Under the baobab: Centre Film Festival has 6th and most successful season

The Centre Film Festival finished its sixth and most successful season with a well-attended closing night. There were more films submitted and viewed by more audience members in more venues than ever before. Professor Kevin Hagopian and Artistic Director Pearl Gluck plan to expand next year by adding a new venue, the Mishler Theatre in Altoona. The festival’s major sponsors, Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Hyatt Place, State College Borough and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, aim to make the festival an Academy Award qualifying event.

Enigma and Elaine Meder Wilgus were the MCs on closing night. Music was provided by Eric Ian Farmer and Friends. Special guests included Dean Marie Hardin, Grace Hampton, Nashormeh Lindo, Herb Newsome and Kikora Franklin, interim director of the School of Theatre. Distinguished film director Ayoka Chenzira was presented the Chandler Living Legacy Award. The festival announced the winners of the film awards:

Narrative features: Best Narrative Feature: “Running on Sand” directed by Adar Shafran; Best acting: Chancela Mongoza, “Running on Sand;” Kirby Howell-Baptiste, “We Strangers;” Best Cinematography: “Yasmeen’s Element;” Best Director: Amman Abbasi, “Yasmeen’s Element;” Gratitude Award: “Seeds” directed by Kaniehtiio Horn

Narrative shorts: Best Narrative Short: “Shimmer” directed by Alice Gu; Best Director: Alex Lora, “The Masterpiece;” Best Acting: Forough Qajabegli, “3.400KG,” Harry Shumate Jr., “Shimmer;” Best Cinematography: Shaylee Atary, “Single Light,” Christopher J. Cole, “Terminally Ill;” Juror’s Choice: “We Should Eat” directed by Shaina Feinberg; Gratitude Award: “Happy Thanksgiving” directed by ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby

Documentary features: Best Documentary Film: “Mediha” directed by Hasan Oswald; Best Director: Rachel Seed, A “Photographic Memory;” Best Cinematography: “Sugar Cane,” directed by Emily Kassie & Julian Brave Noisecat; Juror’s Choice: “There Was, There Was Not” directed by Emily Mkrtichian; Gratitude Award: “Bye Bye Tiberias” directed by Lina Soualem

Documentary shorts: Best Documentary Short: “Planetwalker” directed by Dominic & Nadia Gill; Best Director: Dominic & Nadia Gill; Best Cinematography: “A Body Called Life” directed by Spencer MacDonald; Best Editing: “Good Enough Ancestor” directed by Cynthia Wade; Juror’s Choice: “Boat People” directed by Kjell Boersma & Thao Lam; Gratitude Award: “Love in the Time of Migration” directed by Erin Semine Kokdil & Chelsea Abbas

Made in PA: Best Feature: “Hippo” directed by Mark H. Rapaport; Juror’s Choice: “Gardener of the Galaxy” directed by Nick Natalicchio; Gratitude Award: “Not Your Average Joe” directed by Kathrine Muller

Pride on Screen: Best Feature: “A House is Not a Disco” directed by Brian J. Smith; Best Short: “Good Enough Ancestor”

Sports on Screen: Best Feature: “Three (Extra)Ordinary Women” directed by Cionin Lorenzo & Pearlette J. Ramos (one of the best docs I have ever seen); Best Short: “It Will Be Different For You” directed by Megan Mayhew-Bergman & Simon Perkins; Gratitude Award: “7 Beats Per Minute” directed by Yuqi Kang

Audience Award: Feature; “Three (Extra)Ordinary Women” and “Dovbush” directed by Oles Sanin: Short: “ILY, Bye” directed by Taylor James, “A Runner’s High” directed by Cameron Wilson; Student Film: “Silver” directed by Brady Bast & Ava Schimone

Founder’s Award: “The Boy” directed by Yahav Winner

I was touched and honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. It was a blessing to be recognized by your sisters, brothers, neighbors and colleagues. Jessica McAllister, CDT editor, presented me a framed copy of a Baobab column. Three students from the SOT read an original piece based on my writing. Pam Robb, Leslie Laing and Terry Watson presented me with a Trailblazer Award. In these troubled times, while stumbling through eight decades, it was wonderful to receive so many flowers while still upright. Lifted by these gales of love and appreciation Jo and I stagger forward, into an uncertain but blessed tomorrow.

A Luta Continua.