One last award to announce for IFFBoston 2008 folks. We here at the festival had let the attending filmmakers know that we would be presenting one of them with a Best Marketing Award for the person who came up with the most creative and eye-catching promotional techniques to promote their screenings. We were inspired to create this award last year by Naomi Greenfield and Sara Taksler when they had balloon artists create balloon sculptures all over town to promote their screenings of TWISTED: A BALLOONAMENTARY.

This year’s award goes to Helen Hood Scheer and her film JUMP! To help promote the film’s screenings Helen arranged to have a team of professional jumpropers come to Davis Square, Somerville and perform a number of amazing, acrobatic jumproping routines to the delight of everyone who was passing through the square. We thought this was a great added element to the festival atmosphere and we are happy to present Helen with this award. As part of this award Helen will receive a free iPod Touch.

So congratulations to Helen and thanks to all the jumpropers who came out and performed at the festival. We will have some photos of the jumpropers doing their thing on our website in the near future along with all of the 2008 IFFBoston festival photos, so stay tuned!

Narrative: MY WINNIPEG
Documentary: LIFE.SUPPORT.MUSIC.
Short: TONY ZOREIL (TONY ZEAR)

Thanks to everyone who came to the festival and congratulations to the winners!

The 2008 Independent Film Festival of Boston held its Awards ceremony last night at Mantra in Downtown Boston, preceded by mindblowing performances by MC Frontalot and Prince Paul. Here are the winners:

Grand Jury Prize Narrative: BALLAST directed by Lance Hammer
Special Jury Prize: MOMMA’S MAN directed by Azazel Jacobs

Grand Jury Prize Documentary: SONG SUNG BLUE directed by Greg Kohs
Special Jury Prize Documentary: SECRECY directed by Robb Moss and Peter Galison

Grand Jury Prize Short Film: MAN directed by Myna Joseph
Special Jury Prize Short Film: GLORY AT SEA! directed by Ben Zeitlin

Programmer’s Choice Award: GOLIATH directed by David & Nathan Zellner

The Audience Awards and Best Marketing Awards will be announced later this week. Congratulations to all of the winners.

A huge thanks to everyone that came to the festival this weekend, enduring lines, sprinkles, and harsh temperatures. Even though it’s Monday morning, I need to remind everyone that we are far from over.

We just added additional encore screenings of CRAWFORD and TWELVE (click here for showtimes and information). If you were sold out of either of these shows, tonight you have another chance to catch two of our hottest tickets.

Did you miss SAVIORS, JUMP, AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR, SHORTS 3, 4, or 5? Not a problem, they’re all playing tonight at either the Coolidge or the Somerville Theatre. Force the Monday blues away with some great films and our bright sunny faces.

Also tonight, don’t forget that Guy Maddin will be at the Coolidge with MY WINNIPEG. Over at the Somerville is the screening of ELEVEN MINUTES with the filmmakers and Project Runway’s Jay McCarroll in attendance.

Tuesday night we close IFFBoston 2008 with ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD (8:00pm - Coolidge Corner Theatre).

Hey everyone,

Due to popular demand two additional screenings have been added.

TWELVE, directed by twelve of Boston’s best up-and-coming directors will have an added screening at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square at 5:45pm on Monday April 28th. The film sold out its World Premiere screening and packed a 900-seat theater. Don’t miss your chance to see it on the BIG screen.

CRAWFORD, directed by David Modigliani.
After sold-out shows at the Somerville and Brattle Theatres, we have added one more screening of this highly popular documentary at 8PM at the Somerville Theatre on Monday April 28th.

Tickets for these two screenings will only be available at the Somerville Theatre box office starting at 4pm Monday April 28th. Tickets for each screening is $9.

See you there!

Hey everyone, here’s your chance to see some great films and see some great actresses in person this Saturday, April 26th (in other words, TOMORROW) and Sunday, April 27th.

Saturday:
THE CAKE EATERS directed by Mary Stuart Masterson.
7:15pm Coolidge Corner Theatre
Mary Stuart Masterson in attendance

TURN THE RIVER directed by Chris Eigeman and starring Famke Janssen
7:45pm Somerville Theatre
Director Chris Eigeman and star Famke Janssen in attendance

CRAWFORD directed by David Modigliani
5:30pm Somerville Theatre
Director David Modigliani and actress Mary Steenburgen (advisor to the film) will be in attendance

Sunday:
THE CAKE EATERS directed by Mary Stuart Masterson
1:00pm Somerville Theatre
Director Mary Stuart Masterson will be in attendance

TURN THE RIVER directed by Chris Eigeman
2:00pm Coolidge Corner Theatre
Director Chris Eigeman and star Famke Janssen will be in attendance

Don’t miss these great chances to see these great actresses in person. Buy your tickets in advance tonight through our website or at the theaters, or try your luck in person tomorrow. See you there!

Hey everyone,

If you like documentaries then we have a great one for you. David Redmon & Ashley Sabin’s INTIMIDAD is having its New England premiere tonight at the Somerville Theatre at 7:30pm with both directors in attendance for the Q&A. David and Ashley have been at the festival with films twice in the past (MARDI GRAS: MADE IN CHINA - 2005, KAMP KATRINA - 2007) and their films keep getting stronger and stronger and it is especially exciting to watch the evolution of these two talented filmmakers. Their films have played at Sundance, SXSW, and many of the other top festivals and we are especially proud to have them at IFFBoston for a third time. Tonight at 7:30pm at the Somerville Theatre.

If you missed the IFFBoston premiere of WE ARE WIZARDS last night at the Coolidge, you missed quite the treat. Not only were the filmmakers incredibly excited to see such an enthusiastic and large crowd, the fans were doubly excited to see Harry and the Potters perform an acoustic set after the film and Q & A.

Here’s a quick video from the show:

Catch WE ARE WIZARDS for their second screening on Saturday April 26th at 4pm (Somerville Theatre). Immediately after the show there will be a huge WIZARD ROCK! show (tickets sold separate) with Harry and the Potters, Draco and the Malfoys, The Hungarian Horntails, and The Whomping Willows. Plus, special guests Brad Neely and Melissa Anelli.

WBZTV’s Joyce Kulhawik Covers The Fest (April 24, 2008)

Indie Fest Invades The Hub (Daily Free Press Weekly)

Match Your Films To Your Lifestyle Preferences (Bostonist- April 24, 2008)

CRAWFORD Coverage (Bostonist - April 24, 2008)

THE GREENING OF SOUTHIE Review (Bostonist - April 24, 2008)

Jay McCarroll Has 40 Minutes To Save Fashion (Bostonist - April 24, 2008)

SECOND SKIN Interview (Bay Windows - April 24, 2008)

Cuz We’re B& From Skickam (The Weekly Dig - April 24, 2008)

Hey everyone,

The Boston Metro newspaper had a misprint today. The paper said that the film ELEVEN MINUTES would have Jay McCarroll in attendance at the screening of the film tonight, but he will be in attendance for the Monday night screening, not tonight’s. If you can’t make Monday night’s show you should still come tonight. It is a highly entertaining film.

If you’re going Monday night instead then you should really check out tonight’s World Premiere screening of MEADOWLARK with director Taylor Greeson in attendance. 10:30pm at the Somerville Theatre. See you there!