John Schlesinger Award

Awarded to a First Time Director at the festival.

In memory of John Schlesinger, this special award is given to first-time doc/narrative feature film directors at our Closing Night Awards presentation. John Schlesinger’s (1926-2003) work includes such highly acclaimed films as Midnight Cowboy, Marathon Man, The Day of the Locust, Sunday Bloody Sunday and Cold Comfort Farm. Mr. Schlesinger’s films reveal a keen social awareness, a fascination with love’s complexities, and a penchant for drawing out big performances. An actor himself, he helped to make stars out of such performers as Julie Christie, Dustin Hoffman and John Voight, and has the distinction of directing eight different actors in Academy Award-nominated performances.

2016 winners include Blood Stripe directed by Remy Auberjonois for Best Narrative Feature; Off The Rails by Adam Irving for Best Documentary Feature.

Presentation during Closing Night Party