The 35th edition of the Seattle International Film Festival concluded on Sunday with two sets of awards. First are the popular awards, the tally of torn-up cards left at the end of each screening by some 60,000 SIFF goers. The Golden Space Needle went to Black Dynamite, a fairly deadpan, consistently funny blaxploitation comedy made in the style of the ’70s originals. Starring former action star Michael Jai White (pictured), the film is set for Sept. 4 release. It has midnight movie written all over it; but, even more than Grindhouse (which had some recognizable stars), the audience may be limited to video store clerks and genre aficionados.Best documentary, no surprise, went to the Dirty Dozen-style eco doc The Cove (expected Aug. 7), about crusading environmentalists determined to expose dolphin slaughter in a secretive Japanese village. Best director: Kathryn Bigelow, for her excellent The Hurt Locker (July 10), about bomb disposal experts in the early Iraq War. Best actor: Sam Rockwell for his multiple roles in the sci-fi psych job Moon (July 3). Best actress: Yolande Moreau in the biopic about a pioneering French painter, Seraphine (July 24).Most of these titles will receive encore screenings this coming weekend, June 19-21, at SIFF Cinema. Awards continue after the jump…Then there are the jury awards, bestowed by SIFF judges among the fest’s various categories. From the SIFF press release:New Directors Showcase CompetitionGrand Jury PrizeThe Other Bank, directed by George OvashviliDocumentary Competition
Grand Jury Prizetalhotblond, directed by Barbara SchroederSpecial Jury PrizeManhole Children, directed by Yoshio HaradaShort Film Jury AwardsNarrative Grand Jury PrizeShort Term 12, directed by Destin Daniel CrettonYouth Jury Award for Best FutureWave FeatureBest FutureWave FeatureMy Suicide, directed by David Lee MillerSpecial Jury AwardSounds Like Teen Spirit, directed by Jamie J. Johnson
