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MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE 2006 FILM COMPETITIONS

Three Grand Jury Prizes of $25,000 awarded at the 23rd Annual Miami International Film Festival presented by Miami Dade College

Three Grand Jury Prizes of $25,000 awarded at the 23rd Annual Miami International Film Festival presented by Miami Dade College

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New York, March 21, 2006 The Miami International Film Festival, presented by Miami Dade College, presented awards to films in all competition categories, Documentary Features, Ibero-American Dramatic Features, and World Cinema Dramatic Features. Jurors in the three categories, along with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), awarded prizes to films in competition during the 2006 Festival. The ceremony, which took place at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, was hosted by actors José Antonio and Alice Braga.

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE 2006 FILM COMPETITIONS-Body-2

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation contributed $75,000 to create the Knight Grand Jury Prizes for this year's Miami International Film Festival and a total of $250,000 over three years. The Knight Grand Jury Prize carries a cash award of $25,000 for winners in each of the three competition categories.

Watching the audience connect to the films throughout the week, listening to the gasps and laughter that filled all the theatres, it just confirms that this years program has included filmmakers who have demonstrated ingenuity in concept and maturity in craft, said Festival Director Nicole Guillemet. Bolstered by the generous jury prizes contributed by the Knight Foundation, the filmmakers represented at this year's Miami International Film Festival can continue to grace the World Cinema with their extraordinary talents.

In addition to the Grand Jury Prizes, Special Jury Prizes were given out in each of the three competition categories. The Special Jury Prizes contained Movie Magic?s newest release of their Entertainment Partners Budgeting 6 and Scheduling 4 software as well as a Movado watch.

The Audience Awards, sponsored by American Airlines, were also presented to a film in each of the three categories. Each film was awarded $2,500 and a Movado watch.

Documentary Features - World & Ibero-American Cinema Competition

En el Hoyo (In the Pit) from Mexico by director Juan Carlos Rulfo was awarded the Knight Grand Jury Prize of $25,000 in the World & Ibero-American Documentary Feature Competition.

A Special Grand Jury Mention was awarded to GITMO - The New Rules of War? from Sweden by directors Erik Gandini and Tarik Saleh for the filmmakers? courage to pursue the truth in the face of the authority power.

A Special Grand Jury Mention was awarded to My Grandmother's House? (La casa de mi abuela) from Spain by director Adán Aliaga for bringing us into a grandmother and granddaughter?s world with an astounding intimacy, lyricism, and humor.

The jurors that determined this category were Deborah Dickson, James C. Early, and Lourdes Portillo.

Dramatic Features - Ibero-American Cinema Competition

Life in Color (Vida y color) from Spain by director Santiago Tabernero was awarded the Knight Grand Jury Prize of $25,000 in the Ibero-American Dramatic Feature Competition.

A Special Grand Jury Mention was awarded to 7 Virgins (7 Vírgenes) from Spain by director Alberto Rodríguez for extraordinary vision in directing.

A Special Grand Jury Mention was awarded to Lower City (Cidade Baixa) from Brazil by director Sérgio Machado for excellence in extraordinary performances in acting by Alice Braga, Wagner Moura, and Lázaro Rámos.

The jurors that determined this category were Carlos Bolado, Javier Cámara, and Linda Reisman.

Dramatic Features - World Cinema Competition

There was a tie in this category. Two films shared the Knight Grand Jury Prize of $25,000 in the World Dramatic Feature Competition: Accused (Anklaget) from Denmark by director Jacob Thuesen and Burnt Out (Sauf le respect que je vous dois) from France by director Fabienne Godet.

The jurors that determined this category were Alfredo de Villa, Mike Goodridge, and Beki Probst.

FIPRESCI

The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize was awarded to The Master ((Mistrz) from Poland by director Piotr Trzaskalski which was in competition in the World Dramatic Features category.

The jurors that determined this category were John Anderson (USA), Andrea M. Dittgen (Germany), and Marcelo Janot (Brazil).

