Salem Film Fest Presents Awards For 2024 All-Documentary Festival

SALEM, MA — Salem Film Fest organizers presented awards for its first all-in-person event since 2019 with a total of 40 films screened at three Salem locations.

"The energy of festival attendees was truly captivating, underscoring the power of nonfiction films to inspire and connect us all," said Program Director Emily Abi-Kheirs.

This year's Special Jury Award went to "Queendom" — Directed by Angiia Galdanova and produced by Igor Myakotin.

The Michael Sullivan Award for Documentary Journalism went to "Citizen Sleuth" — Directed by Chris Kasick.

"The reception we received this year from filmmakers and audience members was incredible," said Fest Director Joe Ferrari. "It was great seeing all the sellout shows and folks eager to come back to theaters for our all-in-person Fest this year."

The American Cinematographer Magazine Award went to "The Mother of All Lies" — Directed by Asmae El Moudir.

A Special Mention for the American Cinematographer Magazine Award for Cinematography was presented to "Our There: A National Parks Story" — Directed by Brendan Hall.

The Cultrera Cuts Edit Award went to "Bye Bye Tiberias" — Directed by Lina Soualem.

The Audience Award went to "Lucha: A Wrestling Tale" — Directed by Marco Ricco.

The Best Short Award went to "A Home On Every Floor" — Directed by Signe Rosenlund-Hauglid.

Salem Film Fest is an annual all-documentary film festival that showcases a diversity of films from filmmakers from around the world, many of whom attend the Fest.

Since 2007, Salem Film Fest has brought the world's best independent documentaries and their makers to Boston's North Shore. Now the largest international documentary film festival in Massachusetts, the event presents features, shorts and special events to a loyal audience of thousands.

The festival is run mostly by volunteers through a non-profit entity, Salem Community Arts Center, Inc.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)