WFF 2013 AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS FOR 2013

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CONTACT: Chandra Knotts, Deputy Press Director chandra@woodstockfilmfestival.com or 845-679-4265

AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS CAP OFF 14th WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL

Fall Foliage, Fantastic Parties and Fiercely Independent Film Conclude with Audience Favorites

Best Narrative Feature:

THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM directed by Andrew Mudge

Honorable Mention: UNDER THE SAME SUN directed by Sameh Zoabi

A TIE for Best Documentary Feature:

AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY: THE EVOLUTION OF GRACE LEE BOGGS directed by Grace Lee

MAGICAL UNIVERSE directed by Jeremy Workman

(Woodstock, NY) October 7, 2013 - Fall foliage, fantastic parties and independent film screenings across the Hudson Valley culminated in the annual Woodstock Film Festival's AUDIENCE AWARDS. The 14th annual fiercely independent Woodstock Film Festival wrapped up Sunday night as guests enjoyed the final screenings of narratives, documentaries and shorts. Film lovers from all over attended nearly 150 films, concerts, panels and special events in Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Rosendale, Kingston and Saugerties. The Opening Night Party at New World Home Cooking and Friday Night Filmmaker Party at Skytop Steakhouse allowed for all WFF filmmakers to meet and celebrate their achievement.

Saturday night's Maverick Awards Gala, held at Backstage Studio Productions in the historical Stockade District of Kingston, honored both the exceptional talent that was brought to the festival this year as well as honorary award recipients Peter Bogdanovich and Mira Nair. Paul Green and his Band of Monkeys entertained guests while award presenters including Andy Garcia and Mayor Shayne Gallo graced the stage.

"The results of this year's audience awards are a perfect example of the blending of industry and community at the Woodstock Film Festival," said WFF executive director and co-founder Meira Blaustein. "The audience's favorites are a direct reflection of both the official awards jury and the interests of the community upon which this festival prides itself. We are all pleased to see that the industry's decisions are so close to that of our public."

Attendees filed into venues around the Hudson Valley as local communities graciously opened their doors to festival-goers. A volunteer team of over 300 made this festival possible along with over 150 actors and filmmakers in attendance, filling the streets of towns in the Hudson Valley with the festival spirit.

Photo credit: David Cunningham

Each year, WFF offers ballots to film-goers to choose their favorites. The WFF 2013 Audience Award winners are:

Audience Award for Narrative Feature: THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM directed by Andrew Mudge; Honorable Mention: UNDER THE SAME SUN directed by Sameh Zoabi
Audience Award for Documentary Feature: Tie between AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY: THE EVOLUTION OF GRACE LEE BOGGS directed by Grace Lee and MAGICAL UNIVERSE directed by Jeremy Workman
The top awards given out at Saturday's MAVERICK AWARDS GALA at Backstage Studio Productions in Kingston included:
- The Forgotten Kingdom directed by Andrew Mudge received The Maverick Award for BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE
- Honorable Mention went to Winter In the Blood directed by Alex Smith and Andrew Smith
- American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs directed by Grace Lee received BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
- Honorable Mention went to Magical Universe directed by Jeremy Workman
- Honorary Award recipients included Peter Bogdanovich and Mira Nair. For the full release of WFF Maverick winners, CLICK HERE.
Other highlights from the 14th Annual Woodstock Film Festival included:
- OPENING NIGHT FILM: Broadway Idiot directed by Doug Hamilton
- CLOSING NIGHT FILMS: A** Backwards directed by Chris Nelson and We Are What We Are directed by Jim Mickle
- Over 70 Premieres including 24 World Premieres, 6 US Premieres, 2 North American Premieres, 19 East Coast Premieres and 22 NY Premieres
- Presenters and special guests included JD Allen, Shawn Christensen, Mira Nair, Mychael Danna, Stephen Dorff, Lauren Ambrose, Richard Abramowitz, Signe Baumane, Joe Berlinger, Peter Bogdanovich, Rachel Brosnahan, Larry Fessenden, Meera Gandhi, Andy Garcia, Vera Farmiga, Connor Kennedy, Barbara Kopple, Rob Meyer, Mira Nair, Bill Plympton, June Diane Raphael, Justin Rice, Sonny Rollins, Slava Rubin, Pal Shazar, Jules Shear and many more.
The 15th annual Woodstock Film Festival will take place next fall from Oct. 1-5, 2014! Mark your calendars and look forward to joining WFF for yet another year of celebrating fiercely independent film. Keep up to date with everything WFF through our official website, signing up for our monthly newsletters and following the festival's latest news on social media. See you next autumn!

Visit live.woodstockfilmfestival.com for photos from the 14th annual Maverick Awards Gala as well as the 2013 festival events.

About the Woodstock Film Festival:
Hailed by Indiewire as "A true American Maverick Among Fests" and praised by actor Ethan Hawke as "among the finest of a dying breed: a festival that isn't trying to sell you anything, but simply and beautifully celebrating the art & craft of filmmaking", the Woodstock Film Festival premiers exceptional films, hosts the most talented emerging and established professionals in the movie industry; presents A-list concerts, panels and parties, and creates stimulating, innovative programming year-round.

The Woodstock Film Festival is a non-profit, 501c3 with a mission to present an annual program and year-round schedule of film, music and art-related activities that promote artists, culture, inspired learning and diversity.

The Woodstock Film Festival will celebrate its 14th Annual Festival October 2-6, 2013, with an extraordinary line-up of fiercely independent films, panels, concerts and special events in Woodstock and the neighboring towns of Rhinebeck, Kingston, Rosendale and Saugerties.

2013 Sponsors