AUDIENCE AWARDS

World Dramatic Feature Competition: ?Accused? (Anklaget) from Denmark by director Jacob Thuesen.

Ibero-American Dramatic Feature Competition: ?Angels of the Sun? (Anjos do sol) from Brazil by director Rudi Lagemann.

World & Ibero-American Documentary Feature Competition: The Refugee All Stars from Guinea/Sierra Leone/USA by directors Zach Niles and Banker White.

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE 2006 FILM COMPETITIONS-Body

Miami Encuentros Prizes

Fraternal Love (União Fraterna) from Brazil by Laís Bodanzky, one of this year?s Miami Encuentros projects, was awarded a Soundpost Music License Grant valued at $130,000. Each participant of Miami Encuentros also received Movie Magic?s newest release of Entertainment Partners Budgeting 6 and Scheduling 4 software.

Jurors

Documentary Features - World & Ibero-American Cinema Competition:

Deborah Dickson is an Academy Award nominated documentary Director and producer, with credits including LaLees Kin: The Legacy of Cotton, Ruthie and Connie: Every Room in the House, and The Education of Gore Vidal.

James C. Early is the Director of Cultural Heritage Policy at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in Washington, D.C. and has served as an administrator at the National Endowment for the Humanities, and is a longtime advocate and activist for diversity and equity in cultural and educational institutions.

Lourdes Portillo is an Academy Award and Emmy award nominated director/writer and producer, whose films include: The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, Columbus on Trial, and Missing Young Woman.

Dramatic Features - Ibero-American Cinema Competition:

Carlos Bolado worked as an editor on acclaimed films like Like Water for Chocolate, and has won awards for directing Bajo California and Promises. His new film, Sólo Dios Sabe played at the Gusman Centre at the Miami International Film Festival.

Javier Càmara is an Award winning actor, starring in Malas Temporadas which premiered here at the Gusman Center, and audience favorites as: Torremolinos 73, Habla con Ella and La Mala Educacion.

Linda Reisman was Head of production for Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope and executive produced Pumpkin and Assassination Tango, and produced Waking the Dead and Affliction.

Dramatic Features - World Cinema Competition:

Beki Probst has been the Director of the European Film Market, at the Berlinale International Film Festival, since 1988. In 1992, she was decorated by the French Cultural Minister as Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

Mike Goodridge is the U.S. editor of Screen International and screendaily.com, and a frequent contributor to The Evening Standard, The Mail On Sunday, Sight And Sound and The Advocate, and member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Alfredo De Villa?s first feature film WASHINGTON HEIGHTS won numerous awards at Festivals around the globe, and screened at MIFF 2003, and he twice received the Directors? Guild Award for Best Latino Director, for his short films.

International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI):

John Anderson from the USA is a featured critic at Newsday, Variety, Screen International and The New York Times. He is a member and two- time former chair of the New York Film Critics Circle, a member of the National Society of Film Critics and the National Book Critics Circle.

Andrea Dittgen from Germany has been the editor at the daily newspaper Die Rheinpfalz, and she has contributed to film magazines, books and movie associations and is a member of the board of the German Film Critics Association.

Marcelo Janot from Brazil is the current president of the Brazilian FIPRESCI association, and regularly produces debates and showcases on film criticism and periodically appears on Brazilian television channels Telecine and TVE.

Guests Among those who attended the 2006 Miami International Film Festival were Eliseo Subiela, Pep Munne, Moro Anghileri, Wim Wenders, Andy Garcia, Rosie Perez, Liz Garbus, Jimmy Smits, Liv Ullmann, Zoe Saldana, Eduardo Noriega, Javier Cámara, Nicole Holofcener, Jason Reitman, Carlos Bolado, Alice Braga, José Antonio, Claudio Dabed, Barbara Mori, Anne Fontaine, Phillippe Carcassonne, Marcelo Mazzarello, Cedella M. Booker (mother of Bob Marley), Saul Swimmer, Sony Classic Pictures, NBC Universal, FOX, Miramax, Global Film Initiative, HBO, MTV Latin America, Maverick Entertainment, Karen Durbin, Linda Reisman, Mike Goodridge, and John Anderson.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes journalism excellence worldwide and invests in the vitality of Miami and 25 other U.S. communities. Since its creation in 1950, Knight Foundation has approved more than $148 million in grants to the greater Miami area. Learn more online at www.knightfdn.org.

