‘My Dead Friend Zoe,’ ‘Porcelain War’ Win At Woodstock Film Festival

Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ directorial debut My Dead Friend Zoe took the Grand Jury prize for Best Feature Narrative Saturday night as the Woodstock Film Festival presented awards for its silver jubilee edition.

The film stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman in a tale of a female veteran of the war in Afghanistan who “comes head to head with her Vietnam vet grandfather at the family’s ancestral lake house.” The feature grew out of a short film directed by Hausmann-Stokes, himself a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq.

The jury, comprised of Oren Moverman, Roger Ross Williams, and Debra Granik, wrote, “For a standout central performance that delves into the darkness of the human psyche in the aftermath of its most extreme brutality, and for shining a light on the tragic consequences of war on those who are sent in our name to fight, we the jury unanimously award the Best Feature Narrative film at the 25th Annual Woodstock Film Festival to My Dead Friend Zoe.”

My Dead Friend Zoe also won the Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography, recognizing the work of DOP Matt Sakatani Roe. Richard Rowley served as the jury for the cinematography award, writing of My Dead Friend Zoe, “With clear eyes and precision, this film unearths the buried guilt and trauma of a war that we as a country have still failed to come to terms with.

“With light, composition, and careful lensing, the camera balances the film’s delicate mix of levity and weight, grace and cruelty, the documentary and the hallucinatory.”

My Dead Friend Zoe further earned an Honorable Mention for Best Narrative editing, recognizing the contribution of editor Ali Greer.  

Woodstock’s Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary went to Porcelain War, directed by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev. The film, winner of the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary at Sundance, centers on Leontyev and his wife, Anya Stasenko, both Ukrainian artists who collaborate on pieces even as the Russian invasion of their country continues and Leontyev serves in the Ukrainian army.

Ivy Meeropol, Angela Patton, and Julie Goldman made up Woodstock’s doc jury. They wrote, in part, “This year’s winner captivated us with its intimate portrayal of resilience and artistry in the face of conflict. The film we chose stood out for its visually stunning cinematography and deeply emotional storytelling, blending the worlds of art and war in a way that feels fresh and impactful.

“What sets this film apart is how personal and raw it feels. Much of the footage was shot by the subjects themselves, giving the film an authenticity and immediacy that deeply moved us.”

Porcelain War also won the Best Documentary Editing Award, honoring the efforts of Brendan Bellomo, Aniela Sidorska, and Kelly Cameron. (Jurors for the editing prize were Sabine Hoffman, Derek McCants, and Gabriel Rhodes).

The NYWIFT Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking Award went to Troll Storm, directed by Eunice Lau. The honor comes with a $1,000 prize and NYWIFT 6-month membership.

Brooklyn, Minnesota, directed by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, won two prizes on the night including Best Ultra Indie. Jurors Shruti Ganguly, Sean Price Williams, and Blair Breard wrote, “Our choice for the winner of the Ultra Indie film is a layered family drama that moves through time and place. In spite of the budget, the film felt expansive and unconstrained, a testament to confident film craft.

“Grounded by a rebellious teenager trying to find her place in the world, while collaging her family’s challenging history, the audience is made to examine what it means to confront and repair our past, and to find connection with each other.”

Brooklyn, Minnesota also won the NYWIFT Excellence in Narrative Filmmaking Award, which comes with a $1,000 prize and NYWIFT 6-month membership

Woodstock, at its 25^th edition, also presented a number of honorary awards. Writer-director Paul Schrader, whose latest narrative feature Oh, Canada screened at the festival, received the Honorary Maverick Award. “Renowned producer Ira Deutchman received the Honorary Trailblazer Award. Globally celebrated filmmakers and human rights activists Pamela Yates and Paco de Onís received the inaugural Art of Activism Award,” the festival noted.

