BEVERLY HILLS, CA (April 30, 2012) – Last night, at the 12th Annual
International Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) closing Gala Awards
ceremony, “The Black Tulip,” a feature-length drama directed by Sonia
Nassery Cole, received the Golden Palm Award, as well as honors for Best
Producer for Sonia Nassery Cole and Chris Cole, Best Actor for Haji Gul
Aser, and The Jury Award for Best Feature Film. “Uprising: Hip Hop
& The LA Riots,” “The Palace” and “Children of the Air” also
received two nods each. The event was held at the The Four Seasons
Hotel, located at 300 South Doheny, and featured over 300 distinguished
guests.
Best Producer, Chris A. Cole, Best Actor, Best Actor for Haji Gul Aser,
& Jury Award for Best Feature.
& Jury Award for Best Feature.
Walid Amini, Nino Simone BHFF founder/CEO, Sonia Nassery Cole, Chris Cole,
Scott Karol and Steven Paul, Jury President.
Director Ryan Sage won Audience Choice Award Best Feature Film " Worth The Weight"
Beverly Hills Mayor Dr.William Brien Declares April 25th “Beverly Hills Film Festival Day”. Renowned Screenwriter Mardik Martin Receives 2012 Parajanov-Vartanov Institute Award.
“Clear and Present Danger”) received the 5th annual Beverly Hills Film Festival Legends
Award. Actress Marisol Nichols (ABC’s “GCB”) presented and accepted
the award in behalf of Archer.
“The Black Tulip” is a drama shot entirely on location in Afghanistan, and was the country’s official entry for the Foreign Language Film Award for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. After the Taliban is routed from Afghanistan in early 2001, the Mansouri family seizes the new window of freedom by opening a restaurant called "The Poet's Corner," where artists and poets are welcome to express themselves on a small stage. This new-found hope proves to be fleeting as lingering factions of the Taliban threaten to silence them. Conceding to the Taliban's demands goes wholly against their beliefs and for what they've fought for. Having come a long way from refuge and expatriation overseas, giving up now is not an option for this Afghan family.
2012 Beverly Hills Film Festival Awards
2012 BHFF award recipients were awarded with custom-made crystal and marble trophies.
A complete list follows:
The Golden Palm Award (best film in all categories) went to “The Black Tulip,”
directed by Sonia Nassery Cole.
Best Actor went to Haji Gul Aser “The Black Tulip.”
Best Actress went to Katheryn Winnick for “Children of the Air.”
Best Producer went to Sonia Nassery Cole and Chris Cole for “The Black Tulip.”
Best Director went to Anthony Maras for “The Palace."
Best Foreign Film went to the Lebanese short film, "Anoesis" from directors Cyril Aris
and Mounia Akl.
Best Animation went to the short "Intermission Time" from filmmaker Michael Degg.
Best Cinematography went to "Children of the Air" from writer/director Damian Horan.
Best Editing went to the documentary “Uprising: Hip Hop & The L.A. Riots," from
filmmaker Mark Ford (and executive produced by Snoop Dogg).
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
Best Short Film went to “Henry" from writer/director Michael Bernard.
Best Documentary went to "7 Years Underground: A 60's Tale” from filmmaker Jason M. Solomon.
Best Feature Film went to “Worth the Weight," directed by Ryan Sage.
SPECIAL JURY AWARDS
Best Feature Film went to “The Black Tulip," directed by Sonia Nassery Cole.Best Documentary went to “Uprising: Hip Hop & The L.A. Riots" from filmmaker Mark Ford and executive produced by Snoop Dogg).
Best Short Film went to “The Palace," directed by Anthony Maras.
GOLDEN PALM SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
The Golden Palm Screenplay Competition Award went to Beverly Gandara for “Rent Money.”
The first runner-up award went to Michael Buchanan for "Confederate Son."
The second runner-up award went to “Rockin’ Reverend” written by Scot Michael Walker.
About BHFF
The annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival was founded in 2001 by award-winning independent filmmaker Nino Simone. The 12th annual event, which took place from April 25 through 29, 2012, is dedicated to showcasing and promoting non-studio films to the entertainment industry. Designed to bridge the world of premiere independent cinema withthe renowned community of Beverly Hills, the festival hosts world-class screenings, networking events and industry seminars. Sponsors include Mosaic Hotel, CONFIDENTIAL Beverly Hills, Casa Noble Tequila, Bella Sol Foods, Icelandic Water, Image Metrics Inc., The Hollywood Reporter and Stella Artois. Screenings are held at the state-of-the-art Real D Theater, formerly Clarity Theater (100 North Crescent Drive), in Beverly Hills, California.
2012 Beverly Hills Film Festival Awards
2012 BHFF award recipients were awarded with custom-made crystal and marble trophies.
A complete list follows:
The Golden Palm Award (best film in all categories) went to “The Black Tulip,”
directed by Sonia Nassery Cole.
Best Actor went to Haji Gul Aser “The Black Tulip.”
Best Actress went to Katheryn Winnick for “Children of the Air.”
Best Producer went to Sonia Nassery Cole and Chris Cole for “The Black Tulip.”
Best Director went to Anthony Maras for “The Palace."
Best Foreign Film went to the Lebanese short film, "Anoesis" from directors Cyril Aris
and Mounia Akl.
Best Animation went to the short "Intermission Time" from filmmaker Michael Degg.
Best Cinematography went to "Children of the Air" from writer/director Damian Horan.
Best Editing went to the documentary “Uprising: Hip Hop & The L.A. Riots," from
filmmaker Mark Ford (and executive produced by Snoop Dogg).
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
Best Short Film went to “Henry" from writer/director Michael Bernard.
Best Documentary went to "7 Years Underground: A 60's Tale” from filmmaker Jason M. Solomon.
Best Feature Film went to “Worth the Weight," directed by Ryan Sage.
SPECIAL JURY AWARDS
Best Feature Film went to “The Black Tulip," directed by Sonia Nassery Cole.Best Documentary went to “Uprising: Hip Hop & The L.A. Riots" from filmmaker Mark Ford and executive produced by Snoop Dogg).
Best Short Film went to “The Palace," directed by Anthony Maras.
GOLDEN PALM SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
The Golden Palm Screenplay Competition Award went to Beverly Gandara for “Rent Money.”
The first runner-up award went to Michael Buchanan for "Confederate Son."
The second runner-up award went to “Rockin’ Reverend” written by Scot Michael Walker.
About BHFF
The annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival was founded in 2001 by award-winning independent filmmaker Nino Simone. The 12th annual event, which took place from April 25 through 29, 2012, is dedicated to showcasing and promoting non-studio films to the entertainment industry. Designed to bridge the world of premiere independent cinema withthe renowned community of Beverly Hills, the festival hosts world-class screenings, networking events and industry seminars. Sponsors include Mosaic Hotel, CONFIDENTIAL Beverly Hills, Casa Noble Tequila, Bella Sol Foods, Icelandic Water, Image Metrics Inc., The Hollywood Reporter and Stella Artois. Screenings are held at the state-of-the-art Real D Theater, formerly Clarity Theater (100 North Crescent Drive), in Beverly Hills, California.
For more information, please visit www.beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com.
