Chicago int'l film festival presents awards
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E-mail Xinhua, October 20, 2014
The 50th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) gave awards to winners of various film competitions on Friday night, with a big celebration at a hotel in the midwestern U.S. city.
Hundreds filmmakers, supporters and fans attended the event at the Sofitel Hotel, where Bill Zwecker, Chicago Sun-Times columnist and Fox News Chicago entertainment reporter and film critic, hosted the awards-giving ceremony.
"The President," directed by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Mahkmalbaf, won the Gold Hugo Best Film Award, the highest award at the festival, while director Abderrahmane Sissako from France/Mauritania won the Silver Hugo Best Director Award for his film Timbuktu.
The Silver Hugo Best Actor went to actor Anton Yelchin for his performance in Rudderless (U.S.), and the Silver Hugo Best Actress went to Geraldine Chaplin for her outstanding performance in Sand Dollars (Dominican Republic/Mexico).
New this year is the Roger Ebert Award, which is established in honor of the late well-known Chicago film critic for emerging filmmakers. Director Jorge Perez Solano is the first winner of this award for his film La Tirisia (Mexico).
"I like Chicago International Film Festival," said Chris Sullivan, a filmmaker who also served as a jury member for animation film this year. "It has really become a large and well attended festival."
CIFF is known for its spirit of discovery. Many past winners premiered their films at the festival and have gone on to win Oscars and Golden Globe awards.
"I'm so honored to be here," said Luisela Alvaray, a Venezuelan serving as a jury member for documentary film competition.
There are many competition categories at CIFF. Besides the International Feature Film, New Directors and Docufest, it also includes Short Film Live Action, Short Film Documentary, Short Film Animation, Chicago Award and others.
A special award at CIFF is the Founder's Award, which is given to one film or performance across all categories for capturing the spirit of CIFF for its "unique and innovative approach to the art of the moving image."
Michael Kutza, founder and artistic director of CIFF, presented this year's award to Michael Keaton for his "electrifying performance" in Birdman.
"Michael Keaton is such a wonderful actor," Kutza said.
"This is our 50th anniversary, very special. I love the films we've selected this year," he added.
Some 150 films from over 50 countries competed at the festival. Of the 10 films from Asia accepted at the festival, four are from China.
CIFF is the oldest and most competitive film festival in North America. The 50th CIFF started on Oct. 9 and runs until Oct. 22.
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