The 47th Cleveland International Film Festival announced its 2023 award winners during its Closing Awards Ceremony on April 1 in the KeyBank State Theatre, according to a news release. The festival was held from March 22 through April 1.
The Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film was awarded to “1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture,” directed by Sharon Roggio. The film won a $15,000 cash prize. Roggio was also presented with the fifth Dream Maker Award.
The Reel Women Direct Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman was awarded to Christine Yoo for “26.2 To Life.” Yoo won a $10,000 cash prize.
The George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Competition was won by “Pamfir,” directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk. The film won a $10,000 cash prize.
The Nesnadny + Schwartz Portrait Documentary Competition’s May the Schwartz Be With You Director’s Award was presented to Sierra Urich for “JOONAM.” Urich won a $10,000 cash prize.
The New Direction Competition was won by “Joyland,” directed by Saim Sadiq. The film won a $10,000 cash prize.
The Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Competition was won by “20 Days in Mariupol,” directed by Mstyslav Chernov. The film won a $10,000 cash prize.
The Global Health Competition was won by “Nurse Unseen,” directed by Michele Josue. It won a $7,500 cash prize.
The American Independents Competition was won by “Playing Through,” directed by Balbinka Korzeniowska. The film won a $7,500 cash prize.
The Local Heroes Competition was won by “We Are The Troopers,” directed by Jonathon Kimble. The film won a $7,500 cash prize.
The Ad Hoc Docs Competition was won by “Chop & Steele,” directed by Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader. The film won a $7,500 cash prize.
The International Narrative Competition was won by “My Sailor, My Love,” directed by Klaus Härö. It won a $7,500 cash prize.
The FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Feature Film was awarded to “Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom,” directed by Ya’Ke Smith. The film won a $2,000 cash prize.
The Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film Overall was awarded to “One Small Visit,” directed by Jo Chim. The film won a $1,000 cash prize.
The Best Animated Short Award was awarded to “It’s a Gray, Gray, World,” directed by Seyed Mohsen Pourmohseni Shakib. The film won a $1,000 cash prize. It is the first of three short films that will qualify for consideration in the Short Film category at the Academy Awards.
The Best Documentary Short Award was awarded to “A Chocolate Lens,” directed by Gabriel Veras. It won a $1,000 cash prize and will qualify for consideration in the Short Film category at the Academy Awards.
The Best Live Action Short Award was awarded to “Girl No. 60427,” directed by Shulamit Lifshitz. The film won a $1,000 cash prize and will qualify for consideration in the Short Film category at the Academy Awards.
The FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Short Film, the final award, was awarded to “Foreign Uncle,” directed by Sining Xiang. The film won a $1,000 cash prize.
For more information on the 47th Cleveland International Film Festival 2023 award winners, visit clevelandfilm.org.
Diana Schoder