We’ve had some terrific guest bloggers pinch-hitting for us throughout BIFF. Screenwriter/documentarian Teresa Bruce and SCAD film instructor Duncan Pittman have done marvelous work, keeping you up-close-and-personal with BIFF, while Mark Shaffer and I hobnobbed with the filmmakers like a couple of college kids on Spring Break. (Actually, Mark was working AND hobnobbing. I just hobnobbed.) I’m sure Duncan will be writing up last night’s Award Ceremony later today, and she’ll do a much better. more comprehensive, job than I could.

But as I sit here in the afterglow of the past few days, drinking my coffee and wishing I hadn’t stayed so late at last night’s wrap party, I am compelled to put down a few personal observations…

 First… I’m feeling incredibly fortunate this morning. Blessed, even. Publishing Lowcountry Weekly is not always easy, and seldom lucrative, but man… does it have its perks! For the past few days, I’ve been in the company of passionate, creative people from all across the country, enjoying the privilege of introducing them to our very special corner of the world.  The weather has been movie-set perfect, a fact that wasn’t lost on our festival attendees – several of whom told me they “can’t wait to shoot in Beaufort.” (Actor/director Benjamin Busch – you may know him from “The Wire” or “Generation Kill” – left his home in Central Michigan at five degrees below zero, and enjoyed watching his temperature gage creep up as he drove south, finally settling in at about 75 degrees.) I was so proud of Beaufort this week: its beauty, its grace, its inimitable hospitality… all its various kinds of warmth.

Last night’s awards’ ceremony was an emotional event for me: Over a few short days, I’d seen some truly spectacular films and had come to know a few of the filmmakers well enough to be nervous for them. I was thrilled for young screenwriter Adam Sumner – a South Carolina boy living in LA – whose winning screenplay “180 Proof” I’d had the honor of reading at the screenwriters table-read Thursday night. His mom and little sister were in the audience, and were beaming. The “Shorts” category was a nail-biter – the buzz had it that Benjamin Busch’s “Bright” and Seth Boggess’ “Left Alone” were the top contenders. I’d seen both pieces, and both had blown me away. Benjamin had been palling around with us all weekend, and I’d spent plenty of time talking to Seth and his wife, too. Fantastic people, all of them. “Left Alone” ended up taking the prize. This heart-rending piece had already been dubbed “the first festival film to inspire sniffles throughout the theater,” so everybody was happy to see this husband/wife team take the statuette, which will be traveling with them back to their home in Chicago. As for Busch’s captivating, poetic “Bright,” I expect to see it on HBO sooner than later.

Other memorable moments last night:

Ned Farr received the award for Best Feature Film, for his movie “A Marine Story,” and was obviously shocked. I was surprised to learn that he is the son of the late Tom Farr, and stepson of Terry Farr. He spoke lovingly about his father, his stepmother, and about Beaufort. Ned has lived in LA for years, and I’m not sure too many people knew about his Beaufort connection.

Sweet-faced college student Austin Taylor, receiving his award for Best Animation, said, "This is my first film festival... and I'm pretty sure it's gonna be my favorite." Another appealing young man, Jon Byron of Orange, CA, won in the student category, and told the audience, "You people are a lot nicer than the folks back in California." He sang the praises of the "Bow-fort" International Film Festival, then quickly corrected himself, cracking, "I think I just lost all my fans." If applause equals love, the audience adored these humble, excited young artists.

Charles Denler received the Jean Ribaut award for excellence in music for film. A reel of the composer’s work was played for the audience, and it included several pieces he hadn’t seen (or heard) in a long time. He approached the stage with tears in his eyes, visibly moved, and told us that he and his wife had honeymooned in Beaufort 20 years ago. It was a lovely acceptance speech from a lovely man.

Jonathan Flora received the first-ever Santini Spirit award for Patriotism. Tom Berenger presented the award – Pat Conroy couldn’t be there – for Flora’s documentary about Gary Sinise’s  Lt. Dan Band and its work with American service people. Sinise appeared on the big screen to congratulate his friend Flora, and reminisced about his own time spent in Beaufort, filming "Forrest Gump." “Lt. Dan was born in Beaufort,” he said, adding that Flora’s receiving this award here was like “coming full circle.”

So now, it’s Sunday morning. The parties are over, the chilly weather has returned – along with a few clouds – and I’m feeling that way I always feel at the end of something wonderful, intense, and fleeting. (Think summer camp… a football weekend at college… the run of a play…) I’m a little sad, a little wistful, a little relieved… thoroughly exhausted. I know I’ll write more about BIFF in days to come, as I’ve had time to process it, but for now I’ll just say… Bravo, Ron Tucker! Bravo, Rebecca Berry! Bravo, all you volunteers! Bravo, BIFF! And thanks for letting me be a part of it.

– Margaret Evans, Editor