Yates has been making documentaries for over 40 years, including the 1983 classic When the Mountains Tremble (co-directed with Newton Thomas Sigel). Accepting the Art of Activism Award, Yates noted that she and de Onís are currently on a 26-tour with their latest film, Borderland, “about immigrant leaders organizing a powerful movement in the shadow of the border industrial complex.” Reflecting on her cinematic work, Yates told the Woodstock audience, “I was often asked and have spent my professional career answering, ‘Are you an artist or are you an activist?’ I’d say, ‘I’m both.’ Like a human rights lawyer who uses the law as a tool to ensure human rights, we use the power of cinema and the universality of storytelling in our practice as human rights defenders.”

Among the filmmakers, talent and other luminaries on hand for WFF’s 25^th edition have been Paul Schrader, Amanda Seyfried, Carol Kane, Walton Goggins, Tyra Banks, Sheila Nevins, Ramin Bahrani, Oren Moverman, Sandi Dubowski, Roger Ross Williams, Carla Gutierrez, Ira Deutchman, Nancy Savoca, Carol Alt, Stacey Williams, Michael Schwartz, Tyler Nilson, and Amy Goodman.

Below is the full list of award winners presented Saturday evening:

—Gigantic Pictures Award For Best Feature Narrative: My Dead Friend Zoe, directed by Kyle Hausmann Stokes.

Jurors: Oren Moverman (Producer/Writer, The Messenger, I’m Not There, Bad Education), Roger Ross Williams (Director, Music By Prudence, Stamped from the Beginning, Cassandro), and Debra Granik (Director/Writer, Winter’s Bone, Leave No Trace, Down to the Bone)

Jury Statement: For a standout central performance that delves into the darkness of the human psyche in the aftermath of its most extreme brutality, and for shining a light on the tragic consequences of war on those who are sent in our name to fight, we the jury unanimously award the Best Feature Narrative film at the 25th Annual Woodstock Film Festival to My Dead Friend Zoe.

—The Leon Gast Award For Best Feature Documentary: Porcelain War, directed by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev.

Jurors: Ivy Meeropol (Director, After the Bite, Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn, Angela Patton (Director, Daughters), Julie Goldman (Producer, Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, Life, Animated, In the Same Breath)

Jury Statement: This year’s winner captivated us with its intimate portrayal of resilience and artistry in the face of conflict. The film we chose stood out for its visually stunning cinematography and deeply emotional storytelling, blending the worlds of art and war in a way that feels fresh and impactful.

What sets this film apart is how personal and raw it feels. Much of the footage was shot by the subjects themselves, giving the film an authenticity and immediacy that deeply moved us.

This quote from the film resonates throughout: “As an artist, I am not interested in documenting evil but rather the people who resist it,” The focus on the resilience and bravery of those fighting back against unimaginable devastation creates a deeply humanizing narrative that transcends the typical war documentary.

The breathtaking cinematography and stirring, magical score only add to the film’s emotional depth, making it more than just a documentary about conflict but a tribute to the courage and hope of those living through it.

For its powerful storytelling and unique ability to humanize such a complex reality, we are thrilled to award Porcelain War this year’s honor for Best Feature Documentary.

—Haskell Wexler Award For Best Cinematography: My Dead Friend Zoe, directed by Kyle Hausmann Stokes, cinematography by Matt Sakatani Roe.

Juror: Richard Rowley (Director, Kingdom of Silence, 16 Shots, Dirty Wars)

Jury Statement: This year’s films embody the full range of cinematography’s potential—from the handheld urgency of scrappy independents, to the clean-lined scope of sweeping epics, to the shallow-focused intimacy of personal dramas.

It is, as always, a difficult award to give out. But this year, one film stood apart.

With clear eyes and precision, this film unearths the buried guilt and trauma of a war that we as a country have still failed to come to terms with.

With light, composition, and careful lensing, the camera balances the film’s delicate mix of levity and weight, grace and cruelty, the documentary and the hallucinatory.

