The 22nd Annual New Hampshire Film Festival Announces Award Recipients
PORTSMOUTH, NH (October 22, 2024) – That’s a wrap! New Hampshire’s largest film festival has announced the recipients of the New Hampshire Film Festival’s (NHFF) prestigious awards after four packed days of screenings, panels, and parties. The 22nd annual New Hampshire Film Festival brought a lively energy to Portsmouth, drawing thousands of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, writers, and students who came together to celebrate, explore, and engage in discussions about cinema, while enjoying more than 100 independent films chosen from thousands of submissions.
This was the first year under new management, with The Music Hall in downtown Portsmouth producing the festival, bringing the full workforce of the Music Hall to every aspect of the festival. The Music Hall President & CEO Tina Sawtelle says, “We have enjoyed melding together the festival’s veterans of volunteers and industry professionals with ours. The Music Hall recognizes what a tremendous contribution the New Hampshire Film Festival is to our community and we are excited to be given the opportunity to grow this beloved 4-day annual event.”
For the third consecutive year, NHFF was an Academy Awards qualifying festival for short films, making live action and animated shorts jury award recipients eligible to submit for Oscar consideration. Sawtelle adds, “We are so energized that once again, the New Hampshire Film Festival distinguished itself as an important opportunity for filmmakers who come from near and far, and for audiences, who not only get to see the films, but are encouraged to interact with directors, writers, producers, actors, and cinematographers.”
The Best Feature Documentary award went to Porcelain War, a stunning tribute to the resilience of the human spirit. This gripping film embodies the passion and fight that only artists can bring back into the world when it’s crumbling around them. With extraordinary footage from a war-torn country, filmed by ordinary civilians, Porcelain War tells a story that transcends Ukraine, speaking to all of us.
Bob Trevino Likes It captured both the Best Narrative Feature award and the Audience Choice Award, Narrative. The film’s ability to win over both the jury and festival attendees highlights its universal appeal and storytelling strength.
Another standout was Safe Sets – Dying to Work in the Film Industry, which won the Audience Choice Award, Documentary. This investigative film explores the hazardous working conditions in Hollywood, revealing untold stories of enormous personal sacrifice and life-threatening risks for those working in an industry that brings us the movies and TV shows we cherish.
The bulk of the awards honoring excellence in filmmaking and screenwriting were presented on Sunday, including the Live Action Shorts Jury Award and Animation Shorts Jury Award:
- Best Screenplay: Unconquered: The John Hollins Story (written by Phillip Hollins)
- Best Student Film: Works of Mercy (directed by Alex Yarber)
- Best Short Comedy: Airbag (directed by Timothy Leong)
- Best Short Drama: Loser (directed by Colleen McGuinness)
- Audience Choice, Documentary: Safe Sets — Dying to Work in the Film Industry (directed by Paul Heinzelmann & Jonathan Schwartz)
- Audience Choice, Narrative: Bob Trevino Likes It (directed by Tracie Laymon)
- Grand Jury Award, Documentary: Mistress Dispeller (directed by Elizabeth Lo)
- Grand Jury Award, Narrative: We Strangers (directed by Anu Valia)
- Shorts Jury Award, Documentary: Cycles (directed by Pisie Hochheim & Tony Oswald)
- Shorts Jury Award, Animation (Academy-Qualifying): Tennis, Oranges (directed by Sean Pecknold)
- Shorts Jury Award, Live Action (Academy-Qualifying): Bruno & Elena (directed by Javier Hirschler)
- Best Documentary Feature: Porcelain War (directed by Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev)
- Best Narrative Feature: Bob Trevino Likes It (directed by Tracie Laymon)
The festival’s New Hampshire Day & Night, which showcased films with ties to the Granite State on Thursday, concluded with presentation of this year’s New Hampshire Awards:
- Best NH Performance: Elle Shaheen (Live Catch)
- Best NH Short Documentary: The Power of Water (directed by Matthew Myer Boulton)
- Best NH Short Narrative: Keepers (directed by Paul Emile)
- NH Filmmaker of the Year: Ian Scura (A Handmade Life and Liquid, Fragile, Perishable)
- Best NH Feature Documentary: The Ride Ahead (directed by Dan Habib and Samuel Habib)
- Best NH Feature Narrative: Eephus (directed by Carson Lund)
- NH Short Film of the Year (Jury Award): 109 Below (directed by Nick Martini)
On Sunday, the Festival’s Van McLeod Award was presented in a special ceremony preceding the awards show. Recognizing New Hampshire natives and residents who have made significant contributions in film and television, this year’s recipient was film and television star and Plymouth native Eliza Coupe.
- Van McLeod Award: Eliza Coupe
To stay up to date on all things New Hampshire Film Festival, visit nhfilmfestival.com.