PIFF Archives

Festival Trailers

Awards

Filmmaker on the Edge
Excellence in Acting
Next Wave Award
Faith Hubley Memorial Award
Career Achievement Award

FILMMAKER ON THE EDGE

Presented to a film artist whose outstanding achievement, innovation, and vision continue to push the boundaries of film.

  • 2023 – BRUCE LABRUCE

    2023 – BRUCE LABRUCE

    Bruce LaBruce is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, writer, and artist whose work is known for pushing boundaries and blurring the lines between independent film and pornography. Along with numerous short… Continue reading 2023 – BRUCE LABRUCE

  • 2022 – LUCA GUADAGNINO

    2022 – LUCA GUADAGNINO

    Luca Guadagnino is an Academy Award-nominated director, screenwriter, and producer known for his visually arresting style and his affecting psychological portraits. He is currently in production on Challengers starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor,… Continue reading 2022 – LUCA GUADAGNINO

  • 2021 – RICHARD LINKLATER

    2021 – RICHARD LINKLATER

    It’s hard to imagine what the American film landscape would look like without Richard Linklater. Linklater was among the first and most successful talents to emerge during the American independent… Continue reading 2021 – RICHARD LINKLATER

  • 2019 – JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL

    2019 – JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL

    To describe the work of John Cameron Mitchell as groundbreaking would be an understatement. As co-writer, director, and star, Mitchell’s film adaptation of his hit Off-Broadway play HEDWIG AND THE… Continue reading 2019 – JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL

  • 2018 – SEAN BAKER

    2018 – SEAN BAKER

    Sean Baker’s work defines a new social realism in US cinema, focusing on modern, marginalized characters through a compassionate and often humorous lens. He is the director and co-writer of… Continue reading 2018 – SEAN BAKER

  • 2017 – SOFIA COPPOLA

    2017 – SOFIA COPPOLA

    Over the past 18 years, Sofia Coppola has become one of America’s most singular filmmakers, often creating dream-like filmscapes that transport viewers to strange-yet-familiar worlds. Her storied career as a… Continue reading 2017 – SOFIA COPPOLA

  • 2016 – ANG LEE

    2016 – ANG LEE

    ANG LEE (Director/Producer) is a three-time Academy Award winner and one of the world’s most revered and honored directors.   His film LIFE OF PI, which he directed and produced, was… Continue reading 2016 – ANG LEE

  • 2015 – BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT

    2015 – BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT

  • 2014 – DAVID CRONENBERG

    2014 – DAVID CRONENBERG

  • 2013 – HARMONY KORINE

    2013 – HARMONY KORINE

  • 2012 – ROGER CORMAN

    2012 – ROGER CORMAN

  • 2011 – DARREN ARONOFSKY

    2011 – DARREN ARONOFSKY

    Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky was born and raised in Brooklyn. Aronofsky heads Protozoa Pictures based in Chinatown NYC.   His upcoming film “The Whale” for A24 stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie… Continue reading 2011 – DARREN ARONOFSKY

  • 2010 – KEVIN SMITH

    2010 – KEVIN SMITH

    Kevin Smith has been saying silly cinematic shit since 1994’s Clerks. 2022 marks the 28th year since the last time he had a real job. 

  • 2009 – GUY MADDIN

    2009 – GUY MADDIN

  • 2008 – QUENTIN TARANTINO

    2008 – QUENTIN TARANTINO

  • 2007 – TODD SOLONDZ

    2007 – TODD SOLONDZ

  • 2006 – GREGG ARAKI

    2006 – GREGG ARAKI

    GREGG most recently directed on MONSTER: THE JEFFREY DAHMER STORY, Ryan Murphy’s hit Limited Series for Netflix. GREGG has been incredibly in demand in television, including creating, co-writing and directing… Continue reading 2006 – GREGG ARAKI

  • 2005 – MARY HARRON

    2005 – MARY HARRON

  • 2004 – JIM JARMUSCH

    2004 – JIM JARMUSCH

  • 2003 – TODD HAYNES

    2003 – TODD HAYNES

  • 2002 – GUS VAN SANT

    2002 – GUS VAN SANT

  • 2001 – TED HOPE & JAMES SCHAMUS

    2001 – TED HOPE & JAMES SCHAMUS

    James Schamus is an award-winning screenwriter, producer, director and business executive, and he’s been a mainstay of independent filmmaking for over three decades. In 2015, Schamus launched Symbolic Exchange, a… Continue reading 2001 – TED HOPE & JAMES SCHAMUS

