareness and appreciation of the fine art of screenwriting in the world of cinema. These days, NFF has become one of the premiere destination film festivals in the world. Visitors come from all over to experience the preview screenings, unique signature programs, and stand out hospitality on a magical island rich with history, a friendly atmosphere, and beautiful sandy beaches. The 17th Annual Nantucket Film Festival will take place this year, June 20-24.
