After nearly two full weeks of movie screenings, directors' lectures, and more, the Miami International Film Festival's 2012 edition wrapped up Saturday with the announcement of this year's winners at the Gusman. While you were drinking your way from premiere gala to premiere gala and celebrity-spotting at red carpet events, more serious film buffs were busy selecting the best of the best. And we're happy to report that some of our favorites made the cut.
Check out the list of winners after the jump.
The big cash prize this year went to Bonsai, a Chilean film about a man struggling to be a writer -- and to impress a pretty young lady by lying about having read Proust -- earning the movie a cool $30,000. And the prizes don't stop there; screenwriter Christian Jimenez, who adapted the film from Alejandro Zamba's novel, earned another $5,000 to the films winnings, thanks to the Jordan A. Ressler Screenwriting Award.
The Audience Award this year went to Juan of the Dead, which was no surprise. The zombie movie satire from Cuba was one of this festival's most highly anticipated films.
Additional film awards included:
Knight Documentary Grand Jury Prize
The Imposter, a film from the U.K. about Frédéric Bourdin, a French-Algerian con man, won $10,000 for director Burt Layton and crew.
Lexus Opera Prima Grand Jury Prize - Best First Film
We're looking forward to seeing more from Mexican director Kenya Marquez, whose first effort, the dark satire Expiration Date, won $5,000.
Knight Ibero-American Special Jury Prize
Blood of my Blood, by Portuguese director Joao Canijo, won $5,000, along with the Chilean production Violeta Went to Heaven from director Andres Wood.
University of Miami Grand Jury Prize for Best Short
French director Cedric Prevost's quickie, Catharsis, earned $2,500.
Knight Documentary Jury Special Mentions
The U.S. finally earned some respect, thanks to Alysa Nahmias and Benjamin Murray's Unfinished Spaces. The Strawberry Tree, Canadian director Simone Rapisarda Casanova's homage to a small Cuban fishing village, also got a nod.
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