This years’ Cinematography Award goes to: Cinematographer Matt Sakatani Roe for My Dead Friend Zoe.

—NYWIFT Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking Award: Troll Storm, directed by Eunice Lau

Presented by NYWIFT Board Member Kim Jackson, an award of $1,000 is given to each Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking recipient, plus a certificate and a NYWIFT 6 month membership.

Jury Statement: We appreciate Eunice Lau’s journalistic approach to social justice in choosing her subject in Troll Storm. Shining a light, during these unprecedented political times, on a Jewish woman’s personal battle against antisemitism shows us just how easily we could find ourselves becoming the target of harmful harassment. And by choosing to resist, unjust oppression is not only made visible it is held accountable.

 —NYWIFT Excellence in Narrative Filmmaking Award: Brooklyn, Minnesota, directed by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen.

Presented by NYWIFT Board Member Kim Jackson, an award of $1,000 is given to each Excellence in Narrative Filmmaking recipient, plus a certificate and a NYWIFT 6 month membership.

Jury Statement: The directing duo Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen captured a modern coming of age story that is both entertaining and engaging. Reflecting diverse family issues, the film explores how generational trauma can be healed when one has the support and courage to stand up for what they believe.

—World of HA Change-Maker Award: Sabbath Queen, directed by Sandi Dubowski.

The Change-Maker Award honors a filmmaker whose work, either narrative or documentary, most effectively delves deep into a pressing contemporary issue and generates a constructive conversation. The award comes with a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of World of HA.

Jury statement: 21 years in the making, Sabbath Queen follows a radical and individualistic spiritual leader in his quest to challenge the norms, follow his dreams, and inspire a large artistically driven community that, together, strives for tolerance, respect for human life, and peace for all.

—Best Short Documentary Award: Bob’s Funeral, directed by Jack Dunphy. Honorable Mention: I Am Ready, Warden directed by Smriti Mundhra.

Jurors: Josh Alexander (Writer/Producer, Loudmouth, Jay Myself, United Skates), Emma Pildes (Director/Producer, The Janes, Spielberg, Jane Fonda in Five Acts, Very Ralph), and John Hoffman (Director, The Barber of Little Rock, Fauci, The Antidote, Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman)

Jury Statement: The Award for Best Documentary Short this year goes to Bob’s Funeral; an idiosyncratic, tender and often hilarious portrait of one very complex and some might say, neurotic family, navigating the difficult terrain of strained relations and death. The film heralds a unique and wonderful new filmmaking voice. Through a confident assemblage of family archive, handheld verite, including two funerals and some well earned nudity along with expertly realized animated sequences, we witness a story-teller pushing the edges of his craft to heartfully and humorously explore the often difficult contours of love, anger, connection and disconnection that can define families. The jury felt that in its comic and delightfully entertaining method, Bob’s Funeral is as deeply radical and impactful as the issue-driven films often honored with jury distinction at film festivals.

Honorable Mention: The jury would like to extend an honorable mention to I Am Ready, Warden, a film with scenes of such sincere and ferocious humanity that they will likely stay with us forever. To capture moments like these requires not just a mastery of craft but a filmmaker with the soulfulness and deep well of compassion for their subjects. Congratulations on creating an exceptional piece of work.

—Best Short Narrative Award: Obraza (Resentment), directed by Gleb Osatinski

Jurors: Ryan Werner (Head of Cinetic Marketing), Scott Macaulay (Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Filmmaker Magazine), and Lawrence Inglee (Producer, The Messenger, Swiss Army Man, The Day After Tomorrow)

Jury Statement: For its bold and artful immersion into the conflicted psyche of a teenager facing prejudice while striving for a new life, the jury awards the Short Film Award to Gleb Osatinski for “Resentment.”

—Best Student Short Award: Some Kind of Bug, directed by Andy Rose H. Fidoten. Honorable Mention: Future is Panorama, directed by Muschirf Shekh Zeyn.

