On Saturday, April 9, Toronto’s massive Images Festival gave out 13 awards to 14 filmmakers, plus one honorable mention, at the closing night ceremony for their 25th annual edition. Most of the awards came with cash prizes for the winners.

The big winner of the festival was filmmaker Luo Li who took home the Images Prize for his experimental documentary hybrid Rivers and My Father, which served as the fest’s opening night film on March 31. In the film, Li explores the personal stories of his family growing up along the Yangtze River in China. The Images Prize honors the fests. Best Canadian Media Artwork. Li takes home a $1,000 cash prize, sponsored by Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan.

The On Screen Award, which celebrates the best new international media at the fest, ended up as a tie between two UK filmmakers:  Duncan Campbell for his film Make it New John and to Miranda Pennell for her Why Colonel Bunny Was Killed. In addition an On Screen Award Honorable Mention was given to Paris-based Senegalese artist Mati Diop for Atlantiques.

In addition to the regular Images Festival awards, this year’s jury added two extra awards to honor media they felt deserved special recognition. The Curatorial Vision Award was given to curator Jean-Marie Teno for his programs exploring historical and contemporary African films, called “Reframing Africa.” Plus, the Award for Cinematic Commitment was given to filmmaker John Gianvito for his documentary Philippines Vapor Trail (Clark).

This year’s jury included Hafiz, the curator and Director of OK Video Festival in Jakarta Indonesia; Kristina Lee Podesva, who is the Editor of the Vancouver-based art journal Fillip; and Chi-Hui Yang, the former Director and Programmer of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

The full list of Images Festival award winners is below:

The Awards:

Images Prize — $1,000
Rivers and My Father, dir. Luo Li

Deluxe Cinematic Vision Award — $2,500 worth of services donated by Deluxe
Fountain of Youth, dir. James MacSwain

On Screen Award — $500
Tie:
Make It New John, dir. Duncan Campbell
Why Colonel Bunny Was Killed, dir. Miranda Pennell
Honorable Mention:
Atlantiques, dir. Mati Diop

OCADU Off Screen Award — $500
Assisted Installations, dir. Icaro Zorbar

Steam Whistle Homebrew Award — $500
Starlings (at nightfall), dir. Peter Dudar

Overkill Award — $500
Magic for Beginners, dir. Jesse McLean (Watch online)

Marian McMahon Award — filmmaking retreat invite
We Began By Measuring Distance, dir. Basma Alsharif

York University Award for Best Student Film — $300
Arrythmia, dir. Meelah Moaphi (York University)

Vtape Award for Best Student Video — $300
Video Sculptures, dir. Brad Tinmouth (York University)

Tom Berner Award (for providing extraordinary support to the cause of independent filmmaking in Toronto)
Philip Hoffman

2011 Special Jury Awards

Curatorial Vision Award
Reframing Africa, curated by Jean-Marie Teno

Award for Cinematic Commitment
Philippines Vapor Trail (Clark), dir. John Gianvito