This year was a landmark year for the festival, and it was a challenge to narrow the competition for our annual awards. We saw so many we loved (check out this great recap from Boston Reel!) but these films are the ones that we are crowning as 2107's Best in Show:

JURY AWARD :
NARRATIVE FEATURE

Heartstone

A riveting coming of age story told through bold and courageous filmmaking, Heartstone features superb ensemble acting against the backdrop of gorgeous Icelandic scenery.

A tender portrayal of sexual awakening and the strong bond of friendship, the film treads into some truly dark territory - only to have these horrible events prove to be the catalyst for positive change, with a fantastic ending that is at once subtly and resolutely hopeful.

AUDIENCE AWARD :
NARRATIVE FEATURE

Thirsty

This musical biopic of Provincetown sensation Thirsty Burlington brought out a lively crowd, who were won over by the film's sly humor and warm heart. Though director Margo Pelletier passed away before Thirsty's Boston screening, her work lives on through this lovely film and the place it has found in the hearts of our audience.

AUDIENCE AWARDS :
SHORT FILM

BEST OF THE FEST: Sisak

Faraz Arif Ansari's much-buzzed Sisak, India's first silent LGBT love story, lives up to the anticipation -- blowing away our audience at its world premiere with a moving tale of two men told in longing glances.

BEST IN PROGRAM

Trans - WALK FOR ME
Women's - POOL (PISCINA)
Students & First Timers - MOVING-ON
Current Mood : Youth - DARE & TRUTH
QWOCMAP - QUE SIGA LA CUMBIA
Social Justice / Sex Workers - THE NIGHT CLEANER
International - SEEING THROUGH THE EYES OF CROCODILES
Shorts Spotlight : España - MY BROTHER (MI HERMANO)

JURY AWARD :
DOCUMENTARY

Small Talk

Made with exquisite clarity of filmmaking and narrative, this family documentary was intimate, complicated, and multi-layered. Beautifully shot and edited, Small Talk is unafraid of making its scenes every bit as painful as the story that they tell. This original, artistic, and poignant film had our jury rapt.

AUDIENCE AWARD :
DOCUMENTARY

Jewel's Catch One

Documentarian C. Fitz returned to Wicked Queer and immediately sold out her screening of Jewel's Catch One. It's easy to see why our audience was so won over by this film: Jewel Thais-Williams has spent decades as a brave trailblazer for the community, and Fitz tells her inspiring story with both personal charm and historical perspective.

Even More Screenings!

Join us at Independent Film Festival Boston for a doc about one of WQ's own, and then come back for this year's Sundance hit about boys of summer. Academy short films from the archive at Wellesley and a special screening of Freedom to Marry with Mary Bonauto at NEU...

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