The Miami International Film Festival gratefully acknowledges the support it receives from its sponsors, including its Producing Sponsors, the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County, American Airlines, The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. Premiere Sponsors include Comcast, Eastman Kodak, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Regal Cinemas, and the University of Miami. Principal Sponsors are ABC Management, the Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building, Bacardi, Blue Capital Management, Casa Casuarina, CBS4, del Rivero Messianu DDB, Diario Las Americas, the Downtown Development Authority, Florida Power & Light, Magna-Tech Electronic Company, Mailman Foundation, Miami Parking Authority and the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, Movado, the National Hotel, New Times, Osborne Solaz, Royal Caribbean International, Selecta Magazine, Soundpost, Starbucks, Sunrise Intracoastal Cinema, Telefutura 69, Univision 23, Univision Radio, and Warren Henry Auto. The Festival?s Supporting Sponsors include ANCINE Brazilian National Film Agency, Aquafina, Astoria Communications, AVENTURA magazine, BMI, Books & Books, Cineworks Digital Studios, Inc., Consulate General of Chile in Miami, Cultural Services of the French Consulate in Miami, Dorchester Hotel, El Argentino, Entertainment Partners, FilmFinders, Footprint South African Wine, The Garner Foundation, Inc., German Films Service + Marketing, Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, HBO, Hot Cookies Inc., Hotel Marseilles, ICAA, Imperia Vodka, indieIN, Kingston Miami Trading Co., Merrill Lynch, the Raleigh Hotel, River Oyster Bar, SAGIndie, Stella Artois, Sundance Channel, Sunrider Productions, Tap Tap, Univision Online, Wachovia, 88.9 FM WDNA Serious Jazz, WLRN Public Radio and Television, WLVE Love 94, and WPBT.

The 2006 Miami International Film Festival is sponsored in part by the State of Florida Governor's Office of Film & Entertainment; with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs
and Cultural Affairs Council; the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the Miami-Dade County Mayor's Office of Film and Entertainment; in partnership with the City of Miami?s
Mayor's Office of Film, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, the City of Miami Board of Commissioners and the Miami Arts and Entertainment Council One City, One Future; Miami-Dade County Transit; the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau; and with the support of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority; and the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council.

The 2006 Festival?s Gold Hospitality Associates are Coma?s Café Bakery, Costco, Diet To Your Door, Doraku, Joe Allen, La Loggia Ristorante and Lounge, and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace. The Silver Hospitality Associates include Bagel Emporium, The District, Epicure Gourmet Market, Ice Box Café, Metro Kitchen at Hotel Astor, Miss Yip Chinese Café, The News Café, Pacific Time, Pasha?s, South Beach Macarena Lounge + Live Music, Pizza Rustica, Segafredo, Teté Restaurant, and The Van Dyke Café.

Miami International Film Festival

The mission of the Miami International Film Festival is to bring the best of world cinema to South Florida. MIFF uses the unique geographical and cultural position of Miami to make the festival a premiere venue for the exhibition of international and U.S. films, with special focus on Ibero-American cinema. Both juried and audience awards are given in dramatic and documentary categories.

Miami Dade College

Miami Dade College has a long and rich history of involvement in the cultural arts, providing South Florida with a vast array of artistic and literary offerings, including The Miami Book Fair International, Cultura del Lobo, The Cuban Cinema Series, and the School of Entertainment and Design Technology. MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the country and is nationally recognized for its programs. With an enrollment of more than 163,000 students, MDC is the nation's top producer of associate of arts and associate of science degrees. The college's six campuses and numerous outreach centers offer more than 150 distinct degrees.

For more information on this event visit www.miamifilmfestival.com. For
more information on Miami Dade College, please visit www.mdc.edu.