AWARD WINNERS & NOMINEES
2023 Talent + Festival Awards were announced live on Sunday, April 30th at 7:30pm during the Award Ceremony Reception and the Audience Choice Awards were announced via Blackbird's Facebook Page on Saturday, May 6th at 9pm (ET).
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
THE CARE WE GIVE
The Care Giver
FRIDAY NIGHT FEELS
Anne
WINNERS + LOSERS
Hatchback
LIFE, ANIMATED
The Old Young Crow
MY BODY, MY CHOICE
Host Destination
LOVE MY FOR ME
Wendy
STRANGER DANGER
Psycho Killer
RISING STARS
Don't Forget Me
MUSIC OF LIFE
Homecoming
TIME TO ESCAPE
One More Day
TIL DEATH DO US PART
Harold & Mary
LOVE AND WAR
My Dear Salvatore
HEAR MY VOICE
Transmission: Lisa Stephen Friday
BLACK FEATHER AWARD
NICOLE RINALDI + CARL HANSEN
The Black Feather Award is given each year to filmmakers who reflects the inclusive values Blackbird stands for and embodies the spirit of the festival. Typically, Black Feather Award winners are festival alumni who remain engaged and continue to show their support year after year.
This year, Black Feather Awards were given to Nicole Rinaldi and Carl Hansen, both Blackbird alums from the hard-hit years of COVID-19. So much so, Nicole was one of only a few filmmakers to attend the 2020 Sunset Cinema edition and has remained a core supporter of Blackbird - returning consistently in 2021, 2022 and 2023! In a similar way, Carl Hansen first arrived to Blackbird in 2021 during the Summer Fest and has become a strong leader in reshaping Blackbird into a more inclusive and aware event for both filmmakers and attendees!
Both Nicole and Carl have our sincerest gratitude!
CATEGORY AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST OF FEST
Anne
Beauty Queen
Daughter of the Sea
Harold & Mary
Mad/Woman
My Dear Salvatore
___________
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Ivy Grace
Lock the Gate
Me, Mahmoud and the Mint Plant
Real Heros Can Wear Capes
Stages of Lost Freedom
Transmission: Lisa Stephen Friday
BEST DRAMATIC SHORT
Artsanity
Broken Gargoyles
Harold & Mary
The Care Giver
To Be Honest
Take Care
BEST THRILLER SHORT
A Little Tent
Caregiver
Mary Meet Grace
One of Those Good Lives
The Last Lesson
Women and Elephants
BEST COMEDIC SHORT
Anaconda
Beat
Hatchback
Jelly Bean
Legit Married
Starving
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
Lock The Gate
Me, Mahmoud and the Mint Plant
The Old Young Crow
Robot's Don't Tell Jokes
Stages of Lost Freedom
Still Up There
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Girl of My Dreams
Homecoming
Love Me for Me
Mad/Woman
Robot's Don't Tell Jokes
Shelter
NYS FILMMAKER AWARD
Artsanity
Beat
Couple of Guys - The Meet Up
Still Here
To Be Honest
Women and Elephants
TALENT AWARD NOMINATIONS
CINEMA DIRECTOR AWARD
Anne - Desirée Abeyta
Couple of Guys - Debra Markowitz
Georgia - Jayil Pak
Hope You Feel Better - Stephanie Ruiz
Mad/Woman - Marc Acito
Take Care - Imani Christopher, Jabu Ndlovu
CINEMA WRITING AWARD
Aaron with 2 A's
Anne
Lioness
Harold & Mary
Hope You Feel Better
My Dear Salvatore
CINEMA EDITING AWARD
Mad/Woman
My Dear Salvatore
One of Those Good Lives
Shelter
The Care Giver
The Old Young Crow
CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD
Artsanity
Daughter of the Sea
Darak
My Dear Salvatore
Shelter
The Misanthrope
SOUND DESIGN AWARD
Anaconda
Mad/Woman
Misophonia
New York Conversations
O, Brave New World
One of Those Good Lives
POWERFUL VOICE AWARD
Anne
Ivy Grace
Lioness
Mad/Woman
O, Brave New World
Under the Sun After the Wind