Press Release – Monday – 12 December, 2011

MUSIC & FILM KEYNOTE OF THIS YEARS ANGEL FILM AWARDS FESTIVAL! The Art-house glamorous three-day extravaganza, films in competition promote, unusually, peace and love – a refreshing antidote to the usual violent cinema.

Started nine years ago by Rosana Golden and Dean Bentley, specifically to showcase non-violent films. The Angel Film Awards may eschew violence but this is no hippy dippy affair, with chic and stylish post screening VIP champagne receptions at some of the best hotels and clubs in Monaco. AFA - MIFF Festival Director, Producers Golden and Bentley have selected 19 films out of 740 entries. Additionally they selected 11 Screenwriters as official nominees who also have been nominated during the awards night.

An impressive jury was led this year by British Emmy Award Winner and Composer John Altman, who composed the music for Titanic and other grand blockbuster movies. The other jury members included Japanese Producer Kazuiko Tanaka – Victoria Aitkin - the Dame of Honour, French actress Melissa Papel, award winning Director Sacha Schriber, and BBC World News Journalist Babita Sharma who was also a most elegant and accomplished Lady of Ceremonies. UK Producer Daniella Gonella did a wonderful job in announcing the winners for the screenwriters section.

The Angel Film Awards is staged at The Art Novo Theatre. It is a new venue created by Rosana Golden at the Novotel, a stunning new friendly, cosy but also business-like Monegasque setting. In spite of the serious yacht posturing in this part of the world - these awards are growing in reputation as one of ‘THE EVENTS’ not to be missed on the International Film Festival circuit!

The 9th ANGEL FILM AWARDS - Monaco International Film Festival

The 2011 Feature Film - Winning Categories:

1. Angel Peace Award: "GET REAL! WISE WOMAN SPEAK" (USA)

2. Best Feature Film (Angel Trophy): "MY ANGEL" (UK)

3. Best Cinematographer: Gianni Giannelli & Ville Tanttu ”THE ITALIAN KEY” (Finland/Italy/UK)

4. Best Male Actor: Timothy Spall “MY ANGEL” (UK)

5. Best Female Actor: Brenda Blethyn “MY ANGEL” (UK)

6. Best Director: Steve Cookson “MY ANGEL” (UK)

7. Best Ensemble Cast: Carol Rich, Ron Recasner, Phil Scarpaci, Lia Sargent, Frank Ciraci, Michael Tower, Kim Piquet "IN THE KEY OF ELI" (USA)

8. Best Newcomer: Joseph Phillips “MY ANGEL” (UK)

9. Best Producer: Peter Keegan “MY ANGEL” (UK)

10. Best Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen “THE ITALIAN KEY” (Finland/Italy/UK)

11. Best Supporting Male Actor: Frank Ciraci “IN THE KEY OF ELI” (USA)

12. Best Supporting Female Actor: Lia Sargent “IN THE KEY OF ELI” (USA)

13. Independent Spirit Award: “TAMARA’S SACRET JOURNEY TO TIBET” (USA)

14. Special Mention Angel Film Award: “HOW TO BOIL A FROG” (Canada)

15. The Humanitarian Angel Film Award: “THE RESCUERS” (USA)

16. Best Original Story: “IN THE KEY OF ELI” (USA)

17. Best Script Feature film: “MY ANGEL” (UK)

18. Best Costume Design: “THE ITALIAN KEY” (Finland/Italy/UK)

19. Best Visual Effects: “HOW TO BOIL A FROG” (Canada)

The 2011 Feature Documentary Film - Winning Categories:

1. Best Feature Documentary: “GET REAL! WISE WOMAN SPEAK” (USA)

2. Best Feature Documentary Director: Jon Cooksey “HOW TO BOIL A FROG” (Canada)

3. Best Narration Feature Film: THE RESCUERS” (USA)

4. Best Feature Documentary Cinematographer: Joseph Parlagreco “GET REAL! WISE WOMAN SPEAK” (USA)

The 2011 Short Film - Winning Categories:

1. Angel Peace Award: “VOICE OVER” (Spain/USA)

2. Best Female Actor: Gunilla Johansson ”A SRINGTIME MELODY” (Sweden)

3. Best Male Actor: Gérard Depardieu “Winter Frog – GRENOUILLE D’ HIVER” (France)

4. Best Cinematographer: Shogo Ueno “KONO KISHI NO KOTO” (Japan)

5. Best Director: Slony Sow “Winter Frog – GRENOUILLE D’ HIVER” (France)

6. Best Ensemble Cast: Natsue Hyakumoto, Yoichi Toyama “KONO KISHI NO KOTO” (Japan)

7. Best Short Film: “KONO KISHI NO KOTO” (Japan)

8. Best Newcomer: Shaun Rivers “PITBULL WARRIOR” (UK)

9. Best Original Short Story: “DEEP BLUE” (Japan)

10. Best Producer: Gabriel Omania “VOICE OVER” (Spain/USA)

11. Best Original Music: Budapest Symphony Orchestra-Peter Pejtsik “Winter Frog - GRENOUILLE D’ HIVER” (France)

12. Best Supporting Female Actor: Erico Taketa “Winter Frog - GRENOUILLE D’ HIVER” (France)

13. Best Supporting Male Actor: Tatsuhiro Ito “DEEP BLUE” (Japan)

14. Special Mention Angel Award: “DISPLACEMENT” (USA- Suisse)

15. Independent Spirit Award: “BRUSHSTROKES” (USA)

16. The Humanitarian Angel Film Award: “KONO KISHI NO KOTO” (Japan)

17. Best Art Film: “KONO KISHI NO KOTO” (Japan)

18. Best Script: Andrew Martin “GUS” (Australia)

The 2011 Short Documentary Film - Winning Categories

1. Best Short Documentary Cinematographer: Tamara Sumner Petersen “THE WILL TO WIN” (USA)

2. Best Short Documentary Director: Alita Simpson “BREAKING THE SILENCE” (UK)

3. Best Short Documentary Film: “BREAKING THE SILENCE” (UK)

4. Best Narration Short Film: “SIMILAR” (UK)

THE 2011 Short Animation Film - Winning Categories

1. Best Short Animation Film: “GUS” (Australia)

2. Special Mention Animation Film Award: “HOW TO BOIL A FROG” (Canada)

THE 2011 'SCREENPLAY WRITERS’ Winners & Winning Categories:

SEGILOLA SCOTT - TAINTED CANVAS – BEST DRAMA/ROMANCE

JOHN TACCARINO & JOHN LEONARD – AMERICAN ROYALTY – BEST EPIC/HISTORICAL

CHRISTIAN PIERS BETLEY – ON FRIDAY HILL – BEST HUMANITARIAN

ELIZABETH GILBERT – LOVELY – BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE – AND BEST FANTASY SCREENPLAY

NUR DOLAY – ORKINOS – BEST ENVIRONMENTAL DRAMA

JOLANDA ELLENBERGER – THE FREEDOM OF THE HEART – BEST AWARENESS

CARSTEN RAUIN – LITTLE HEROES – BEST DOCUMENTARY

GRAHAM RUSHTON – NOR THE MOON BY NIGHT – BEST PERIODE DRAMA AND BEST INDEPENDENT SPRIT AWARD

MAXINE PUGH – RAISON D’ ETRE – BEST ROMANTIC COMEDY – AND BEST SPECIAL MENTION

NICK GOULDEN - THE CULT – BEST COMEDY

STEPHEN WHITESIDE & ANDY GOULDEN – THE SALVATION OF FRANKIE LOVELOCKE - BEST COMEDY NOIR