2010 Award Winners

The Yosemite Film Festival proudly announces the top prize winners of the 2010 Festival.

A Tall Tale - Best Children's Film
Having always yearned for acceptance, an outcast with freakishly long legs discovers she may be the key to the survival of the very kingdom that cast her aside.







Africa's Lost Eden - Best Environmental Film
Journey with National Geographic to Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park and discover what is being done to bring this Africa oasis back to its former glory- including perhaps the most ambitious restoration effort ever attempted, with elephants, hippos and scores of zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo being relocated into the park.




 Big Brother - Best Student Short
Big Brother is the story of a younger sibling who is bullied by a group of arrogant teens. After his older brother drops him off at school one day, the bullies tussle Cole to the point where he trips and falls onto the concrete floor. Cole, hesitant to tell the older brother what happened, is caught with a cut on his cheek. Still he refuses to explain what happened. The older brother, highly suspicious now, hides the car and watches Cole on his way to school the next day, where he catches the bullies pushing him around again.

Yogurt Cups - Special Jury Award
 Yogurt Cups is a closely observed film about a relationship between a retired widower and his caretaker in the rural area of the Czech Republic. Mr. Kolar, who lives on a farm, suffers from Parkinson's. When his spirited caretaker suggests alternative method of treatment to subside his tremors, he grumpily refuses until a chain of events makes him change his mind.




 The Seventh Floor - Best Short Film
"The Seventh Floor" is a film noir about a self-serving private detective who will do almost anything to pay off his massive gambling debt. At its core, the film is concerned with the extent of man's greed as well as the possibility of his redemption. Also, it reflects on the past and present fears of Americans and how these fears can lead to regrettable and bigoted actions.




 Chinese Antique - Best Student Film
Andy, a self-absorbed bratty teenager, is forced to work at the struggling Chinese antique shop owned by Kuo, a close family friend. Although he is rebellious and unwilling at first, Andy's attitude slowly changes as he begins to understand Kuo and the struggles he is faced with.






The Darkroom - Special Jury Prize
John, a divorced, old-school photographer, who has dedicated his life to the disciplines of his darkroom and art of photography, finds himself fighting for his craft and livelihood during the transition to the digital age. When his young manager gives him the ultimatum with the help from his estranged daughter, he is faced with a decision that will define him not only as an artist, but also as a father.



 Fluorescent Gray - Best Experimental Film
Something bad is happening in the house of marriage. They promised not to know.








 Le Grand Sault - Special Jury Prize
Wandering with her beloved near the rushing waterfall, a young woman has no idea that their peaceful meeting place will be the scene of immense turmoil.







 Let Me In - Best Music Video
In this music video for the Kelly Dalton song 'Let Me In,' a singer/songwriter (Dalton) returns to his hometown after a long tour, but soon realizes that he may be a stranger in his own town. He is haunted by the memories of the relationship with the girlfriend he left behind (Elisse Grubb), as he confronts his own guilt that his leaving may have had tragic consequences.




 Skin Trade - Best Documentary
The deceptive and dirty fur industry is exposed through undercover investigations, footage and interviews from those within the industry itself, from activists, and from celebrities. 'Skin Trade' takes the viewer on a journey that will shock the consumer with regard to the fraud perpetrated on the unknowing public who wish to make informed choices when shopping.

Sneakers and Soul - Best Feature
After inheriting a pair of blue sneakers and a mysterious key to a New York City apartment, a young work-obsessed lawyer finds himself following in his late father's adventurous footsteps - walking from South Jersey to New York with his loyal, but complicated best friend.





 The Offering - Best Animated Film
The modern era of computer animation meets an anciet tale of seduction. Is there anything that is not immune to a woman's powers, even golden statues?







 Undying Love - Best Comedic Short
The zombie musical comedy love story which proves that true love can conquer all adversity... even the zombie related kind.








When The Dogs Cried Out - Best Screenplay
 The story of Dawn, a girl who decides to flee her oppressive community of fundamentalist polygamists with the help of her brother.







Twice as Bright - Grand Jury Award
Actors Michael Robert Young and Carlotta Elektra Bosch bring their characters to life in this short motion picture that explores how to we say goodbye. Liam struggles with a crushing sense of despair after the loss of his wife Sofia. The story explores how Sofia's spirit shines on even after she is gone.





The Predator's Return - Special Jury Prize
Abe, a former concentration camp survivor, is a resident of a nursing home. The newest resident of the facility is the same Nazi officer that murdered his entire family 60 years earlier. A nightmare confrontation is about to take place.  The film stars Hollywood legend, Warren Stevens, featured in such classics as "Forbidden Planet", "Star Trek", and Rod Serling's "Twilight Zone".




Kaas - Best Foreign Film
When Anica and Maroon meet it's love at first sight, everything seems perfect but then, during their roller coaster experience in Amsterdam, suddenly destiny interferes.

Grandfather - Special Jury Prize
A Grandfather awaits for his son's family to come visit him. He cleans and prepares to enjoy the time.  However, things go much differently than he expected.

2012: Time for Change - Best Alternative Documentary
2012: Time For Change is a documentary feature that presents ways to transform our unsustainable society into a regenerative planetary culture, through a personal and global change of consciousness and the systemic implementation of ecological design.

Earthwork - Best Director, Chris Ordal
 Earthwork is the true story of real life crop artist Stan Herd who plants his unique, rural art form in New York City with the help of a group of homeless characters on a plot of land owned by Donald Trump.