Mississippi Damned, Vincere Clean Up at CIFF Awards

A giant clutch of movies we didn't see at this year's Chicago International Film Festival were awarded prizes at a gala event Saturday evening. The Gold Hugo for Best Film went to Mississippi Damned, filmmaker Tina Mabry's harrowing portrait of a Southern town. Didn't see it. Another we didn't see: Marco Bellocchio's Vincere, which took home Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Cinematography

One movie we did see and thoroughly unimpressed us, Made in China, was also honored. Director Judi Kranta snagged the Silver Hugo in the New Director's competition. Her film was dubbed "an exemplary demonstration of guerrilla film-making, shot at speed but conceived and assembled with wit, charm, coherence and a distinctively wry view of 21st century entrepreneurism." Shows you what we know.

But we're very pleased by the winner of the Chicago Award: Brad Bischoff's simple but haunting short film Wet. Another short we really liked, An Evening with Emery Long, received a Special Mention from the competition's jury.

Various "best of fest" screenings will be held Wednesday evening. The final lineup hasn't been announced yet, but we'll keep you posted. If you're feeling adventurous you can buy a ticket now.