WEEKLY VOLCANO: YOUR DAILY GUIDE TO THE TACOMA FILM FESTIVAL >>>

The 2009 Tacoma Film Festival announced the winning films at a brunch this morning hosted by The Hub.

BEST FEATURE FILM
White on Rice
(90 min) â€" Directed by Dave Boyle
SEE IT: Today at 6:30 p.m. at The Grand Cinema

This comedy tracks 40-year-old and newly divorced, Jimmy (Hiroshi Watanabe, Letters from Iwo Jima) who shares a bunk at his sister's (Japanese Academy Award-Winner Nae) with his 10-year-old nephew while looking for a new wife. When his brother-in-law's beautiful niece moves in, he begins an attempt to steal her away from his best friend (James Kyson Lee, Heroes) and sees his plans go hilariously askew. This film will begin a major West Coast Theatrical run in October 2009.
 
BEST REGIONAL FILM
Otis v. Monster
(3 min) â€" Directed by Patrick Neary
SEE IT: Today 6:30pm at SOTA; and Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Cinema

A hard-luck logger attempts to capture big-foot in this clay-animated short that makes its World Premiere at TFF.
 
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Freeing Silvia Baraldini
(102 min) â€" Directed by Margo Pelletier and Lisa Thomas
This documentary, directed by a former Grand Cinema projectionist, follows the life of Silvia Baraldini, a political activist who was arrested by the FBI and sentenced to 43 years in prison after 15 years of radical activism. This film won for Most Principled film at the 2009 Seattle True International Film Festival.
 
BEST SHORT FILM
Sebastian's Voodoo
(4 min) â€" Directed by Joaquin Baldwin
Winner of over 45 awards, including the Student Academy Award Winner and Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner Winner, this student-made 3D-animation short is about a voodoo doll that must stop its friends from being pinned to death no matter what the cost.

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
The Audience Choice Award will be given out after the Closing Night Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 8. Tickets are still available.
 

LINK: Tacoma Film Festival on Twitter

LINK: Tacoma Film Festival Web site

LINK: Full film descriptions

LINK: Weekly Volcano Tacoma Film Festival cover story