Chapel Hill’s Film Fest 919 finished its six-day run with something new to its four-year history: a tie for the Audience Award.
The 2021 festival, which ended on Sunday, featured dozens of films from across the world and screened them at the Silverspot Cinema and Drive-In at Carraway Village. Based on audience votes, the Richard Williams biopic “King Richard” and the black-and-white family drama-comedy “C’mon C’mon” tied to take home the festival’s closing award.
“We were so happy to return to the theater and see these terrific movies together on the big screen,” Film Fest 919 founders Randi Emerman and Carol Marshall said in a release. “Nothing beats seeing a movie with an audience, to feel the reaction of those around you and be able to talk about them afterwards…and we were able to do so safely!”
“C’Mon C’Mon,” starring recent Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix, was the festival’s “Centerpiece film,” according to organizers. Its story follows a radio journalist and his young nephew as they bond over a cross-country trip. The A24-produced film is set to be released to wider audiences on November 19.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ “King Richard” opened the 2021 festival’s slate of movies. The film, which stars Will Smith as father of the tennis icons Serena and Venus Williams, is also set to release in theaters and HBO Max on November 19.
2020’s Audience Award winner at Film Fest 919 was “Nomadland,” a drama about a woman who takes up living in her vehicle following the death of her husband and town. The film went on to win Best Picture at the 93rd Academy Awards.
Other awards given during the film festival included the Spotlight Award, which is an achievement award given to someone for their career contribution in film. Songwriter Diane Warren was this year’s recipient, accepting the award on the opening night and saw her songs put to a laser show conducted at the Drive-In at Carraway Village. Additionally, screenwriters Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch earned the third annual Distinguished Screenwriter Award for their new film “Red Rocket,” which also screened at Film Fest 919.
As part of Film Fest 919’s opening this fall, a laser show was performed to a medley of Diane Warren’s songs as she was given the Spotlight Award.
Editor’s Note: 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com are media sponsors for Film Fest 919. This is article was not paid for by the festival.
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