Editor

CFF Official Trophy, Charging Bull replica handmade by Arturo Di Modica
©Chelsea Film Festival, Inc

The Closing Awards Ceremony was hosted by CFF Founder and Director Ingrid Jean-Baptiste, who reminded the importance of the Festival's mission: "The Festival's mission is to discover emerging directors from around the world and be an international platform for independent filmmaking. It has been a very successful year. The Chelsea Film Festival received over a thousand submissions. Fourty-seven films were selected, thirteen feature-lengths and thirty-four shorts. Over the course of four days, 12 World, 19 US and 16 NY Premieres have been presented. Tonight, only ten feature-lengths are part of the competition."

Ten prizes were distributed by reputed movie industry insiders: Agnieszka Vosloo, Elizabeth Kemp, Jacky Ido, Kiki Lambden, Paul Calderon and Susan Batson.

The Grand Prix Winner was offered the following presents:

- a $10,000 stainless steel replica of the Charging Bull, handmade by acclaimed Artist, Arturo Di Modica
- a $50,000 Gift Certificate from generous Sponsor, Panavision.
- a Luxury Document Case from generous Sponsor, Le Tanneur

The Best Actress Winners were offered luxury clutches from Le Tanneur.

CFF GRAND PRIX Award presented by Jury President Jacky Ido

• "Sun Belt Express" by Evan Wolf Buxbaum

Nominations for the Grand Prix Award:

• "Embers" by Jumpei Matsumoto
• "Sun Belt Express" by Evan Wolf Buxbaum
• "White Rabbit" by Tim Mc Cann

BEST DIRECTOR Award presented by Agnieszka Vosloo

• Aydin Bulut in "Benimle Oynar Misin? (Will You Play With Me?)"

BEST ACTRESS Award presented by Elizabeth Kemp

• India Ennega in "Sun Belt Express"
• Toni Belafonte in "Last Love Lost"

BEST ACTOR Award presented by Elizabeth Kemp

• Tate Donovan in "Sun Belt Express"

SPECIAL JURY Award presented by Kiki Lambden

• "A Quintet" by Roberto Cuzzillo, Elie Lamah, Mauro Mueller, Sanela Salketic, Ariel Shaban

BEST DOCUMENTARY Award presented by Susan Batson

• "Yemeniettes" by Shawn Thompson and Leon Shahabian

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Award presented by Paul Calderon

• "White Rabbit" by Tim Mc Cann

Nominations for Best Cinematography:

• "Benimle Oynar Misin? (Will You Play With Me?)" by Aydin Bulut
• "White Rabbit" by Tim Mc Cann
• "Yemeniettes" by Shawn Thompson and Leon Shahabian

BEST SCREENPLAY Award presented by Kiki Lambden

• "Embers" by Jumpei Matsumoto

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Award presented by Koran Streets

• Ana de la Reguera in "Sun Belt Express"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Award presented by Koran Streets

• Sam Trammell in "White Rabbit "