‘DIVINES’ wins big at 2016 AFIFEST presented by Audi; winners announced at AFI Cinema Lounge-Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
Photo and text by Oliver Carnay
'DIVINES' is comiing to Netflix ..
Hollywood, CA - It’s a triple-win for the directorial debut of Houda Benyamina’s teen angst movie “DIVINES” (also this year’s Cannes Film Festival ‘Camera d’Or’ prize winner), winning the ‘Breakthrough Audience Award,’ the ‘New Auteurs Audience Award,’ and ‘New Auteurs Special Jury Mention for Acting’ for its lead star Oulaya Amamra for her electrifying portrayal as ‘Dounia,’ a fearless and ferocious teenager who joins a ruthless gang in pursuit of money and power to help her family and best friend in poverty.
Bottom Left: Director Houda Benyamina receiving her awards; Bottom Right: Oulaya Amamra posed with New Auteurs Jury comprised of Michael Nordine (LA Weekly), Claudia Puig (President of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association) and Robert Abele (author and critic).
The French-Moroccan director Benyamina and Paris-based actress Amamra were present to accept the awards. “I am so honored and surprised by this award. I had a wonderful time in this festival and I thank AFIFEST for this very important award in my life,” Amamra quipped in broken English.
(Photo: "LAND OF MINE" Producer Mikael Christian Rieks received the World Cinema Audience Award)
Attendees for the Awards ceremony were treated to a sumptuous brunch before the announcement of winners.
An encore screenings of selected award-winning films was held on the day of winners announced. The 8-day festival which run from November 10 through 17th, held at the TCL Chinese 6 and its main legendary Chinese Mann’s Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. was also AFIFEST’s 30th anniversary edition. For more information regarding the recent AFIFEST presented by Audi, please log on to www.afifest.com
Here is the complete list of winners:
New Auteurs Grand Jury Award: THE FUTURE PERFECT New Auteurs Special Jury Mention for Acting: Oulaya Amamra for DIVINES Grand Jury Award – Live Action Short: ICEBOX Grand Jury Award – Animated Short: PUSSY Live Action Short Special Mention for Comedic Narrative: HOUNDS Live Action Short Special Mention for Documentary: THE SEND-OFF Live Action Short Special Mention for Acting: DREAMING OF BALTIMORE Live Action Short Special Mention for Cinematography: A THOUSAND MIDNIGHTS Live Action Short Special Mention: SPEAKING IS DIFFICULT Animated Short Special Jury Mention: SUMMER CAMP ISLAND Animated Short Special Jury Mention for Mixed Media: DEER FLOWER Animated Short Special Jury Mention for Visual Aesthetics: SUPERBIA World Cinema Audience Award: LAND OF MINE New Auteurs Audience Award: DIVINES American Independents Audience Award: DONALD CRIED Breakthrough Audience Award: DIVINES Breakthrough Audience Award First Runner-Up: ONE WEEK AND A DAY Breakthrough Audience Award Second Runner-Up: THE RED TURTLE