Jurors: Jamie Buckner (Producer, Asphalt City, The Sixth Reel, Catch the Fair One), Susan Jacobs (Music Supervisor, Big Little Lies, American Hustle, Cruella, True Detective) and Clare Manchon (Composer/Music Department, Turn Every Page, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Black Box)

Jury Statement: Some Kind Of Bug is about a mother daughter relationship, the judgments cast within their relationship, and in the broader world. It’s a very unique take with a complete emotional arc, great performances, cinematography, production design and music. It’s mature, patient, smart, witty, poignant filmmaking. This film feels as though it could be a pilot to a whole series, we want to see more. We can’t wait to see what Andy Fidoten does next.

Honorable Mention: Future Is Panorama was skillfully executed. The lead was powerful. The unfolding of this deeply suspenseful story was driven by great cinematography, editing and narrative. A heartbreaking look into reality for so many migrants trying to work hard and fit into a society that rejects them on so many levels.

—Best Short Animation Award: The Wild-Tempered Clavier by Anna Samo

Jurors: Joy Buran (Animator, Netflix, NBC, Cartoon Network, Amazon Studios), Noelle Melody (Animator, Netflix, NBC, Cartoon Network, Amazon Studios) and Patrick Smith (Director/Animator, Beyond Noh, Gun Shop, Onward Ye Costumed Souls)

Jury Statement: The winning short is a clever and refreshing tribute to the tradition of drawing directly on film, using this premise to untangle the animator’s personal struggles and mental anguish. This playfully experimental film has been meticulously crafted to express this personal story that engages the viewer directly; in story, design, and technique. Also, this film has a vibrant aura of personal independence, like a painter at the easel, the audience is invited to witness the animator’s thought process, by peering through the artist’s own POV. The winner of Best Animated Short goes to The Wild-Tempered Clavier by Anna Samo.

—Gray Schwartz Ultra Indie Award: Brooklyn, Minnesota directed by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen.

Jurors: Shruti Ganguly (Director/Producer, To Kill a Tiger, Initials SG, Tripped Up), Sean Price Williams (Director/Cinematographer, The Sweet East, Good Time, Between The Temples), and Blair Breard (Producer, The Savant, While You Were Breeding, Scenes From A Marriage)

Jury Statement: Our choice for the winner of the Ultra Indie film is a layered family drama that moves through time and place. In spite of the budget, the film felt expansive and unconstrained, a testament to confident film craft.

Grounded by a rebellious teenager trying to find her place in the world, while collaging her family’s challenging history, the audience is made to examine what it means to confront and repair our past, and to find connection with each other.

We are excited to give the award to Brooklyn, Minnesota.

—Best Documentary Editing Award: Porcelain War, edited by Brendan Bellomo, Aniela

Sidorska, Kelly Cameron.

Jurors: Sabine Hoffman (Editor, Pachinko, Passing, The Glorias, Maggie’s Plan), Derek McCants (Editor, Nova, Witnesses to the Holocaust, Starting Over), and Gabriel Rhodes (Editor, Gaucho Gaucho, Time, The First Wave, Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.)

Jury Statement: Every film nominated for this year’s Documentary Editing Award beautifully captured a story of courage in the face of adversity. The jury was profoundly affected by the multitude of characters persevering through personal struggles and each story was expertly crafted through the editing.

With a delicate touch, the editors of this year’s winner created a rich sense of intimacy despite the large scale of its story. We found the film to be artfully crafted and incredibly moving. The editors were able to fuse a powerful depiction of unlikely warriors in a conflict zone with a loving and surprising portrait of artists.

This year’s winner of the Documentary Editing Award goes to: Porcelain War and its editors Brendan Bellom, Kelly Cameron and Aniela Sidorska

 —Best Narrative Editing Award: Los Frikis, edited by Jon Otazua. Honorable Mention: My Dead Friend Zoe, edited by Ali Greer.

