Cate Jones, David Romberg and Andy Marlatt are among the winners of the ninth annual Best of NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Awards (NFMLA).
The 2021 NFMLA Awards included 125 nominees across 16 categories, plus the new filmmaker award, which went to Alberto Belli. The selection of films spans narrative, documentary, animation and new media work and includes movies from NFMLA’s InFocus diversity initiative.
Jones won for feature film “She’s the Eldest,” produced by Kelley Gann. It follows three siblings who return home to reconnect but end up digging up the past of their parents’ mysterious disappearances.
Romberg took home the award for documentary feature film for “The Man of the Monkey.” Produced by Robert Girvin, the film explores the myth of a man who lives with his chimpanzee wife on the Brazilian island of Ilha Grande. On his journey, Romberg’s discoveries are even more shocking than what he expected.
Renuka Jeyapalan and Matt Power won the award for new media & experimental for “The 410,” and Philip Alexander Narvaez won the cinematography prize for “Acuitzeramo.”
Taking the awards for performance are Vico Ortiz for the comedy “Misdirection” and Maya Harman for the drama “Chubby.”
Marlatt’s “Tribes” earned the award for screenplay, and Alyssa Toledo’s “Lift Off” for film editing. Gary Kwan took home the award for ound design for “Handscape,” and Patricio Hidalgo, Tacho Utrera, Wendy Cao Romero, Fernando Guadarrama, Ramón Gutiérrez and Arturo O’Farrill for score “Fandango at the Wall.”
The Anthony Rhulen Award of $15,000 was given to select winners.
“We are so thankful to the Walter and Judy Rhulen Family Foundation for this endowment,” said Larry Laboe, NFMLA executive director and co-founder. “Anthony understood the power of storytelling and we’re grateful to have Anthony’s legacy live on in support of new talent at NFMLA.”
Visit NewFilmMakersLA.com/awards to see all the nominees and winners.