AFI FEST 2022 Award Winners Announced

The winners from the 2022 AFI Fest have been announced and we have them to share with you today. I had a great time at the festival and so many incredible films by amazing filmmakers were made and I hope each of you checks them out when they are released.

Grand Jury Prize – Live Action Short

BIRDS (DIR Katherine Propper)

Jury Statement: “For masterfully weaving together a deeply authentic vérité ensemble film, immersing us in the lives of youth on a sizzling Texas summer. BIRDS is magical, tense, romantic and timeless.”

Grand Jury Prize – Documentary Short

HAULOUT (DIR Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev)

Jury Statement: “It’s a revelatory documentary about the devastating effects of climate change — told with stunning images like never seen before.”

Grand Jury Prize – Animated Short

SIERRA (DIR Sander Joon)

Jury Statement: “Simple in subject but deep in content, SIERRA is playful and poignant and sticks with you long after viewing.”

Special Mentions

Special Jury Mention for Ensemble Acting – Live Action Short

YOKELAN, 66 (DIR Yi Tang)

Jury Statement: “All the cast was delightful and so full of charm.”

Special Jury Mention for Screenwriting – Live Action Short

HOW TO BE A PERSON: HOW TO GET AN ABORTION (DIR Sindha Agha)

Jury Statement: “It’s not easy to take a hot button topic and make it funny and endearing and searingly truthful.”

Special Jury Mention for Lead Acting – Live Action Short

AN AVOCADO PIT (UM CAROÇO DE ABACATE) (DIR Ary Zara)

Jury Statement: “With her debut performance, Gaya de Medeiros brought so much of herself to this role, and all of it comes through on the screen.”

Special Jury Mention for Cinematography – Documentary Short

KYLIE (DIR Sterling Hampton)

Jury Statement: “With sumptuous cinematography, the director captures the subject Kylie with grace and magic.”

Special Jury Mention for Historical Relevance – Documentary Short

NOT EVEN FOR A MOMENT DO THINGS STAND STILL (DIR Jamie Meltzer)

Jury Statement: “This film is a time capsule that painfully captures the deep historical relevance of a group moment we all lived through.”

Special Jury Mention for Sound Design – Animated Short

THE SPIRAL (DIR María Silvia Esteve)

Jury Statement: “The exquisite sounds and layers take you into a tunnel of anxiety and pain in the most effective, beautiful way.”

Special Jury Mention for Editing – Animated Short

IT’S RAINING FROGS OUTSIDE (AMPANGABAGAT NIN TALAKBA HA LIKOL) (DIR Maria Estela Paiso)

Jury Statement: “The attention to detail and the skilled editing puts us right in the heart of Maya and her childhood memories.”