The Ojai Film Festival, with its mission of “Enriching the Human Spirit Through Film”, completed its 8th annual festival Sunday with an awards brunch and sold out best-of-festival screenings. Throughout the festival (October 4 – 7) audiences were treated to an array of powerful and inspiring films with filmmaker Q & A’s after most screenings. Malcolm McDowell served as the Master of Ceremonies for the awards brunch, with highlights including screenwriter Alex Kurtzman presenting an Enrichment Through Education Award to James Hosney, a special tribute to late cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, and the Lifetime Achievement Award to Academy Award® winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond.   “Over 4000 people enjoyed over 50 films and events at the festival in Ojai,” festival Executive Director Laurie Kirby observed. “This year’s slate of films and events exemplified the talent, diversity and uniqueness that makes the Ojai Film Festival a world-class event. We greatly appreciate the support of our amazing hosts, sponsors, volunteers, filmmakers, and most of all attendees. This year’s festival far exceeded our expectations.”   The awards brunch took place on Sunday October 7th at picturesque Casa Elar, next to the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. And the winners are: 

Jury Prizes

Narrative Feature – Half Moon, Bahman Ghobadi – IranDocumentary – Taxi to the Dark Side, Alex Gibney – USAShort – Sharq, Erik Sandoval – KuwaitAnimated Short – Dandelion, Jackie Liao – USAAnimated Short – The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, Michael Sporn - USA 

Langley Productions Prize

Documentary – Off The Grid: Life on the Mesa, Jeremy Stulberg, Randy Stulberg – USA 

Panavision Limelight Award

Kid, Miguel Alvarez – School of Film & Production, University of Texas

Audience Awards

Narrative Feature – Numb, Harris Goldberg - USADocumentary – Darius Goes West, Logan Smalley – USA 

Enrichment Through Education

James Hosney 

Lifetime Achievement

Vilmos Zsigmond Highlights of the the 8th Annual Ojai Film Festival included: Julie Christie appearing with a special Lionsgate screening of Away From Her, and with Vilmos Zsigmond for a special screening of her Academy Award® nominated role in McCabe & Mrs. Miller; the West coast premiere of Numb, with the film’s writer/director Harris Goldberg, Matthew Perry and Mary Steenburgen in attendance; Teri Garr appearing with writer/director/actor Scott Prendergast for a screening of his film Kabluey; tribute to the late cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs (Easy Rider, Shampoo) with his wife, daughter and manager in attendance; a screenwriting panel featuring Harris Goldberg (Numb) and Scott Prendergast (Kabluey); the Panavision Into the Limelight Project of filmmakers from 10 prominent film schools with Master of Ceremonies Bill Paxton; and a special Regional Reels series featuring films of local filmmakers. For further event information and photos visit ojaifilmfestival.com.