  • 2000 – CHRISTINE VACHON

    2000 – CHRISTINE VACHON

    Christine Vachon is an Independent Spirit Award and Gotham Award winner who co-founded indie powerhouse Killer Films with partner Pamela Koffler in 1995. Over the past two decades, they have… Continue reading 2000 – CHRISTINE VACHON

  • 1999 – JOHN WATERS (Inaugural Honoree)

    1999 – JOHN WATERS (Inaugural Honoree)

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Excellence in Acting

Presented to a film artist whose admirable body of work pushes the boundaries of the medium, demonstrating originality and innovation.

  • 2023 – BILLY PORTER

    2023 – BILLY PORTER

    Billy Porter is a tremendously talented Emmy, Tony and Grammy-award winning actor, singer and director, and playwright.  His cinematic performances include 80 for Brady, Cinderella, The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic… Continue reading 2023 – BILLY PORTER

  • 2022 – DALE DICKEY

    2022 – DALE DICKEY

    Dale Dickey is a superbly talented veteran of film, television and the theater, with over 60 film credits—notably her Film Independent Spirit Award-winning performance in Debra Granik’s acclaimed Winter’s Bone. Other films include Flag… Continue reading 2022 – DALE DICKEY

  • 2021 – RIZ AHMED

    2021 – RIZ AHMED

    Riz Ahmed became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after artists following the explosive success of HBO’s The Night Of, for which he won an Emmy Award, and was Golden Globe and… Continue reading 2021 – RIZ AHMED

  • 2019 – JUDITH LIGHT

    2019 – JUDITH LIGHT

    We’re honored to celebrate the career of Judith Light, whose has the uncanny ability to reveal new depths to her talents with each new project. Two-time Tony winner and Emmy… Continue reading 2019 – JUDITH LIGHT

  • 2018 – MOLLY SHANNON

    2018 – MOLLY SHANNON

    Molly has forged an amazing career starting with her six-season run on “Saturday Night Live,” where she created a host of indelible characters. In the years since leaving SNL she… Continue reading 2018 – MOLLY SHANNON

  • 2017 – CHLOË SEVIGNY

    2017 – CHLOË SEVIGNY

    In some ways Chloë Sevigny already feels like family. Massachusetts-born and Connecticut-raised, her films have been a fixture at PIFF for years, and she’s worked with four past Filmmaker on… Continue reading 2017 – CHLOË SEVIGNY

  • 2016 – CYNTHIA NIXON

    2016 – CYNTHIA NIXON

  • 2014 – PATRICIA CLARKSON

    2014 – PATRICIA CLARKSON

  • 2013 – MATT DILLON

    2013 – MATT DILLON

  • 2012 – PARKER POSEY

    2012 – PARKER POSEY

  • 2011 – VERA FARMIGA

    2011 – VERA FARMIGA

  • 2010 – TILDA SWINTON

    2010 – TILDA SWINTON

    Tilda Swinton started making films with the director Derek Jarman in 1985 with Caravaggio. Her second film was Peter Wollen’s Friendship’s Death. She and Jarman made seven more films together,… Continue reading 2010 – TILDA SWINTON

  • 2009 – ALESSANDRO NIVOLA

    2009 – ALESSANDRO NIVOLA

    Alessandro Nivola has established himself as one of the most versatile actors of his generation with an array of emotionally searing and complex roles defining his body of work.  He… Continue reading 2009 – ALESSANDRO NIVOLA

  • 2008 – GAEL GARCÍA BERNAL

    2008 – GAEL GARCÍA BERNAL

  • 2007 – ALAN CUMMING

    2007 – ALAN CUMMING

  • 2006 – LILI TAYLOR

    2006 – LILI TAYLOR

    Lili Taylor is a multifaceted award-winning actor who has conquered film, television, and stage. She can most recently be seen on the Amazon Studios mystery drama series OUTER RANGE starring… Continue reading 2006 – LILI TAYLOR

  • 2002 – MARCIA GAY HARDEN (Inaugural Honoree)

    2002 – MARCIA GAY HARDEN (Inaugural Honoree)

    Academy Award-winning and Emmy nominated actress Marcia Gay Harden has forged an incomparable body of work, and like a chameleon she transforms into each character she plays. Her critically lauded… Continue reading 2002 – MARCIA GAY HARDEN (Inaugural Honoree)

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NEXT WAVE AWARD

Presented to a film artist who has an exciting and distinctive voice, takes artistic risks, and has a passionate commitment to independent film.

