Emerging Filmmaker Competition

Jurors: PoChu AuYeung, Charles Coleman, Hebe Tabachnik

This juried competition recognizes new and up-and-coming filmmakers from around the world for their achievements in narrative filmmaking. A $2,500 cash prize is awarded to the film that demonstrates standout excellence in creativity, storytelling, technique, and innovation in the narrative form.

A Simple Goodbye
Director: Degena Yun | China

Jury Statement: This award is intended to support an emerging filmmaker that the Award Jury expects will make a significant contribution to the art of film in the course of his/her filmmaking career. We have selected the film A Simple Goodbye, directed by Degena Yun, who also wrote the screenplay as well as acted in this extraordinary family drama. Her attention to detail about an aging father suffering from pain and terminally ill, facing the dire prospect of loneliness and mortality, is both heart-warming and heart-breaking. The remarkable subtlety by which we bear witness to the everyday family crises which are invariably engendered by generational conflict allows the audience to see the value of communication between members of a multigenerational family.

Best of Fest screening: Sunday, April 24 at 5:15pm

Special Jury Mention: Radiator, Director: Tom Browne, United Kingdom

Jury Statement: For Special Jury Mention, we chose the film Radiator, a chamber piece which in its stark review of repressed family dynamics, is characterized by its emphasis on emotions rather than actions, while taking place in a confined yet intimate setting. It has been described as a “compelling melodrama that floats between Michael Haneke’s ‘Amour’ and the plays of Samuel Beckett.” The jury can only concur with this assessment.

Best of Fest screening: Wednesday, April 27 at 9:20pm

Documentary Competition

Jurors: Viviana García Besné, Gustav Hofer, Ken Jacobson

The juried Documentary Competition recognizes national and international documentary filmmaker that exemplifies the very best in presentation, diversity, innovation, and powerful storytelling. A $2,500 cash prize is awarded to the chosen film.

Voices From Chernobyl
Director: Pol Cruchten | Luxembourg, Austria

Jury Statement: Voices From Chernobyl is a deeply moving poetic journey which explores the relationship between tragedy and enduring love through the stories of those whose lives were profoundly changed by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The film’s exceptional visual power and innovative experimental approach widens the creative freedom and potential of documentary filmmaking.

Best of Fest screening: Sunday, April 24 at 7:20pm

Special Jury Mention: When Two Worlds Collide, Director: Heidi Brandenburg, Mathew Orzel, Peru

Jury Statement: For its unique access and for masterfully weaving together multiple threads that give the audience a unique perspective on an urgent and compelling story, When Two Worlds Collide receives a Special Jury Mention.

Best of Fest Screening: Tuesday, April 26 at 4:50pm

Minnesota Made Competition

Representative of the abundance of and diversity in local filmmaking, Minnesota Made returns with a slate of must-see new films from Minnesota-based and Minnesota-native filmmakers. For our home-grown juried competitions, awards are given for films that exemplify standout achievements in feature length documentary and narrative filmmaking.

MN Made Documentary Feature

Jurors: D.A. Bullock, Jesse Roesler, Dan Rybicky

The Legend of Swee’ Pea
Director: Benjamin May | USA

Best of Fest Screening: Wednesday, April 27 at 7:00pm

Special Jury Mention: Robert Bly: A Thousand Years of Joy, Director: Haydn Reiss, USA

Best of Fest Screening: Monday, April 25 at 7:10pm

MN Made Narrative Feature

Jurors: Nicole Brending, Christina Ham, Rob Nilsson

A Stray
Director: Musa Syeed | USA

Special Jury Mention: Sabina K., Director: Cristóbal Krusen, USA, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Shorts Competition

This juried competition recognizes national, international, and local narrative and documentary short form filmmaking.

