Outfest Awards: “Test” wins 2 grand jury prizes; “Bridegroom” wins audience award

The Outfest Awards Brunch which was held for the first time at the JW Marriott downtown at LA Live which kicked the proceedings, usually held in the DGA Theatre, up a notch.

Chris Mason Johnson, the writer-director of the film TEST, was a double winner for his movie set in 1985 San Francisco and focuses on a dancer contemplating whether to take the new HIV test which many feared might be used to quarantine people.

Johnson won the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Screenwriting and the Grand Jury Award for Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature Film.

“I think it’s time for more stories from those years to come out that are different and explore different angles so we have a real multi-dimensional history,” Johnson said in his speech.

The Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film went to Bridegroom directed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason.

The award was accepted by Shane Bitney Crone whose YouTube video about his late partner Tom Bridegroom was the basis for the movie.

“Thank you everyone at Outfest, you have been amazing throughout this entire experience – you’ve treated us so kindly,” Crone said. “This really means a lot to me and I’m so grateful that this film has resonated with people like it has. We worked on it for 14 months and put so much into it and you just hope that people can connect with the film and they have.”

Crone admitted to being “so anxious this morning” because on his way to the brunch, he hit a squirrel with his car.

He closed by saying: “I don’t know what happens next with this film but we’re so grateful for this opportunity and thank you everyone.”

the Audience Award for Outstanding First U.S. Dramatic Feature Film went to Geography Club directed by Gary Entin.

Accepting the award was producer Michael Huffington who had a good line about the $5,000 cash prize from HBO that comes with the award: “I must admit, I’m used to writing checks, I’m not used to getting checks.”

He also said: “I showed Geography Club to my ex-wife, Arianna (Huffington), back in December in Hawaii. She said this was one of the most powerful films that she’d seen. … I not only think this movie will be entertaining, but I also think it will save lives.”

Other winners:

Special Programming Award for Freedom: DEEPSOUTH, Directed by Lisa Biagiotti

Special Programming Award for Artistic Achievement: ANIMALS, Directed by Marçal Forés

Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent: Diego Ruiz, Writer/Director/Actor

Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film: FACING FEAR, Directed by Jason Cohen

Audience Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film: WINI + GEORGE, Directed by Benjamin Monie

Audience Award for Outstanding Dramatic Feature Film: REACHING FOR THE MOON, Directed by Bruno Barreto

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Experimental Short Film: SHE GONE ROGUE, Directed by Zackary Drucker and Rhys Ernst

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film: PERFORMING GIRL, Directed by Crescent Diamond

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film: GOING SOUTH, Directed Leesong Hee-il

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film: BORN THIS WAY, Directed by Shaun Kadlec and Deb Tullman. Kadlec accepted the prize and said:

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding International Dramatic Feature Film: IT’S ALL SO QUIET, Directed by Nanouk Leopold

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film: Guinevere Turner, WHO’S AFRAID OF VAGINA WOLF?

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film: Bill Heck and Marcus DeAnda, PIT STOP