  • 2023 – MEGAN STALTER

    2023 – MEGAN STALTER

    Standout comedian and actress Megan Stalter is known for her hilarious breakout performance as Kayla in the Emmy Award-winning series “Hacks” with Jean Smart. In 2020, The New York Times critic Jason… Continue reading 2023 – MEGAN STALTER

  • 2023 – JULIO TORRES

    2023 – JULIO TORRES

    Julio Torres is an Emmy-nominated and WGA-winning writer. His work on “Saturday Night Live” garnered four Emmy nominations and he’s performed stand-up on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” as well as “The Tonight Show… Continue reading 2023 – JULIO TORRES

  • 2022 – JENNY SLATE

    2022 – JENNY SLATE

    Hailing from Milton, MA, critically-acclaimed actress, comedian, and New York Times bestselling author Jenny Slate is one of the most versatile creators in Hollywood. Slate was a standout cast member… Continue reading 2022 – JENNY SLATE

  • 2022 – BOWEN YANG

    2022 – BOWEN YANG

    Bowen Yang wrote for Saturday Night Live for one season before bursting onto the scene with breakout performances as a cast member, including instantly viral skits like “The Iceberg That… Continue reading 2022 – BOWEN YANG

  • 2021 – NATALIE MORALES

    2021 – NATALIE MORALES

    Natalie Morales is a highly talented actor, director, writer, and activist. Her directorial debut LANGUAGE LESSONS premiered this year at the Berlinale followed by SXSW, where it won the Audience… Continue reading 2021 – NATALIE MORALES

  • 2020 – MYA TAYLOR

    2020 – MYA TAYLOR

    Independent Spirit Award-winning actress Mya Taylor (TANGERINE) will be honored with the Festival’s Next Wave Award in a special conversation with together with award-winning filmmaker, PJ Raval (CALL HER GANDA).… Continue reading 2020 – MYA TAYLOR

  • 2019 – JILLIAN BELL

    2019 – JILLIAN BELL

    Actress and producer Jillian Bell (BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON, SWORD OF TRUST) will receive the festival’s third annual “Next Wave Award,” which recognizes those who have exciting and distinctive voices,… Continue reading 2019 – JILLIAN BELL

  • 2018 – CHLOË GRACE MORETZ

    2018 – CHLOË GRACE MORETZ

    Chloë Grace Moretz is an American actress. She began acting as a child, with early roles in the supernatural horror film The Amityville Horror, the drama series Desperate Housewives, the… Continue reading 2018 – CHLOË GRACE MORETZ

  • 2017 – AUBREY PLAZA (Inaugural Honoree)

    2017 – AUBREY PLAZA (Inaugural Honoree)

    To steal a phrase from Jerry Maguire, Aubrey Plaza had us at hello. With what must be a natural-born gift for comedy, honed by years with the Upright Citizens Brigade… Continue reading 2017 – AUBREY PLAZA (Inaugural Honoree)

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Faith Hubley Memorial Award

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Career Achievement Award

  • 2011 – Albert Maysles

    2011 – Albert Maysles

    Two of America’s foremost non-fiction filmmakers, Albert Maysles and his brother David (1932-1987) are recognized as pioneers of “direct cinema,” the distinctly American version of French “cinema verité.” They earned… Continue reading 2011 – Albert Maysles

  • 2009 – Strand Releasing

    2009 – Strand Releasing

  • 2008 – Michael Childers

    2008 – Michael Childers

  • 2007 – Kathleen Turner

    2007 – Kathleen Turner

    Screen icon Kathleen Turner has garnered critical acclaim for her performances in movies including BODY HEAT, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe; ROMANCING THE STONE and PRIZZI’S… Continue reading 2007 – Kathleen Turner

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