The 2008 Cinequest Juries selected winners from over 150 films from 34 countries. Cinequest Executive Director and Co-founder Halfdan Hussey read the following statement: “They discovered myriad worlds that challenged, excited and surprised. Their job to find the top films was not an easy one, and reaching a unanimous vote was nearly impossible because the films truly affected them in many ways and heated debates were sparked because of the passion each felt for the stories that were revealed.”

NARRATIVE FEATURE
SUPERHEROESSUPERHEROESMaverick Spirit Award (Cinequest's top prize)
SUPERHEROES
Director: Alan Brown (USA)

Best First Feature
IT'S BETTER IF GABRIELA DOESN'T DIE / MEJOR ES QUE GABRIELA NO SE MUERA)
Director: Sergio Umansky (Mexico)

Special Jury Award for Narrative Feature
A BETTER LIFE / UNA VIDA MEJOR
Director: Andrew James (United States/Mexico)

DIRECTORS AWARDS
THE TRAP / KLOPKATHE TRAP / KLOPKAGlobal Visions Award
THE TRAP / KLOPKA
Director: Srdan Golubovic (Serbia)

New Visions Award
WHO IS K.K. DOWNEY?
Directors: Darren Curtis and Pat Kiely (Canada)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
DEAR ZACHARYDEAR ZACHARYBest Documentary Feature
AUTISM: THE MUSICAL
Director Tricia Regan (USA)

Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature
DEAR ZACHARY: A LETTER TO A SON ABOUT HIS FATHER
Director: Kurt Kuenne (USA)

SHORTS
Best Student Short Film
MAMITAS
Director: Nick Ozeki

Best Documentary Short Film
BROADCAST COWBOY
Director: David Washburn

Best Animated Short Film
PAPIROFLEXIA
Director: Joaquin Baldwin

Best Narrative Short Film
CENTIGRADE
Director: Colin Cunningham

AUDIENCE AWARDS
To be announced Monday, March 10, 2008.

MAVERICK SPIRIT AWARD RECIPIENTS
The following individuals received Maverick Spirit Awards at Cinequest 18 for their Maverick careers in the film industry: Michael Keaton, Michael Arndt, Bobby Moresco and Danny Glover.

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS
First Place
SWITCHBACK
Writer: Bill Schreiber

Second Place
VERA
Writer: Caitlin McCarthy

Third Place
THE ORCHARD
Writer: Diane Stredicke

In addition, THE BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM & TELEVISION ARTS / LA continues to celebrate the filmmaking artistry of the short film by selecting top winners at festivals around the world. For the 2008 Cinequest Film Festival, the members of BAFTA / LA have chosen:

First Place Winner British Academy of Film & Television Arts / LA
SOFT
Director: Simon Ellis

Runners Up - Certificates of Excellence British Academy of Film & Television Arts / LA
RATTLESNAKES
Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson

CHIEF
Director: Brett Wagner