The Angel Film Awards - Monaco December 2009-12-08

In a medium where gratuitous violence is often a sure fire box office winner, the films shown at this festival promote non-violence.
Screened over three days a selection of art house films is shown. These have been chosen by the founders and organisers - Rosana Golden and Dean Bentley. The films, often premiering are from all over the world  include: short, feature, animation and documentary. The subject matter is as diverse as the locations, from a solitary Irish gardener visited by a mermaid to a surreal voyage of a Catalan woman.


I watched the European premiere of 'The Sacrifice' written, produced and directed by Diane Namm. This award winning short film tackled the subject of polygamy and child marriage. It was a grim reminder that this practice is alive and well and happening in some of the United States.

The film was emotive, lots of lingering looks full of meaning, pregnant pauses and metaphorical symbols. The story line was simple until the end when a gun was fired, it then became somewhat surreal and I lost the plot.

The films are thought provoking as well as entertaining, inviting the audience to not only suspend disbelief but to take a step beyond. Concerns are both global and personal and one senses from the audience reaction that everyone wants a safer, more harmonious world.

This must be applauded loudly.

This short film 'The Sacrifice' (USA) won:

Best Director - Diane Namm and

Best Ensemble Cast

A list of all the films and winners can be seen on the AFA website

We will be catching up with Rosana Golden, producer and director of the Angel Film Awards in the new year to ask her about the future and how she plans to further her mission to promote non violent films.