For Immediate Release | November 14, 2022 | Contact: Jill Ray, 703-408-5310
ALEXANDRIA, VA—An audience of nearly 1,100 enjoyed films spanning a wide variety of genres during the Alexandria Film Festival’s three-day, in-person event. At a ceremony Saturday night, the festival’s executive committee announced a slate of awards to filmmakers whose films stood out based on their compelling storytelling and high production values.
Feature documentary “Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power,” directed by Nina Menkes and produced by Maria Giese, had its D.C. premiere and received top honors with the Best in Fest Award. The documentary examines the gendered nature of film language, incorporating 175 clips from celebrated films in order to explore who gets looked at on screen and who does the looking. Giese received the honor at an awards ceremony Saturday night noting that change for women in the film industry starts with conversation and that “Brainwashed” spurs exactly that. This is the second appearance at the Alexandria Film Festival for Giese, who in 2019 presented the film "This Changes Everything" about employment discrimination and gender disparity facing women in Hollywood. "Bringing 'Brainwashed' to the AFF this year and to a D.C. audience was an outstanding and inspiring experience," said Giese. "And it wasn't just the thrill of winning the award--it was joining a festival team that so understood the film and its transformative potential to bring about social change."
The Joe Cantwell Prize for Documentary Excellence was awarded to “Guest House,” a locally made documentary, directed by Hannah Dweck and Yael Luttwak. “Guest House” follows the stories of three women in an Alexandria re-entry house as they attempt to acclimate to life after being released from incarceration and battling addiction.
“Her Magnum Opus” by Marta Renzi claimed the Special Jury Award for its creative interpretation of friendship through dance, while the Best Foreign Language Film Award went to “Just Let Me Go” by Luis Diogo of Porto, Portugal. The film, a fictional narrative, focuses on a couple, Ana and Ricardo, chosen to be the subjects of a documentary about loving relationships. During the filmmaking process, Ricardo questions whether he still loves Ana and should remain in the relationship.
The Audience Award, determined by festival attendees who vote on site, went to local filmmaker Jane Pitman for her new feature documentary “Be Moved.” The film tells the story of the Choreographers Collaboration Project (CCP), a modern dance company based in Alexandria. Pitman explores how the CCP helps strengthen and create community within the city. An additional Audience Award will be presented to the film chosen by the virtual cinema audience at the conclusion of the online festival programming after Thanksgiving weekend.
The festival moves online through November 27, and tickets are now available for purchase. Viewers have two weeks to view purchased films once they hit play. See festival offerings here.
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About the Alexandria Film Festival
The Alexandria Film Festival brings high-quality short and feature-length films, documentaries, filmmaker panels, and arts presentations to the port city of Alexandria, Virginia and beyond. The festival highlights the talents of local, national, and international filmmakers in an acclaimed travel destination within eyesight of the nation’s capital.