Pictured: SFF Rising Star Award Recipient Austin Abrams and The Listener Director and Producer Steve Buscemi Attend the 2024 Sarasota Film Festival Closing Night Presentation. Photo courtesy of Sarasota Film Festival.

The Sarasota Film Festival announced the award winners for the 26th annual event, which concluded this weekend and ran April 5-14. Josh Margolin's Thelma was this year's Narrative Feature Jury prize winner. Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat's Sugarcane took home this year's Documentary Feature Jury prize. The Documentary Jury also recognized Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev’s Porcelain War with a Special Jury Mention. Arthur Egeli's Art Thief won the Independent Visions Award, recognizing an independent feature from an emerging filmmaker. SFF also awarded Lessons, directed by Shawn Butcher, Best Narrative Short; Alok, directed by Alex Hedison, Best Documentary Short; and The Waiting, directed by Volker Schlecht, Best International Short. Festival patrons awarded Liam Jordan’s Into the Spotlight: The Jake Ilardi Story, with the Local Audience Award, recognizing local productions following Gulf Coast stories; and Dawn Porter’s Luther: Never Too Much, with the Industry Audience Award. 

Pictured: SFF Rising Star Award Recipient Austin Abrams and The Listener Director and Producer Steve Buscemi Attend the 2024 Sarasota Film Festival Closing Night Presentation. Photo courtesy of Sarasota Film Festival.

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