AFI FEST 2022 has announced the films that received this year’s Jury awards. The Grand Jury Award winners for Live Action Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short will be eligible for the 2022 Best Live Action Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animated Short Academy Awards.
The Jury was comprised of writer/director Shaz Bennett, writer/director Johnson Cheng and film critic, journalist and filmmaker Tim Cogshell.
“AFI FEST is a proud symbol of the power of this art form to bring people together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “We are proud to create an experience that reminds us of the importance of being present and the joy of being alive.”
Below are the winners:
Grand Jury Prize – Live-Action Short
BIRDS (DIR Katherine Propper)
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)
Statement: “It’s a revelatory documentary about the devastating effects of climate change — told with stunning images like never seen before.”
REELated:
Grand Jury Prize – Animated Short
SIERRA (DIR Sander Joon)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Statement: “The attention to detail and the skilled editing puts us right in the heart of Maya and her childhood memories.”
The complete AFI FEST program included 125 titles (7 Red Carpet Premieres, 6 Special Screenings, 12 Discovery, 12 World Cinema, 12 Documentary, 30 Short Film Competition, 43 AFI Conservatory and 3 Guest Artistic Director Selections). Of the official selections, 53% were directed by women, 32% were directed by BIPOC filmmakers and 11% were directed by LGBTQIA+ filmmakers.
