Ron Truppa, Bruce Davison 2023 Career Tribute Award Honoree

CATALINA FILM FESTIVAL WRAPS 13th ANNUAL EVENT WITH AWARDS PRESENTATION & HONORS ACTOR BRUCE DAVISON WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Notable Festival Attendees include Actors Katrina Law, Lily Brooks O’Briant, Page Kennedy, Wally Kurth and Director Ashley Avis
VIRTUAL FEST SCREENS ONLINE VIA EOAPP FROM SEPT 29TH-OCTOBER 8TH 

Catalina Film Festival (CFF) wrapped their 13th annual coastal celebration of cinema on Hollywood’s Island with the 2023 Awards Presentation for official film selections and educational Industry Panels for filmmakers. Actor Bruce Davison best known for his work on X-Men, 1923, Dahmer, Ozark, Six Degrees of Separation, Seinfeld, and more, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the historic Avalon Theater, alongside his family. Catalina Island resident and beloved CFF Volunteer Val Shaefer received the Heart of Avalon Award, presented by festival founder and Executive Director Ron Truppa. 

The 5-day in-person festival kicked off in Long Beach at the Scottish Rite Cultural Center on Wednesday and Thursday and departed Friday for Catalina Island for screenings, parties and panels through Sunday. Highlights included the annual Lions Den Pitch Panel, hosted by Gena Vazquez, featuring Charles Morris Jr.,  VP Development & Acquisitions, Global Genesis Group; Jennifer Bergeron, VP of Content Development at Monte Carlo Pictures; James Costa, Founder of Bird Street Productions; and David Josh Lawrence, Head of Acquisitions, Glass House Distribution; The Directors Chair: International Directing Panel featuring Ashley Avis (Black Beauty), Gábor Klacsán (Hungary) and Federico Gatti (Italy); A Class Act Acting Panel with Deirdre Friel, Apollo Dukakis and Charles Haid. Money Talks: Producers Panel with Fanny Veliz Grande, Nelson Grande, Danny O’Malley, and Gato Scatena. That’s a Wrap: Film Distribution Panel featuring: Kirk D'Amico, Executive Producer, Founder of Myriad Pictures, and Crystal Hill, SVP of International Sales at Red Sea Media. 

Stream any of the official 2023 Catalina Film Festival selections online as part of CFF’s Virtual Fest from September 29-October 9 via Entertainment Oxygen (EOapp): EntertainmentOxygen.com

2023 Catalina Film Festival List of Winners

2023 Best Feature - Miranda’s Victim

2023 Best Feature - Award of Excellence - Year of the Fox

2023 Best Actor (Feature) - John A Rice (I’m Okay, We’re Okay)

2023 Best Actor (Feature) - Award of Excellence - Mike Bash (Not For Nothing) 

2023 Best Actress (Feature) - Abigail Breslin (Miranda’s Victim)

2023 Best Actress (Feature) - Award of Excellence - Adrienne Acevedo Lovette (I’m Okay, We’re Okay)

2023 Best Director (U.S. Feature) - Michelle Danner (Miranda’s Victim)

2023 Best Director (U.S. Feature) - Award of Excellence - Megan Griffiths (Year of the Fox)

2023 Best Screenplay - Love Me X 3 (Erin Elizabeth Keefer)

2023 Best Screenplay - Award of Excellence - Blackjack (Doug Van Bebber & David Van Bebber)

2023 Best Actor (Short) - Roberto Sanchez (TESTIMONY) 

2023 Best Actor (Short) - Award of Excellence - Jacob Moran (New Shoes)

2023 Best Actress (Short) - Sarah Hanner (Bläckfisk)

2023 Best Actress (Short) - Award of Excellence - Caitlin Woods (Clear Day)

2023 Best Ensemble (U.S. Short) - Captive

2023 Best Ensemble (U.S. Short) - Award of Excellence - Murder Camp

2023 Best International Short - Kogershin

2023 Best International Short - Award of Excellence - The Red Suitcase

2023 Best Animation - NOBODY

2023 Best Animation - Award of Excellence - ROSE

2023 Best Conservation - Weight of a Feather

2023 Best Conservation - Award of Excellence - Spear, Spatula, Submarines: Floridians Fight To Take Back Their Waters
2023 Best International Feature - Everybody Wants To Be Loved

2023 Best International Feature - Award of Excellence - 4PM

2023 Best Documentary - Cara Romero: Following The Light

2023 Best Documentary - Award of Excellence - The Orchestra That Chuck Built

2023 Festival Treasure Award - A Thousand Times A Day

2023 Best U.S. Short - Clear Day

2023 Best U.S. Short - Award of Excellence - New Shoes

2023 Best Director (Short) - Clara Aranovich (Murder Camp)

2023 Best Director (Short) - Award of Excellence - Tanner Beard (Radio Telescope)

2023 Deb Bauer “Unsung Hero” Award - Climbing My Everest

2023 Best Comedy - Social AnnXiety

2023 Best Comedy - Best Excellence - Illegally Brown

2023 Best Cinematography - Daughter of the Sea (U.S. Short) 

2023 Best Cinematography - Award of Excellence - Lodestar

2023 Best Advanced Student Short - This Wild Abyss

2023 Best Advanced Student Short - Award of Excellence - Act of War

2023 Best High School Short - Ovaryacting

2023 Best High School Short - Award of Excellence - Sharing The Floor

2023 Best Wes Craven Horror/Thriller Award - Get Away

2023 Best Wes Craven Horror/Thriller Award - Award of Excellence - Tooth

For more information, CatalinaFilm.org 

ABOUT CATALINA FILM: Known for its storied history and sweeping views, Catalina Film Festival past celebrity guests and honorees include Nicolas Cage, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Kevin Hart, Mira Sorvino, William H. Macy, Andy Garcia, Sharon Stone, Emmy Rossum, Richard Dreyfuss, Kate Bosworth and more. CFF is a competitive festival with awards in multiple categories, including the Stanley Kramer Social Artist Award, Wes Craven Horror Award, and Conservation Award. Sponsored by Califino Tequila, Upper Path Recovery LLC and EntertainmentOxygen.com