Awards

This year's winning narrative film, is like a perfect recipe: something complex and layered that, when consumed whole, transcends its individual parts. A slice of life, but one that's cut to reveal the jagged edges of reality and all its imperfections: how families ravel and unravel over time, how love is first discovered and then must endure hardship and loss. This director found those sweet spots and then had the nerve to dwell on them: in the dialogue, in the framing of shots, in the lingering of moments over time. The wisdom to stay with a feeling, to give the audience the time to insert themselves into the scene and imagine how the character feels - the director has shown great restraint and resolve all at once. This film is not just a family film, nor a gay film, nor a southern film, but a human film that challenges and comforts all of us in some way. The jury recognizes Patrick Wang's unbelievable first effort as a writer, director, actor, producer, and awards him the 2012 SFIAAFF Comcast Narrative Jury Prize for In the Family.

Patrick Wang's IN THE FAMILY is a sensitive and layered approach to several topical and controversial issues, but presented without sensationalism or exploitation. Writer-director-producer and star Patrick Wang paints an emotionally complex humane portrayal of modern-day America, infused with southern charm. IN THE FAMILY is a testament to American independent filmmaking's ingenuity, passion and resourcefulness.