Submitted by the Friday Harbor Film Festival

During an exciting weekend of fantastic films, inspiring interviews with filmmakers, and special events, the Friday Harbor Film Festival was delighted to present many special awards. We welcomed visiting filmmakers and film lovers from around the US and the world. Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2024 festival, volunteered their time, and voted for their favorite films.

Audience Choice Awards recognized the films chosen by votes of audience members.

Young Filmmakers Showcase, ages 13-17: Kuinerraq, Magnus Shipe – Director and Lisa Spencer – Producer

Young Filmmakers Showcase, ages 18-26: Belov: A Life at Sea, Tiago Abubakir – Director

Best Short Film: Range Rider, Colin Arisman – Director

Tales from the Heart: All We Carry, Cady Voge – Director

Explorers and Adventures: A Dream Takes Flight: Tim Angevine – Director & Laura Palis – Producer

Things to Consider: Fish War: Jeff Ostenson, Charles Atkinson, and Skylar Wagner – Directors & Kari Neumeyer – Producer

Best Overall Feature: Porcelain War, Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev – Directors & Aniela Sidorska, Paula DuPre’ Pesmen, Camilla Mazzaferro, and Olivia Ahnemann – Producers

The Andrew V. McLaglen Lifetime Achievement Award highlighted Morten Lauridsen’s extraordinary life and career as the most performed US choral composer. The audience applauded this resident of San Juan and Waldron islands for his stellar contribution to the local community and musicians worldwide. His wife Amber Lauridsen led the San Juan Master Chorale singing one of his favorite compositions, Contra Qui, Rose. The documentary about Lauridsen’s life, Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen, was screened.

The Local Hero Award celebrated San Juan Islander Cynthia Burke for her decades of community involvement as a business owner and humanitarian. She provided a low-cost kitchen for developing food businesses and began XYZ Movement Arts, providing space with minimal rent for yoga and dance teachers to work. She inspire many neighbors to participate in Kitchen Sink Dinners, providing 5000 meals to anyone wanting a meal, and in offering free coats on the rack outside Cynthia’s Bistro.

If you missed seeing some of the wonderful documentaries in person, the Online Festival runs from Monday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 3. Passes to view nearly all the features, shorts, Young Filmmakers films, and recorded Q&As are available for only $15 at fhff.org/tickets. View your favorites from the comfort of your favorite chair!