It was a true celebration of film as the Palm Beach International Film Festival celebrated announced its winners in the categories of Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film and Best Director.

The jury for the 14th PBIFF consisted of:  Academy Award-nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand & Fog, and the upcoming Stoning of Soraya M.) and Debbie Frank, COO of the Frank Theatres, who judged the Feature Films; Director Aaron Wells (whose film Rock and A Hard Place screened at last year’s fest) and writer/director Tas Salini, Film Professor, Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, who judged Documentary Films; and Emmanuel Itier, film producer, who judged the Short Films. 

There was a tie for the Award for Best Feature Film:

Skin, directed by Anthony Fabian and starring Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neill and Alice Krige, based on the true story of a black girl who was born to two white Afrikaner parents in South Africa during the apartheid era. 

And Machan, directed by Uberto Pasolini, which was shot in Italy , Germany and Sri Lanka .  Living on the margins of society, under impossible pressures, a group of desperate slum dwellers find an invitation to a handball tournament in Bavaria . 

The Award for Best Director of a Feature Film went to Charles Martin Smith for his charming film, The Stone of Destiny.  The Award for Best Documentary Feature went to The Legacy, directed by Andrés Faucher, a celebration of life, hope and passion for music.  The Award for Best Short Film went to Gone Fishing directed by Chris Jones. 

The Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film went to In My Pocket, a harrowing journey down the dark spiral of drug addiction. The Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature went to Gotta Dance, directed by Dori Berinstein about a  senior citizen hip-hop dance team.

This year's program was the strongest in years and was a true celebration of the diversity and inspiration of independent cinema. Kudos to the Festival for harboring an atmosphere of support for its visitors and for raising funds for scholarships for local young people to learn the art and craft of film. For more information on the winners, visit: www.pbifilmfest.org

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor