The Durango Independent Film Festival wrapped up its 20th season with the announcement of both juried and audience awards. The jury recognized excellence in nine categories, including Adventure, Animated and Live Shorts, and Native Cinema.
And the awards went to:
- Best Narrative Film award was presented to “Mistura,” a drama set in 1960s Peru. The film follows a privileged French-Peruvian woman whose life unravels after her husband’s betrayal ostracizes her from elite society, leading her to embrace the very communities she was raised to disregard.
- Best Documentary Feature award went to “Ultimate Citizens,” a film exploring the impact of Ultimate Frisbee beyond the sport itself. Director Francine Strickwerda emphasized its deeper themes: “’Ultimate Citizens’ is not a movie about Frisbee. The ‘flat ball’ is one of many tools that Jamshid Khajavi, the film’s protagonist, uses in his work as a primary school coach and counselor. A fiery, funny 65-year-old Iranian immigrant and ultra-athlete, Jamshid does some of his best work on the playing field with his students, the children of refugees and immigrants.”
- Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature went to the Academy Award-nominated “Porcelain War.” The film follows Ukrainian artists Slava, Anya and Andrey, who choose to stay behind and fight, navigating their transformation into soldiers while continuing to find beauty amid destruction. The film submission said: “Although it’s easy to make people afraid, it’s hard to destroy their passion for living.”
