2009 Sonoma International Film Festival Announces Awards

2009 Sonoma International Film Festival Announces Awards

LIKE DANDELION DUST, NECESSITIES OF LIFE AND UNDER OUR SKIN WIN TOP AWARDS IN JURIED COMPETITIONS

SONOMA, Calif., April 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Twelfth Annual Sonoma International Film Festival presented by Wall Street Journal, announced the winners of its competition tonight at the Highway 12 Lounge in downtown Sonoma, Calif. This year's Festival featured more than 75 films including features, documentaries and short films from 22 countries. Bruce Willis was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Sat. April 4.

"We are extremely proud of these filmmakers and actors accomplishments and honored to have had these films as part of our Festival," said Louisa Percudani, executive director of the Sonoma International Film Festival.

"It's especially gratifying and exciting to see that the members of our juries selected a diverse group of films from filmmakers and actors who are all at an early stage of their careers," said Cevin Cathell, director of programming for the Festival.

Following are the awards, winners and their prizes:

Best Narrative Feature
Karen Kingsbury's LIKE DANDELION DUST
Schug 2003 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Heritage Reserve Bottle 11
of 12

Best World Feature
NECESSITIES OF LIFE
Magnum of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2001 Behler Reserve Merlot

Best Actor
Ethan Peck in ADOPT A SAILOR
Magnum of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2004 "Old Vines" Zinfandel

Honorable Mention Best Actor
Maxwell Perry Cotton in Karen Kingsbury's LIKE DANDELION DUST

Best Actress
Mira Sorvino in Karen Kingsbury's LIKE DANDELION DUST
Magnum of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards 2004 "Old Vines" Zinfandel

Best Documentary
UNDER OUR SKIN
3L bottle of Moon Mountain Vineyard 2004 Estate Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon

Best Short
NEXT FLOOR
3L Bottle of O'Brien Estate 2006 Seduction Napa Valley Red

Audience Award - Narrative Feature
Karen Kingsbury's LIKE DANDELION DUST
3L bottle of Kenwood Jack London Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

Audience Award - Doc Feature
SPEED AND ANGELS
3L bottle of Kenwood Jack London Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

Special Jury Prize Local Short
The D.D.
Magnum of Gundlach Bundschu 2004 Rhine Farm Vineyard Merlot

Special Jury Prize Shorts Category
8th SUMURAI
3L bottle of Benziger Family Winery 2005 Merlot

2009 Sonoma International Film Festival Jurors

A distinguished and diverse panel of jurists selected the winning films
in this year's Festival. Jurors included:

Narrative Feature Jury
Chris Aronson Senior Vice President 20th Century Fox
Robert Mark Kamen Veteran Hollywood Screenwriter

Documentary Jury
Catherine Ryan Documentary Filmmaker
Gary Weimberg Documentary Filmmaker

Highway 12 Winery Lounge Features Jury
Pat Saperstein Variety Magazine
David Garber Lantern Lane Entertainment

Shorts Jury
Donn Finn Mali Finn Casting
Larry Greenberg Peach Arch Entertainment

About the Sonoma International Film Festival

Set amidst the unparalleled beauty of the Sonoma Valley wine country, the 12th Annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival welcomes filmmakers and film lovers to an intimate and luxurious extended weekend, pairing great food, fine wine and more than 75 new independent films from around the world. The Sonoma International Film Festival, which IFC News acclaimed as a "sun-drenched, wine-soaked cinematic magic carpet ride," invites guests to enjoy some of the year's best new independent films, specialty events, luxurious parties, wine and food pairings - and casual mingling with top filmmakers and celebrities from around the world.

About the 2009 Sonoma International Film Festival Sponsors

At the premier level of sponsorship, the festival is being brought to the community by long time supporter Comcast/IFC. Comcast/IFC is joined by WineCountry.com and Sonoma Valley Sun. Major sponsors include: City of Sonoma, THX, Kearsley, ZABIT Communications and AT&T The Real Yellow Pages. Supporting sponsors include: Sonoma County Tourism Bureau, Kenwood Vineyards, Peet's Coffee & Tea, YELP, Sonoma Valley Bank, Frank Howard Allen Realtors - The Wine Country Group, Consulate General of Sweden, Highway 12 Vineyard and Winery, B-Side Entertainment and Lexis Hybrid Living.

About the Sonoma International Film Society

The Film Society presents year-round events and programs which celebrate the senses - the best in film, food, wine, music and art, center stage in Sonoma Valley. Membership is all inclusive for monthly special events, the Cinema Series, and each spring, the Film Festival where the best of independent filmmaking is showcased. In 2003, the Film Society founded the Student Works Program with a vision toward empowering young filmmakers. Through dozens of weekend and after school film workshops, both at the middle and high school level, hundreds of students have been immersed in the process of filmmaking under the direction of film teacher Peter Hansen. The Film Society, through its members and granting organizations, have contributed state-of-the-art equipment, staffing and scholarships to this program an opportunity for students to present their films at this world-class festival. For more information about becoming a Film Society member, visit www.sonomafilmfest.org or call 707-933-2600.

Source: Sonoma International Film Festival

CONTACT: Media, Angela Nibbs of maven communications, +1-415-225-7090,
angela@maven-pr.com, for Sonoma International Film Society

Web Site: http://www.sonomafilmfest.org/

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