The Beaufort Film Society announced that the recently concluded Beaufort International Film Festival (BIFF) topped all expectations with an attendance totaling nearly 7,000 — approximately a 36% increase over 2011.
<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_1765.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5926" title="IMG_1765" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_1765-300x177.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="177" /></a>Attendees at the 2012 Festival enjoyed the best-ever opening reception atop all the Old Bay Marketplace; 26 Finalist films; a Screenwriters workshop featuring all Finalist Screenwriters seeing their screenplays performed by Shakespearian actors; two “Meet the Filmmaker” special sessions; numerous Q&amp;A sessions with the many directors and producers in attendance; and an Awards Gala that really brought out the stars.
“The move to our new venue at the USCB Center for the Arts really took our ‘little’ festival to the next level,” said Ron Tucker, BIFF Executive Director.  “The feedback during the festival and the emails and cards still coming in is incredible. Tom Berenger, in his remarks at the Awards Ceremony, noted how he could not believe the growth in size and quality from last year to this year’s festival.”
The list of winners at BIFF 2012 is as follows:
• Jean Ribaut Award for Excellence in Acting
Powers Boothe
• Jean Ribaut Award for Excellence in Stunt Coordination
Cal Johnson
• Jean Ribaut Award for Excellence in Editing
Craig McKay
• Best Screenplay
“The Wedding Photographer,” Teresa Bruce, Beaufort
• Best Animated Film
“Stitched and Sown,” Austin Taylor, Winston-Salem, N.C.
• Best Student Film
“The Road to Jacob,” Matt Allen,” Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah
• Best Short Film
“Quirk of Fate,” Marco J. Riedel, Cologne, Germany
• Best Documentary
“Awaken the Dragon,” Liz Oakley, Charleston
• Best Feature Film
“Happy New Year,” K. Lorrel Manning, New York, N.Y.
• Audience Choice Award
“Awaken the Dragon,” Liz Oakley, Charleston
• Best Director
Feliz Martiz, Southgate, Calif., “Santiago”
• Best Actor
Jesus Guevara, “Santiago”
Tucker continued, “We had a very dedicated group of planners, volunteers, sponsors, filmmakers, and Hollywood talent who contributed so much to making this the premier film festival in the Southeast. If we are able to build on the support in this community and continue to get the word out about our festival and Beaufort’s many charms for film-making, then the sky is the limit for the Beaufort International Film Festival.”
For more information about the Beaufort International Film Festival visit www.beaufortfilmfestival.com.