Awards

Let Me Go

The Circle Award is a juried competition for selected films that deserve increased recognition. It is named in honor of Ted and Jim Pedas, founders of Washingtons' Circle Theaters, which set the standard for innovative quality film programming in Washington DC.

• Susan Barocas, Competition Coordinator, Writer/Producer
• Manjula Kumar, President/Executive Director Global Performing Arts
• Peggy Parsons, Film Curator Emerita, National Gallery of Art
• Gregory McGruder, National Geographic
• Felix Angel, Former Curator/Director, Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center

The jury of the Circle Award has selected as winner the film Let Me Go, the Swiss/French/Belgium production directed by Maxime Rappaz, starring Jeanne Balibar.

The film comes across as a wonderful example of cognitive dissonance, artistic interiority, and inner life, all of which adds to the conflicting human circumstances of a mature, female character, and her dilemma of choosing between those she loves and the uncertainty of not knowing what she wants for the rest of her life.

Carefully written and directed, meticulously edited, and masterfully acted, the film is unique in its own private dimension, but at the same time is universal. All humans face throughout their lives the difficulty of making choices as part of the process of discovering possibilities for achieving existential balance and finding happiness.

Broken Keys

The Audience Award is sponsored by the American University School of Communication.

Bad Faith: Christian Nationalisms' Unholy War on Democracy

Jury Statement

Our panel unanimously selected "Bad Faith" as the winner of the 2024 Social Justice award. Bad Faith: Christian Nationalisms' Unholy War on Democracy unravels the forces behind the powerful movement of the Christian right.

The in-depth research that underlies this film reveals a cabàl of corporations and special interest groups whose portfolio includes the elimination of corporate taxes and defunding such public interests as the school systems and public health. A well-planned and well-funded initiative organized most especially by conservative strategist Paul Weyrich over several decades, took advantage of the expanding power of the Christian nationalist movement to deliver this message.

Well edited, with pertinent interviews from the Christian right and from activists such as Reverend William Barber, this is an important film that must be seen by everyone who is interested in social justice and the future of democracy in our country.

Rainbow Warrior

Jury Statement

The panel also wants to recognize a second film, the well-made documentary Rainbow Warrior, which investigates the bombing of the Greenpeace flagship vessel, the Rainbow Warrior. The jury recognizes this well-crafted and important film with an Honorary Mention.

Blue Hour

Jury Statement

Our awards to short films aim to shine a light on work by emerging filmmakers which provides a rich, emotionally resonant experience that lingers and expands.

The Short Stories Award goes to J.D. Shields for Blue Hour, which artfully and gently depicts how a grievous loss unfolds in a moment between two strangers.

Make a Wish, Benóný!

Jury Statement

Our awards to short films aim to shine a light on work by emerging filmmakers which provides a rich, emotionally resonant experience that lingers and expands.

Honorable Mention goes to Iceland's Make a Wish, Benóný! by Katla Sólnes for her wry and perceptive comedy about a rolling stone absentee father who is suddenly confronted with the impact of his lifestyle choices.

Room to Breathe

Jury Statement

Our awards to short films aim to shine a light on work by emerging filmmakers which provides a rich, emotionally resonant experience that lingers and expands.

The MetroShorts Award goes to Dave Haft and Mary Awosika for their insightful diary of daily life in their own young family during COVID in Room to Breathe.

build me through the image

Jury Statement

Our awards to short films aim to shine a light on work by emerging filmmakers which provides a rich, emotionally resonant experience that lingers and expands.

Honorable Mention goes to Paula Hung in recognition of her growth as an artist for her multilayered and personal commentary on diversity in build me through the image.

The Sixth Child

Jury Statement

Signis is an international lay Catholic media organization which seats juries in some forty international film festivals worldwide – including Cannes, Venice, and Berlin – celebrating films of exceptional artistic merit that also delve deep into the human spirit.

The Signis Award at Filmfest DC goes to the film judged by its jury to "best illuminate and celebrate what it means to be human in a diverse and challenging world."

The Filmfest DC Signis Prize goes to The Sixth Child.

Writer/director Leopold Legrand and his co-writer, Catherine Paille, deftly tell the story of two couples from opposite ends of the economic/cultural spectrum who share a desperation: on one side to have a child, on the other side to avoid having an unaffordable sixth baby. The resulting clash of legal realities and human yearning leads to excruciating decisions and a moving exploration of the meaning of love. It is a film that brilliantly illuminates the human condition in these difficult times, earning it the Filmfest DC Signis Prize 2023.

One Careful Owner

Jury Statement

In this Spanish comedy two disgruntled women struggling with meaning in their lives overcome their mutual hostilities and transform one another through laughter to embrace the joy of life.