The 13th-annual Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) announced this year’s juried film award winners

Bobby Cannavale Recipient of Inaugural Best Performance in a Film Award for “Ezra”

“Tiger Stripes” and “Maya and the Wave” Win Best Narrative and Documentary Feature Film 

“Ezra,” “Photographer,” and “Abundance: The Farm Link Story” Win Festival Audience Awards

The 13th-annual Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) announced this year’s juried film award winners during their annual Awards Bash. The Festival took place from February 28 - March 3, 2024, screening 20 narrative and documentary features, 37 shorts, and three episodics.

At the Awards Bash, the Festival presented its inaugural Best Performance in a Film Award to honoree Bobby Cannavale, for his performance in the film Ezra. Lauded with a sold-out crowd during the Festival’s Opening Night, the screening was followed by a Q&A with producer Jon Kilik and a live-performance by songwriter Adrienne Ackerman. The film had a second screening on Saturday, March 2, followed by a Q&A with Cannavale and director Tony Goldwyn, moderated by Variety’s Tatiana Siegel.

The Awards Bash was hosted at Festival HQ, Whiskey’s On Main, with music from New York guitarist and film producer, Sam Bisbee, as well as indie rock band, Arcy Drive. Filmmaker honorees and special guests were honored with custom SVFF Belt Buckles crafted by Sun Valley’s Rocky Mountain Hardware. The full list of award winners are as follows:

SVFF 2024 Award Winners

Best Performance in a Film Award

WINNER: Bobby Cannavale for his role in Ezra

Audience Award Winners – Awarded to the film, episodic, and short which received the most votes from audience attendees.

FEATURE WINNER: Ezra, directed by Tony Goldwyn

EPISODIC WINNER: Photographer “Paul Nicklen & Cristina Mittermeier: Win or Die,” directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin

SHORT WINNER: Abundance: The Farmlink Story, directed by Owen Dubeck

Best Narrative Feature Film - Awarded to the best narrative feature film in the Festival.  

WINNER: Tiger Stripes, directed by Amanda Nell Eu

HONORABLE MENTION FOR PERFORMANCE: Melissa Barrera in Your Monster directed by Caroline Lindy

Jury members were Ted Hope (American Independent Film Producer), Anna McMurphy (Chief People Officer, MNTN), George Prentice (Morning Edition Host and Reporter for NPR, Boise State Public Radio).

Best Documentary Feature Film - Awarded to the best documentary feature film in the festival.   

WINNER: Maya and the Wave, directed by Stephanie Johnes

HONORABLE MENTION: Maestra, directed by Maggie Contreras

Jury members were Sam Bisbee (Producer and Founding Partner of Park Pictures Features), Tatiana Siegel (Executive Editor Film & Media, Variety), and Todd Traina (Executive Producer, Edge of Everything).

One in a Million Awards - The One in a Million Awards honor feature length stories made for under one million dollars. One narrative and one documentary film are each awarded. Respective juries noted above selected these winners.

NARRATIVE WINNER: Long December, directed by Thomas Torrey

DOCUMENTARY WINNER: Invisible Nation, directed by Vanessa Hope

The SVShorty Award - The best short film across all categories. 

WINNER: Shut Up & Fish, directed by Raul Sanchez and Pasqual Gutierrez

SPECIAL MENTION: The Sperm Bank, directed by Margaux Susi

Jury members were Maggie Contreras (Director, Maestra), Thomas Torrey (Director, Long December), and Ian Michaels (Producer, Wayward).

The Gem State Award - The best short film made in Idaho. The films in the Idaho Shorts program are eligible for this award.

WINNER: The Balloonist, directed by Heather Parkinson Dermott and Kai Barry

SVFF Film & Screenwriting Competition Winners

High Scribe Award - The High Scribe honors an emerging voice in screenwriting with Howard Owens (Founder of Propagate Content, with recent credits including Hillary, Killing Kennedy, and Running Wild with Bear Grylls) serving as judge of the contest. Three finalists were selected and the below winner was chosen:

WINNER: Aman and Flor Against the Motherfucking World, written by Emilie McDonald

SVJR Film Competition - Showcases student-made films and encourages students in their craft, storytelling and self-expression. 

HOT SHOT WINNER: The Overlocks' Dilemma, directed by Julian Felix Aaronson

2nd PLACE: Happiness in the Palm of Her Hand, directed by Ella Janes

3rd PLACE: Anna McGee's Wild Ride, directed by Ava Bounds

The Gem State Jr. Award - The best short film made in Idaho by a Junior Filmmaker. The films in the Idaho Shorts program are eligible for this award.

WINNER: Kenai River King, directed by Bentley Allen Zylstra

Festival highlights included Annette Bening and David O. Russell receiving the Vision Award, Ted Hope receiving the Pioneer Award presented by Variety, and Julia Cox as recipient of the High Scribe Award. The Festival opened with a screening of Ezra, and closed with Sugarcane. SVFF is grateful to have the continued support of longtime and newly inducted Festival partners and patrons including Deadline, Gorongosa Tours, National Geographic, Stella Artois, Variety and the community of generous arts supporters. 

The Sun Valley Film Festival is set to return next year, February 26 - March 2, 2025.

About the Sun Valley Film Festival

Since 2012, the Sun Valley Film Festival has invited fans and filmmakers to connect through the power of cinema in Hollywood’s original ski Shangri-la. Annually, SVFF celebrates with a slate of cutting-edge film and television premieres, engaging Coffee Talks with entertainment luminaries, thought-provoking discussions and unforgettable parties. Outside of the Festival, SVFF enhances the cultural fabric of the community through its Monthly Movies, filmmaker discussions and educational programs. The Sun Valley Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization. This year’s Sun Valley Film Festival took place February 28 – March 3, 2024.  

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