Outfest Los Angeles: Chris Mason Johnson, ‘Test’ Claim Jury Prizes

"Born This Way" takes award for feature documentary at LGBT film festival

Chris Mason Johnson won the jury prize for outstanding screenwriting and the movie he directed, “Test,” was voted outstanding dramatic feature at OutFest Los Angeles, organizers announced Sunday.

"Test" (photo above) is set in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS crisis in 1985, and focuses on a prestigious dance company dealing with the spread of HIV and its effects on the lives of its performers.

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“Born this Way,” a a portrait of the underground gay and lesbian community in Cameroon, won the grand jury award for outstanding documentary feature film.

The 31st edition of the festival, which focuses on films about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, opened on July 11 and closes Sunday night with a screening of Darren Stein’s “G.B.F.”

Here are the rest of the awards announced Sunday:

Special Programming

Award for Freedom
“Deepsouth,” directed by Lisa Biagiotti
 
Artistic Achievement
“Animals,” directed by Marçal Forés

Emerging Talent
Diego Ruiz, writer/director/actor

Audience Awards

Outstanding Documentary Short Film
“Facing Fear,” directed by Jason Cohen

Outstanding Dramatic Short Film
“Wini + George,” directed by Benjamin Monie

Outstanding Documentary Feature Film
“Bridegroom,” directed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

Outstanding Dramatic Feature Film
“Reaching for the Moon,” directed by Bruno Barreto

Outstanding First U.S. Dramatic Feature Film
“‘Georgraphy Club,” directed by Gary Entin
 
Jury Awards

Outstanding Experimental Short Film
“She Gone Rogue,” directed by Zackary Drucker and Rhys Ernst

Outstanding Documentary Short Film
“Performing Girl,” directed by Crescent Diamond
 
Outstanding Dramatic Short Film
“Going South,” directed Leesong Hee-il

Outstanding Documentary Feature Film
“Born This Way,” directed by Shaun Kadlec and Deb Tullman

Outstanding International Dramatic Feature Film
“It’s All So Quiet,” directed by Nanouk Leopold

Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film
Guinevere Turner, “Who’s Afraid of Vagina Wolf?”

Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film
Bill Heck and Marcus DeAnda, “Pit Stop”

Outstanding Screenwriting
Chris Mason Johnson, “Test”

Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature Film
“Test,” directed by Chris Mason Johnson
 

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