Jurors: John David Allen (Editor, The Golden Bowl, Le Divorce, The White Countess, City of your Final Destination), Sabine Hoffman (Editor, Pachinko, Passing, The Glorias, Maggie’s Plan), Joanna Naugle (Editor, The Bear, Ramy, Big Mouth), and Barry Alexander Brown (Editor, Do The Right Thing, BlacKkKlansman, Malcolm X)

Jury Statement: The jury would like to award a special Honorable Mention to a film that explores the deeply personal drama of a young woman regaining her life after a traumatic incident. This film brings attention to the important issue of veterans’ mental health through a touching friendship and unexpected moments of levity, seamlessly edited with great empathy by Ali Greer: My Dead Friend Zoe.

There was one film that really impressed the jury in terms of its dynamic rhythm, nuanced characters, and beautifully crafted montages. It shined a light on serious and heartbreaking true events while balancing moments of joy and humor that felt authentic and captivating. It’s clear this film was thoughtfully and expertly assembled in the cutting room by fully immersing us in 1990s Cuba, capturing the energy and individualism of punk music, and showcasing a stellar ensemble whose performances stayed with us long after viewing. For these reasons, we are thrilled to give the 2024 WFF Best Narrative Editing Award to Jon Otazua and his work on Los Frikas.

—Honorary Maverick Award: This year’s Honorary Maverick Award was awarded to acclaimed writer and director Paul Schrader.

The award was presented by acclaimed actor Amanda Seyfried who worked with Schrader on First Reformed. Known for his provocative contributions to both mainstream and independent film, Schrader’s collaborations with Martin Scorsese—including Taxi Driver (Winner — Palme d’Or, Cannes Film Festival), Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ and Bringing Out the Dead—are considered some of the most impactful works of screenwriting of the twentieth century. Schrader’s many writer-director credits include American Gigolo, Light Sleeper and First Reformed for which he was nominated for an Academy Award®. Other credits include Affliction, The Card Counter; Master Gardener and his latest film Oh, Canada, in which he reunites with American Gigolo star Richard Gere. A special screening of Oh, Canada, took place on Saturday, October 19 followed by a conversation with Schrader.

—Honorary Trailblazer Award: This year’s Honorary Trailblazer Award was awarded to renowned producer Ira Deutchman.

The award was presented by acclaimed director, producer, and screenwriter Nancy Savoca. Deutchman has been making, marketing and distributing films since 1975, having worked on more than 150 films including some of the most successful independent films of all time. He was one of the founders of Cinecom and later created Fine Line Features—two companies that were created from scratch and, in their respective times, helped define the independent film business. Deutchman co-founded Emerging Pictures, the first digital projection network in the United States and a pioneer in delivering live cultural events into movie theaters. Deutchman’s latest projects include feature documentary Searching for Mr. Rugoff, Nickel & Dimed and Radio Girls. In 2017, Deutchman was awarded the Spotlight Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sundance Art House Convergence for his service to independent film marketing and distribution. He is a Professor Emeritus in the School of the Arts at Columbia University, where he has taught since 1987 and was the Chair of the Film Program from 2011 to 2015.

—Art of Activism Award: Globally celebrated filmmakers and human rights activists Pamela Yates and Paco de Onís were honored with the inaugural Art of Activism Award.

The award was presented by renowned journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. Yates and de Onís are renowned for their Guatemala trilogy, which includes When The Mountains Tremble, Granito: How To Nail A Dictator and 500 Years. These films have been showcased globally and used as key forensic evidence in the genocide trial against Efraín Ríos Montt in Guatemala. Yates serves as the senior creative director with de Onís serving as the executive director at Skylight, a not-for-profit human rights media organization that combines cinematic arts with the quest for justice to inspire the defense of human rights. Their latest documentary, BORDERLAND | The Line Within, directed by Yates and produced by de Onis, screened at this year’s festival and investigates the costly border industrial complex that targets immigrants.