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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

SpIFF 2016: Here are the award-winners

Dan Webster

Above: Fred Ewanuick and Chelah Horsdal star in O. Corbin Saleken's feature film "Patterson's Wager."

In case you missed it, here are the juried award winners from the 2016 Spokane International Film Festival, which finished its run Saturday (the audience favorites are still being compiled):

Best Feature: "Patterson's Wager"

Best Documentary: "Circus Without Borders"

Best Short Film (Gold): "Listen"

Best Short Film (Silver): "Big Boy"

Best Animated Short: "Otto"

Best NW Feature: "Frank and the Wondercat"

Best of NW Short (Gold):  "The Mobile Stripper"

Best of NW Short (Silver): "The Mayor of Ballard"

Best of NW Filmmaker (presented by STCU): Jason McKee

Most Promising Filmmaker: Travis Lien

That's it for 2016. Many thanks to the events sponsors, especially STCU and Eastern Washington University. SpIFF co-directors Adam Boyd and Pete Porter deserve special recognition, as does Volunteer of the Year Kendra Ann Sherrill.

Next up: SpIFF 2017.

Special note: Along with my "Movies 101" cohosts, I had the honor of presenting "Patterson's Wager" when it played at The Bing. As someone who is a special fan of writer-director O. Corbin Saleken, a double-winner at the 2012 SpIFF, I was happy to see his film win the festival's top award. A sweet blend of fantasy and romance, "Patterson's Wager" boasts one of the more pleasing endings of any film I've ever seen. A festival highlight, the film left everyone who walked out of The Bing feeling better for having experienced it. Let's hope this is just the beginning of Corbin's career, and that he returns to Spokane soon.