The 15th Anniversary of the Gen Art Film Festival presented by Acura wrapped up an exciting week that kicked off with the New York premiere of Sundance Audience Award winner happythankyoumoreplease and concluded last weekwith a ceremony announcing the winners of the Acura Grand Jury Awards, Wonderwall.com’s Stargazer Award and the Festival’s Audience Awards.
Following the closing night premiere of Mercy, the award winners were announced at BLVD. Gen Art Senior Vice President of Film Jeffrey Abramson, Gen Art Associate Director Aaron Levine and Jurors Shea Whigham and Eugene Hernandez announced the Festival winners.
The Acura Grand Jury Award for Best Feature went to Tatiana Von Furstenberg and Francesca Gregorini’s Tanner Hall with both directors on hand to receive their award last night, and the Acura Grand Jury Award for Best Short went to Vance Malone’s The Poodle Trainer. Prizes of $10,000 and $5,000 were presented by Acura to the Feature and Short winners respectively. Josh Radnor’s happythankyoumoreplease and Jeff Sousa’s The Hirosaki Players took home the Festival’s coveted Audience Awards.
Additionally, Wonderwall.com’s “Stargazer Award” recognized Rooney Mara (Tanner Hall) as the most talented emerging actor with “starstuff” from this year’s festival, selected by an esteemed group of festival alumni actors: Paul Schneider, Shea Whigham and Billy Burke.
The Gen Art Film Festival presented by Acura showcased the New York premieres of seven features and seven shorts from emerging filmmakers, each followed by seven parties at New York City’s hottest venues, including SL, Juliet Supper Club, and Avenue. The cutting-edge festival allowed film buffs to experience a premiere like a true insider with interactive elements allowing filmmakers, media and the audience to share in the excitement.
Adrien Grenier also attended the fest to support Teenage Paparazzo which documents the unexpected relationship between 14-year –old cameraman Austin Visschedyk and Adrian. Inspired by a chance encounter outside of a club one night, Adrian decides to turn the cameras on the paparazzi for a change.
But what begins as an honest effort to document Austin’s world quickly turns personal when Adrian is forced to take responsibility for his influence on the boy’s life. As Austin succumbs to the lure of fame, Adrian struggles to understand what makes it so alluring and seeks to develop something more authentic than the relationship of mutual exploitation that now exists between them.
Neal B was at the premiere last week too. You can check out all of his photos here, read about it here or check out his video above.
Neal has also put together a special SATC2 page which you can check out here too. (Thanks Neal)
If you missed out on this year’s Gen Art Fest, you can become a member today so you’ll be sure not to miss out next year!
[Photo: Rooney Mara & Tom Everett Scott at the premiere of Tanner Hall]
Gen Art Film Festival Wrap Up including video of Adrien Grenier…
The 15th Anniversary of the Gen Art Film Festival presented by Acura wrapped up an exciting week that kicked off with the New York premiere of Sundance Audience Award winner happythankyoumoreplease and concluded last weekwith a ceremony announcing the …