Manuel Abramovich’s documentary film is a royal winner at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
The Argentinean filmmaker’s The Queen has picked up the award for Best Documentray Short Film at the festival.
The documentary film centers on Memi, an 11-year-old Argentinean beauty pageant competitor as she prepares to be Queen of the Carnival, a dazzling honor accompanied by costumes, sequins and a magnificent headdress.
“The crown is huge, weighs four kilos, studded with rhinestones and amethysts,” Memi’s mother proudly explains in the film.
While the mother and her girlfriends are lost in the excitement, Memi’s head is reeling from the tension. The camera watches the young girl in close-up. She is stoic – regal, even – as she suffers the attentions of the adults who are always offscreen.
Abramovich’s award comed with a $5,000 prize from the Los Angeles Film Festival.
Here is the complete list of winners:
Narrative Award (for Best Narrative Feature) Man From Reno, directed by Dave Boyle
Documentary Award (for Best Documentary Feature) Stray Dog, directed by Debra Granik
LA Muse Award Los Ángeles, directed by Damian John Harper
Best Performance in the Narrative Competition The Ensemble Cast of Recommended by Enrique, directed by Rania Attieh and Daniel García
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature The Young Kieslowski, directed by Kerem Sanga
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature Meet the Patels, directed by Geeta V. Patel and Ravi V. Patel
Audience Award for Best International Feature Someone You Love, directed by Pernille Fischer Christensen Country: Denmark
Award for Best Narrative Short Film The Runaway, directed by Jean-Bernard Marlin. France.
Award for Best Documentary Short Film The Queen, directed by Manuel Abramovich. Argentina.
Award for Best Animated/Experimental Short Film Butter Lamp, directed by Hu Wei. China/France.
Audience Award for Best Short Film The Gunfighter, directed by Eric Kissack
Audience Award for Best Music Video “Turn Down For What”, Lil Jon and DJ Snake; directed by Daniels Music: Lil Jon & DJ Snake