Awards Ceremonies

The New Hampshire Film Festival Awards Ceremony represents the pinnacle of a long weekend celebrating and recognizing independent film. In a time honored tradition, NHFF is proud to honor the best films and screenplay with its annual presentation of the Granny Awards.

The Granny was conceived to celebrate the award winners of NHFF as well as pay homage to the great Granite State of New Hampshire. The Granny, surely the most physically significant award in the independent film world, is hand crafted out of granite block and weighs in at approximately 10 pounds.

This year, there are two awards ceremonies. The New Hampshire Filmmaker of the Year Award, a new award for 2007, will be presented separately on Thursday night, October 11th.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR
Thursday night, referred to as New Hampshire Night, is a one day mini film festival dedicated solely to NH filmmakers and taking place exclusively on NH’s landmark stage: The Music Hall. This year’s New Hampshire Grand Jury is judging selected films to determine the 2007 New Hampshire Filmmaker of the Year. The award presentation for the winning filmmaker will be presented immediately following the final screening of the evening. To conclude New Hampshire Night, we invite all ticket holders to the After Party at Jumpin Jay’s Café’s Raw Bar.
2007 NH Jury››

All other New Hampshire Film Festival Awards are to be presented during Closing Night Ceremonies on Sunday, October 14th in the Sheraton Harborside Hotel. These festivities, which include a reception and unveiling of the Young Filmmakers Workshop’s short films, start at 6 PM.


GRAND JURY AWARD
NHFF’s most prestigious award is presented to the best overall film submitted to this year’s Festival as deemed by our esteemed Grand Jury. The Grand Jury is an invited group of industry experts to watch, judge and vote on select films nominated by members of the NHFF Screening Committee. 2007 Grand Jury ››

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
A sure measure of success for a film is winning the Audience Choice Award. Selected movies will be voted on by the audience through tear ballots.

BEST SCREENPLAY AWARD
All films begin with an idea, which is then nurtured and developed into a screenplay. Screenwriting is the foundation of filmmaking and NHFF is proud to present the winning writer with a $500 cash prize in addition to the Granny. This year’s Screenplay Competition Judge is Diane Lake, co-writer of Frida, which was nominated for 6 Academy Awards. Diane will read select screenplays nominated by members of the NHFF Screenplay Committee. For more on Diane ››

BEST FEATURE AWARD
Feature length films are over 60 minutes in duration. This category is nominated and voted on by the Screening Committee.

BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD
Documentary film portrays non-fiction events and subjects and brings them to life through the art of storytelling. This category is nominated and voted on by the Screening Committee.

BEST SHORT DRAMA AWARD
Short Dramas are films under 60 minutes in duration involving dialogue about conflicts or contrasts of circumstance. This category is nominated and voted on by the Screening Committee.

BEST SHORT COMEDY AWARD
Short Comedies are films under 60 minutes in duration designed to make you laugh. This category is nominated and voted on by the Screening Committee.

BEST ANIMATION AWARD
Animated films use the animation of characters to tell their stories. This category is nominated and voted on by the Screening Committee.

BEST STUDENT FILM AWARD
NHFF is proud to recognize the future movers and shakers of cinema. Student films can be entered in any category by aspiring student filmmakers. In addition to the Granny Award, the winning student filmmaker is presented with an Avid Xpress Pro editing software, courtesy of Avid Technology. This category is nominated and voted on by the Screening Committee.

Click here for Past Winners ››