SIFF announces winners of Golden Space Needle Awards

The Seattle International Film Festival closed Sunday with announcements of the festival's awards.

Golden Space Needle Awards (audience-voted)

Best Film

"Cherry Blossoms — Hanami," directed by Doris Dörrie

Best Documentary

"The Wrecking Crew," directed by Denny Tedesco

Best Director

Amin Matalqa, for "Captain Abu Raed"

Best Actress

Jessica Chastain, for "Jolene"

Best Actor

Alan Rickman, "Bottle Shock"

Best Short Film

"Felix," directed by Andreas Utta

Lena Sharpe Award

"Frozen River," director Courtney Hunt

Jury Awards

New Director Award

Grand Jury Prize: "Everything is Fine," directed by Yves-Christian Fournier

Special Mention: "Mermaid," directed by Anna Melikyan

New American Cinema Award

Grand Jury Prize: "Em," directed by Tony Barbieri

Special Jury Prize: "The Bluetooth Virgin," writer-director Russell Brown

Best Documentary

Grand Jury Prize: "Derek," directed by Isaac Julien

Special Jury Prizes: "Combalion," directed by Raphaël Mathié, and "Accelerating America," directed by Timothy Hotchner

Short-Film Awards

Narrative Short

Grand Jury Prize: "Rewind," directed by Atul Taishete

Special Jury Prizes: "Walnut," directed by Amy Gebhardt; "Dog Altogether," directed by Paddy Considine; "A Mate," directed by Teemu Nikki; "New Boy," directed by Steph Green

Animated Short

Grand Jury Prize: "The Pearce Sisters," directed by Luis Cook

Special Jury Prize: "Home," directed by Kim Slate

Documentary Short

Grand Jury Prize: "'Self Portrait With Cows Going Home' and Other Works: A Portrait of Sylvia Plachy," directed by Rebecca Dreyfus

Special Jury Prize: "The Ladies," directed by Christina Voros

Honorable Mentions for Inventive Filmmaking

"Introduction to Lucid Dreaming," directed by John Grigsby, and "On the Assassination of the President," directed by Adam Keker

MyFestival Winners

SIFF Official Selection and MyFestival Feature Film Winner: "Perfect Sport," directed by Anthony O'Brien

SIFF Official Selection and MyFestival Short Film Winner: "Robbie's Withdrawal," directed by John Burish

MyFestival Special Recognition Awards: "Eternal City," directed by Jason Goodman, and "Hot Wind: America's Fallout Casualties," directed by Kirsten Alaqidy

FutureWave Jury Award

Grand Jury Prize (WaveMaker Award): "Disorder," directed by Rose McAleese

Honorable Mentions: "4th Floor," directed by Misami Kubo; "Driving to the New Age: American Automobiles and You," directed by Meng Mao, Eli Shalcross, Charlie Shelton, and Matt Yaggy; "New Perspective," directed by Dave Riff