Short Documentary

Jurors: Kim Rogers, Selina Lewis Davidson, Simon Edery

Once Upon a Kingdom
Director: Terence Chotard, Raphael J. Dostie | Canada

Jury Statement: For it’s cinematic sophistication and captivating, harmonious emotional and visual expression depicting the move of a century old building along the edge of the St. Lawrence river in Quebec, where 82 Catholic nuns have dedicated their spiritual existence, the Best Short Documentary for the MSPIFF 2016 goes to Once Upon a Kingdom, by Terence Chotard and Raphael J. Dostie.

Best of Fest Screening: Wednesday, April 27 at 9:15pm

Special Jury Mention: Mothers for Justice, Director: Erik Ljung, USA

Best of Fest Screening: Wednesday, April 27 at 9:15pm

Short Narrative

Jurors: Alan Blomquist, Paul Aaron, Eric Howell

Starman
Director: Josema Roig | USA

Jury Statement: Starman by Josema Roig is a film that takes advantage of every-single-frame and delivers gripping performances in tandem with a nail-bighting story. It’s a film that achieves both technically and creatively, and offers a fulfilled catharsis while leaving one wanting more. A fantastic accomplishment.

Best of Fest Screening: Wednesday, April 27 at 9:15pm

Special Jury Mentions: Madam Black, Director: Ivan Barge; New Zealand | Youth, Director: Brett Marty; USA

Jury Statement: Our Special Jury Mentions Madam Black and Youth are impeccable films that deserve high praise, and another viewing. Both are stories about the absurdity and beauty of love told in completely different voices. Both filmmakers clearly excel at their craft and have distinguished themselves with this work.

Best of Fest Screening: Wednesday, April 27 at 9:15pm

Youth Jury 1 (Ages 11-14) Competition

This fun, media literacy experience offers a chance for our youngest film fans to cast an inquisitive eye on the feature films in the Childish Films Program.

Kick It!
Director: Katarina Launing | Norway

Jury Statement: The Youth Jury of the Minneapolis St Paul International Film Festival chose Kick It! for Best International Film for Young Audiences because it is a meaningful story about leukemia and a girl with one goal in life. We felt this film was emotional, tense, surprising, romantic, touching, and lovable. The characters felt relatable to us and to real life.

Youth Jury 2 (Ages 15-18) Competition

This Jury empowers high school students to view, critique, and award short films from around the world.

Youth Jury Choice Award: My Dream, My Right – Film C
Directed By: Yara, Alaa & Roa Music Composed By: Jemma Heigis from Za’atari Film Workshop

Jury Statement: The Youth Jury chose this film to receive the Choice Award because of the artistic conveyance of the experience of the Za’atari Refugee Camp that remains sentimental and relatable, regardless of language or culture.

Best Youth Filmmaker Award: Roodo Abdikadir (Muslim Youth Voices Project)
Imagination Directed by: Roodo Abdikadir from The Muslim Youth Voices Project (MYVP)

Jury Statement: This passionate filmmaker allows her personality to shine through her art instead of simply creating a character. In Imagination she does this through a beautiful blend of emotion, history, political activism, poetry and technical merit.

Certificate for Excellence in Youth Films: My Dream, My Right – Film H
Directed By: Roquia, Nariman & Rahaf Music Composed By: Mariah Timm

Jury Statement: The impact of the unique and passionate perspective of a Syrian child, who channels optimism in the Za’atari Refugee Camp through the creation of simple kites, bears a unifying, strong message of hope for any viewer.

Audience Choice Awards

Audience Choice: MN Made Feature Documentary

How Love Won: The Fight for Marriage Equality in Minnesota
Director: Michael McIntee

Audience Choice: MN Made Feature Narrative

The Sand Box
Director: Jennifer Kramer

Audience Choice: Feature Documentary

Presenting Princess Shaw
Director: Ido Haar

Audience Choice: Feature Narrative

Sing Street
Director: John Carney

Audience Choice: Short Documentary

The House is Innocent
Director: Nicholas Coles

Audience Choice: Short Narrative

Madam Black
Director: Ivan Barge