Judi Krant’s “Made in China,” about an inventor lost in Shanghai, took the jury prize for best narrative feature at the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival, which held its awards ceremony Tuesday in Austin. The film also earned a special jury award called the SXSW/Chicken & Egg Emergent Woman Award.
The jury prize for documentary feature went to Bill Ross’ “45365,” which offers a look at everyday life in the Middle American town of Sidney, Ohio.
The winner of the narrative feature audience award was Scott Teems’ “That Evening Sun,” about a grudge match between two old foes, which also earned an honorable mention from the jury. The winner of the documentary feature audience award was Geralyn Pezanoski’s “MINE,” about the fate of pets adopted in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Comedian Jimmy Roulette hosted the ceremony.
The jury also awarded an honorable mention to the doc “The Way We Get By.” Another audience award was handed out to Jennifer Steinman’s “Motherland,” about six grieving mothers who travel to Africa, which picked up the Emerging Visions Award.
Two more audience awards, in the 24 Beats Per Second and Lone Star States categories, will be announced Friday.
A special jury prize went to the poster for “The Dungeon Masters,” as director Keven Macalester, designer David Plunkert and Spur Design took home the SXSW & AIGA Austin Movie Poster Award.
Jill Orschel’s “Sister Wife” claimed the SXSW Wholpin Short Film Award special jury prize. The shorts jury named Jason Tippet’s “Thompson” winner of its Reel Shorts prize, with Gary Huggins’ “Happy 95 Birthday Grandpa” earning a special jury award.
Luc Perez’ “Shaman” took the animated short prize, with Kirsten Lepore’s “Sweet Dreams” garnering a special jury award. The experimental short competition was won by Matthew Rankin and Mike Maryniuk’s “Cattle Call,” with Helder Sun’s “The Idiot Stinks” getting the category’s special jury award.
Music video prizes went to That Go-Noel Paul and Stefan’s Moore’s “Jerk It” for Thunderheist, Sean Pecknold’s “White Winter Hymnal” for Fleet Foxes and Fluoresescent Hill’s “Myriad Harbor” for New Pornographers.
In the Texas High School Competition, the winners were Breannah Gibson’s “Performance Evaluation” and, in a tie, Edward Kelley and Brenden Cicoria’s “Fresh Fruit” and Miguel Johnson’s “A Hospital Bathroom.”
Films at the fest continue to screen through Saturday.
