For the first time ever in the 22-year-long history of the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, audiences chose two films as their favorite flick of the Festival, awarding an unprecedented dual Best of Fest award to Liisa Helminen for Pelican Man (Finland, 2004) and to Peter Timm for My Brother is a Dog (Germany, 2004). At the closing night ceremony, Sunday, November 4th at the Vittum Theater, 1012 North Noble Street, sponsored by American Airlines, Irma P. Hall (Soul Food) and Khleo Thomas (Holes, Roll Bounce) hosted the gala and awarded prizes as hundreds of movie lovers and filmmakers gathered to celebrate the most popular films of the festival.
The most anticipated awards of the night are those which qualify the winners to enter the Short Films category for the Academy Awards. The winner of the Adult Jury Live-Action Short Film or Video category was Justin Edgar for Special People, a story about a filmmaker on the verge of a nervous breakdown, whose latest project with a cynical bunch of disabled kids might just push him over the edge. Winner of the Adult Jury Animated Short Film went to Pjotr Sapegin for Through My Thick Glasses, a falsely naive tale that is an eloquent interpretation of a Norwegian grandfather's personal history of the Second World War. My Brother is a Dog, directed by Peter Timm, is a funny and delightful film that shows that we don't always need wishes because sometimes we already have everything we need to be happy. This funny and delightful film shares the Best of Fest title with The Pelican Man, directed by Liisa Helminen, an engaging comedy about a pelican so curious and fascinated by humans, he takes on a human form to live and learn more about them.
Other prominent festival winners and awards include; the Kenneth F. and Harle G. Montgomery Prize for best film or video by an emerging director, awarded to Gorki Glaser-Muller for The Egg (Sweden, 2003); the Kenneth F. and Harle G. Montgomery Prize for the best film or video for the best child-produced film or video, awarded to Mouth That Roars for The Legend (UK, 2004); the Liv Ullmann Peace Prize, awarded to Mitra Sen for The Peace Tree (Canada, 2005); the Rights of the Child Award, awarded to Raso Ganemtore for Safi, the Little Mother (Burkina Faso, 2004). The Adult Jury Prize for best Live-action Feature Film or Video went to Linus Torrell for Misa Mi, a beautiful tale of a young girl's loss, recovery, will and self-determination.
SPECIAL PRIZES
The Best of Fest Award
Peter Timm
My Brother is a Dog (Germany, 2004)
-And-
Liisa Helminen
Pelican Man (Finland, 2004)
The Kenneth F. and Harle G. Montgomery Prize
Best Film or Video by an Emerging Director
Gorki Glaser-Muller
The Egg (Sweden, 2003)
The Kenneth F. and Harle G. Montgomery Prize for Best Child-Produced Film or Video
Mouth That Roars
The Legend (UK, 2004)
The Kenneth F. and Harle G. Montgomery Prize - Certificate of Excellence for Best Child-Produced Film or Video
Tony Zadravec
Water (Croatia, 2005)
The Liv Ullmann Peace Prize
Mitra Sen
The Peace Tree (Canada, 2005)
The Rights of the Child Award
Raso Ganemtore
Safi, the Little Mother (Burkina Faso, 2004)
CHILDREN'S JURY PRIZES
CHILDREN'S JURY PRIZE - LIVE-ACTION FEATURE FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Live-action Feature Film or Video
Franziska buch
Bibi Blocksberg and the Secret of the Blue Owls (Germany, 2004)
2nd Prize, Live-action Feature Film or Video
Peter Flinth
The Fakir (Denmark, 2004)
Certificate of Excellence, Live-action Feature Film or Video
Christian Zubert
The Treasure of the White Falcons (Germany, 2005)
CHILDREN'S JURY PRIZE - ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Animated Feature Film or Video
Bryon E. Carson
The Golden Blaze (USA, 2004)
CHILDREN'S JURY PRIZE - LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Live-action Short Film or Video
Kyley Robinson
Toni & the Great Paddle Caper (USA, 2004)
2nd Prize, Live-action Short Film or Video
Chris Waitt
St Mathurin's School of Practical Joking (Scotland, 2004)
Certificate of Excellence, Live-action Short Film or Video
Sam Fisher
Scary Stuff (Canada, 2004)
CHILDREN'S JURY PRIZE - ANIMATED SHORT FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Animated Short Film or Video
Hoel Caouissin
Catfish Blues (France, 2003)
2nd Prize, Animated Short Film or Video
Josh Staub
Mantis Parable (USA, 2005)
Certificate of Excellence, Animated Short Film or Video
Lee Sung Gang
O-Nu-Ri (Korea, 2003)
CHILDREN'S JURY PRIZE - ANIMATED TELEVISION PRODUCTION
1st Prize, Animated Television Production
France Animation Story Telegael
Director: Gilles Deyries and Christian Choquet
Little Vampire Goes to School (France, 2004)
CHILDREN'S JURY PRIZE - CHILD-PRODUCED SHORT FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Child-Produced Short Film or Video
Stephen Sotor and Trace Gaynor
Genie in a Bottle: Unleashed (USA, 2005)
2nd Prize, Child-Produced Short Film or Video
Aidan Patrick Terry
A Case on a Peel (USA, 2004)
Certificate of Excellence, Child-Produced Short Film or Video
La Matatena
The Brave Cat (Mexico, 2004)
ADULT JURY PRIZES
ADULT JURY PRIZE - LIVE-ACTION FEATURE FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Live-action Feature Film or Video
Linus Torrell
Misa Mi (Sweden, 2003)
2nd Prize, Live-action Feature Film or Video
Peter Timm
My Brother is a Dog (Germany, 2004)
ADULT JURY PRIZE - LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Live-action Short Film or Video
Justin Edgar
Special People (UK, 2005)
2nd Prize, Live-action Short Film or Video
Julie Anne Meerschwam
Celamy (USA, 2005)
Certificate of Excellence, Live-action Short Film or Video
Andrea Eduardina Casar
Someone Else's Party (Mexico, 2005)
ADULT JURY PRIZE - DOCUMENTARY FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Documentary Film or Video
Maciei Adamek
A Life to Live (Poland, 2003)
2nd Prize, Documentary Film or Video
Beverly Shaffer
Mr. Mergler's Gift (Canada, 2004)
ADULT JURY PRIZE - LIVE-ACTION TELEVISION PROGRAM
1st Prize, Live-action Television Program
Beryl Richards
My Life as a Popat: Health is Wealth (UK, 2004)
2nd Prize, Live-action Television Program
Simone van Dusseldorp
Schoolyard Secrets (Netherlands, 2004)
ADULT JURY PRIZE - ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Animated Feature Film or Video
Thilo Graf Rothkirch and Piet De Rycker
Laura's Star (Germany, 2004)
ADULT JURY PRIZE - ANIMATED SHORT FILM OR VIDEO
1st Prize, Animated Short Film or Video
Pjotr Sapengin
Through My Thick Glasses (Norway, Canada, 2004)
2nd Prize, Animated Short Film or Video
Lee Sung Gang
O-Nu-Ri (Korea, 2003)
Certificate of Excellence, Animated Short Film or Video
Dan Ivanick and Weston Woods Studios
Arnie the Doughnut (USA, 2005)
ADULT JURY PRIZE -ANIMATED TELEVISION PRODUCTION
1st Prize, Animated Television Production
Andrés Lieban
Mondo's Myths: Where Did the Night Come From? (Brazil, 2005)
A complete list of awards and winners and descriptions of films is posted on-line at www.cicff.org. For additional information contact Kidsfest at (773) 281-9075.
Chatelin Bruno 
