• Photo credit: Don Fairbanks

SATURDAY, NOV. 14 – When it comes to this annual celluloid event, it’s clear that the times they are a-changin’ – and that was more evident on Saturday than on the fest’s previous two days.

In past years, a lifetime achievement award would be given to established talents not usually recognized at more pompous festivals – the AFF’s last three winners were Oscar nominees Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), Tess Harper (Crimes of the Heart) and Jennifer Tilly (Bullets Over Broadway) – and the actual trophy would be handed out at a swanky affair held on Saturday night. That soiree would also mark the first time that all the winning films in the festival were announced.

This year, however, things were handled a little differently. For various reasons, among them the desire to place the festival’s emphasis squarely on the competing films and to protect against possible celebrity no-shows (as happened last year when Dourif canceled at the last minute because he had landed a role in a film), the lifetime achievement citation was eliminated. And to loosen up the usual Academy-style awards ceremony, the winners were announced beforehand throughout the weekend, as either Festival Director Sandra Travis or one of the judges would take the stage immediately following a winning film’s presentation and announce its victory to the moviegoers in attendance. (Although I judged the Short Fiction and Student categories, I was the one on hand to reveal the Animation Runner-Up and the Features Winner at their respective shows.) This in turn allowed this evening’s “IT’S A WRAP! The Winners Revealed After Party” to be less formal, as a performance by a local comedy troupe was followed by an Asheville radio personality ticking off the winners’ names as the filmmakers (those in attendance, anyway) came up to claim their prizes, shake the judges’ hands, and pose for some photos that will soon be posted on the AFF’s Web site.

• Photo credit: Don Fairbanks

Speaking of which, the photos from the Thursday Premiere Night Reception are already up. Don Fairbanks took the shots, such as the one of the logo display at the top of this article, and the one directly above showing yours truly (right) with fellow judge Sam Watson. Check out the whole gallery here.

As for the 37 films screened today, I caught 24 of them. Here are my seven favorites, listed in alphabetical order.

Autogenesis (Student). One of the festival’s most indescribable films is also one of its best, as a native protagonist experiences growth in a manner that takes him through both the passage of time and the circle of life. A great-looking movie with an intriguing hook.

Melting the Snowman (Student). In the 1970s, a conservative columnist for the Los Angeles Times gets fired on the same day that she must attend her no-nonsense father’s birthday party. Lively and funny, this could stand being even longer – one of the ultimate compliments that can be given to a short film.

Sam and Jenny Go to a Play (Short Fiction). Like Melting the Snowman, here’s another fine piece that could have extended its stay. A British comedy with plenty of bite, this finds Sam being dragged by his lover to an experimental play – one so awful that even a couple of pints can’t help ease the pain.

Self-Inflicted (Student). A woman helpfully explains to a detective that her anal-retentive husband’s death-by-multiple-stabbings was a complete accident. A bloody comedy that’s also bloody good.

16 to Life (Features). Brainy Kate is turning 16 today, and she’s never been kissed. She would naturally like to remedy that, but she also has her hands full trying to talk her best friend out of losing her virginity to her lunkhead boyfriend as well as attempting to hook up her cynical boss. Colorful characters and sharp dialogue mark this one as a winner.

Sleeping (Short Fiction). A young girl accepts a babysitting job, only to learn that the parents don’t want her to check on the infant even once. The mystery will fall into place for many viewers well before it’s revealed on screen, but the film works because of its measured pacing and poignant encounters.

Slice of Pie (Short Fiction). A lonely middle-aged man tries to work up the nerve to ask out a friendly waitress in this utterly charming piece that exhibits a real feel for rural America and its people.

Looking ahead, the Sunday slate is far less hectic. There will be repeat showings of all the critics’ picks, as well as screenings of two out-of-competition titles looking to build greater word of mouth as we enter Oscar season: That Evening Sun, starring Hal Holbrook, and Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, executive-produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. For That Evening Sun, executive producers Larsen and Adrian Jay will conduct a Q&A session following the film presentation.

COMPLETE LIST OF FESTIVAL WINNERS:

Features

Winner – 16 to Life

Runner-Up – Deadland

Audience Award – Laid Off

Documentary

Winner – Food Fight

Runner-Up – Bonecrusher

Audience Award – Food Fight

Short Fiction

Winner – Open Your Eyes

Runner-Up – True Beauty This Evening

Audience Award – Sleeping

Student

Winner – Down in Number 5

Runner-Up – Autogenesis

Audience Award – Down in Number 5

Animation

Winner – O Pintor de Ceos (The Painter of Skies)

Runner-Up – The Mouse That Soared

Audience Award – The Magistical

(To read the previous days' recaps, go here and here.)