The twenty ninth Sonoma Intl. Film Festival wrapped March 29 with Spanish movie “Maspalomas” successful the Grand Jury Award for finest narrative function. In an announcement, the jury famous that administrators Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga’s movie was “an genuine and uncommon depiction of an elder man confronting private and bodily disaster on the onset of the COVID pandemic” on this “nuanced and transferring queer drama.”
Over 5 days, SIFF introduced 104 movies from 37 international locations, blended with filmmaker talks, panels (with friends together with Barry Jenkins and Lulu Wang) and culinary pop-ups within the picturesque Northern California city. Filmmaker and artist Julian Schnabel was available to just accept the Sonoma Intl. Movie Pageant Visionary Artist Award with a screening of his movie “Within the Hand of Dante,” with particular visitor Tom Waits.
“This yr’s record-breaking attendance and ticket gross sales underscore the extraordinary urge for food for daring, worldwide cinema and immersive cultural experiences right here in Sonoma,” mentioned SIFF creative director Carl Spence. “With packed screenings, dynamic filmmaker engagement, and a pageant ambiance not like every other, SIFF 2026 has actually been a landmark group celebration of movie, meals, wine, and enjoyable.”
Filmmaker and artist Julian Schnabel was available to just accept the Sonoma Intl. Movie Pageant Visionary Artist Award with a screening of his movie “Within the Hand of Dante,” with particular visitor Tom Waits.
Different pageant winners embody the Particular Jury Prize in Directing to Marie-Elsa Sgualdo for “Silent Riot” (Switzerland). The jury cited the movie’s “unflinching portrayal of a virtuous teen in WWII period Europe.”
The Grand Jury Award for documentary function prize went to “State of Firsts,” from U.S. helmer Chase Joynt.
“This yr, the jury desires to acknowledge a movie that represents what genuine reality appears like among the many squalor of our politics,” mentioned the jury in an announcement. “The award-winning movie is a nuanced portrait of management and accountability that additionally gives a transparent and sincere account of the challenges and obvious harms that come from looking for to alter the world. The language of change is complicated, and generally it’s so simple as utilizing the correct identify. The jury is honored to platform a narrative that showcases the wholeness of an individual in an business and society so fast to tokenize”
SIFF additionally screened 47 brief movies in its official choice, which competed for 3 awards.
“A Very Regular Seeming Man,” directed by Al Pattanashetty (U.S.), received the Grand Jury Award: Stay Motion Quick, whereas “Voices From the Abyss,” directed by Irving Serrano and Victor Rejon (Mexico) earned the Documentary Quick honors. “Two Black Boys in Paradise,” directed by Baz Sells (U.Okay.) took the Animated Quick prize.
The pageant opened with Maude Apatow’s Toronto Intl. Movie Pageant hit “Poetic License,” whereas the Centerpiece Movie, Steven Soderbergh’s Ian McKellen-starrer “The Christophers,” received the Stolman Viewers Award for Greatest Movie. The A3 Viewers Award for Greatest Documentary went to “Jane Elliott In opposition to the World,” directed by Judd Ehrlich (U.S.).
Different awards embody:
Particular Point out for Cultural, Environmental and Neighborhood Influence: “Abalone Tales: Loss, Connection, Renewal,” from Cynthia Abbott (U.S.)
Particular Jury Point out for Directing: “Domingo Acquainted,” directed by Gerardo del Razo (Mexico)
The Christophers
SIFF
