JFFLA Winners

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Got this sent out and wanted to post up for the winners of the Japan Film Festival Los Angeles.

Japan Film Festival Los Angeles 2009 is proud to announce the winners of the 2009 film festival. The closing awards party was held at the Downtown Independent theater (Downtown L.A.), Sunday, April 19th. Guests included JVTA staff, JAMA members, submission film directors, producers, crew, general attendees and JFFLA festival staff. Thank you so much for supporting the Japan Film Festival–Los Angeles 2009.

The following films received awards:

Best Feature Film: LEFT HANDED Director: Laurence Thrush
http://www.jffla.org/films/submissions/left-handed
A disaffected teen locks himself in his room, where he stays for two years. Explores the uniquely Japanese phenomenon of hikikomori (social withdrawal).

Best Documentary Film: WHALE Director: Danny Samit
http://www.jffla.org/films/submissions/whale
An unprecedented, explicit and evenhanded investigation of fishing practices in one of Japan’s few remaining traditional whaling villages.

Best Short Film: CANNIBALIEN Director: David Kame Tsai
http://www.jffla.org/films/submissions/shorts#cannibalian
Twisted!! Socially conscious. Delicious! In the not-too-distant future, humans are dinner for a race of greedy aliens.

Audience Award - Feature Film: BLITZKRIEG BOP Director: Kakuei Shimada
http://www.jffla.org/films/submissions/blitzkrieg-bop
This 16mm splatter-punk conflagration from Ramones fanatic Kakuei Shimada is like nothing you’ve ever seen. Or probably should see.

Audience Award - Short Film: DIARY OF THE DOROBO
Director: Devi Kobayashi
http://www.jffla.org/films/submissions/shorts#dorobo
A thief breaks into a house where he encounters a young wife wearing an elaborate steel mask.
Congratulations to all.