23rd Annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival® (BHFF) Gala Awards Ceremony
Photography by Billy Baque
BEVERLY HILLS, CA (April 24, 2023) – On Sunday night, April 23, 2023, the 23rd Annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival® (BHFF) held its closing night Gala Awards Ceremony at the landmark Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Boulevard).
Bulgarian director Theodore Ushev’s directorial debut, Phi 1.618, a dystopian science fiction adventure film, was honored with the Golden Palm Award (best film in all categories), presented by BHFF director and founder, Nino Simone.
Peter Stormare was awarded Best Actor for his performance in Hangman, while Kelly Reilly received Best Actress for her role in Promises.
Ushev said of receiving the top honor, “We put all our hearts inside this film.”
The 23rd annual festival was produced by Nino Simone; BHFF CFO Anthony Severini; BHFF publicist and producer Heather Burgett; and BHFF producer Adam Ottmar, who also served as the Awards Gala host and emcee.
BHFF23 showcased 150 competition films and kicked off on Wednesday, April 19, with the Opening Night Official Red Carpet event featuring 15 Official Selection premieres at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. Over five days, the festival hosted red carpet premieres, networking events, panel discussions, and after-parties, culminating in the Gala Awards Ceremony.
Festival Panels
Panels covered topics including screenwriting, directing, film production and financing, and representation with agents and managers. Panelists included:
- Bradie Stenlauf (CAA)
- Chris Allen (Buchwald)
- Gaby Cohen (Gersh)
- Pascal Borno (Angel Oak Films)
- Devanny Pinn (Jaguar Motion Pictures)
- and others
2023 Beverly Hills Film Festival Awards
- Golden Palm Award (Best Film): Phi 1.618 – Director Theodore Ushev
- Best Director: Katerina Munis for Daedelus
- Best Actor: Peter Stormare for Hangman
- Best Actress: Kelly Reilly for Promises
- Best Producer: Jack Lucarelli and Michael Lazari for Blowin’ Smoke
- Best Cinematography: Piero Basso for Midday Black Midnight Blue
- Best Editing: Ryan Moore for When We Danced
- Best Foreign Film: La California (Italy) – Cinczia Bomoll
- Best Animation: Moirai, Thread of Life – Mark Chavez
- Best Short Documentary: By Design: The Joe Caroff Story – Mark Cerulli
- Best Student Film: Papito – Ramiro Vargas
Special Jury Awards
- Best Jury Feature Film: Promises (France/Italy) – Amanda Sthers
- Best Jury Documentary: Case for Kindness – Steven Sawalich
- Best Jury Short Film: When We Danced – Ryan Moore
Audience Choice Awards
- Best Feature Film: Midday Black Midnight Blue – Daniel Talbott and Samantha Soule
- Best Documentary: King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones – Harriet Marin Jones (writer/director/producer), with executive producers Debbie Allen and Quincy Jones
- Best Short Film: Swipe NYC – Sue Zarco Kramer (writer/director/producer)
Golden Palm Screenplay Competition
- Winner: Song of Big Foot – Brent Bishop
- First Runner-up: Carpenterland – Heidi-Marie Ferren
- Second Runner-up: The Burden of Light – Helen Alexis Yonov
For the full list of official selections and festival details, please visit beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com.
About BHFF
Founded in 2001 by award-winning filmmaker, producer, and philanthropist Nino Simone, the International Beverly Hills Film Festival® (BHFF) is recognized as “One of the most exclusive festivals in the world” (KTLA-TV News). It showcases and promotes emerging filmmakers to the entertainment industry and has emerged as a top film festival in Los Angeles and globally.
Designed to bridge new global cinema and Beverly Hills’ renowned community with the heart of Hollywood, BHFF hosts world-class premieres, networking events, and industry panels. The five-day event attracts over 40,000 attendees, VIP guests, industry executives, and top celebrities who celebrate cinematic art, storytelling, and industry camaraderie. The festival’s highest honor is the Golden Palm Award, and it also bestows the BHFF Legends Award to inspirational film pioneers and industry icons.
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