Best Film

Weather Girl

Directed by Blayne Weaver

After learning her boyfriend (Harmon) cheated on her with his co-host (Olson), a Seattle morning show weather girl (O'Kelley) freaks out on-air and is fired. Forced to move in with her little brother (Devlin) and deal with his best friend (Adams), she has to learn to cope with being 35, single, unemployed, and unfortunately famous for being the Sassy Weather Girl who lost it on live television. Starring: Tricia O'Kelley, Patrick J. Adams, Ryan Devlin, Mark Harmon, Kaitlin Olson, Alex Kapp Horner. In Attendance at VFF 09: Blayne Weaver, Tricia O'Kelley, Kaitlin Olson.

Audience Award

Like Dandelion Dust

Directed by Jon Gunn

Karen Kingsbury's Like Dandelion Dust, based on the best-selling novel, explores being a parent through the lives of the blue-collar Porters and the privileged Campbells. Their lives intertwine and collide, all for the love of a little boy. Starring: Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Cole Hauser, Maxwell Perry Cotton, Kate Levering, Abby Brammell, Kirk Woller. In Attendance at VFF 09: Kerry David, Jon Gunn, Kevin & Bobby Downes, Abby Brammell.

Best Documentary

Garbage Dreams

Directed by Mai Iskander

Filmed over four years, Garbage Dreams follows three teenage boys born into the trash trade in the world's largest garbage village. It is the home to 60,000 "Zaballeen," Egypt's "garbage people." When their community is faced with globalization of its trade, each of the boys is forced to make choices that will impact his future and the survival of his community. In Attendance at VFF 09: Mai Iskander.

Best Short

In the Wind

Directed by Martin Papazian

Having served his country abroad, Byron returns to his native shore: the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. His younger brother Shucky has become a solider of the streets in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Starring: Jamil Smith, A.K. Murtadha.

Best Student Film

Open Your Eyes

Directed by Susan Cohen

Struggling to come to terms with her life and marriage after breast cancer, Julia gets more than she bargained for when she attends a bridal shower and finds herself locked in a bathroom with a stranger. Open Your Eyes is a poignant and humorous look at our complex relationship with breasts, each other and what it really means to be whole. Starring: Traci Dinwiddie, Suzy Nakamura, Eric Lange, Teresa Huang.

Best Action Sports

Uniquely

Directed by John Roderick

Uniquely takes viewers on a cultural journey through Japan, Russia, Colorado, California, Indonesia, Brazil, Australia and beyond. Audiences explore the remote corners of the earth with the women of Oakley, as they search for perfect conditions while building lasting memories and lifelong friendships. Starring: Gretchen Bleiler, Chanelle Sladics, Anne-Flore Marxer, Marie-France Roy, Layne Beachly, Karina Petroni, Amber Wing, Kristi Leskinen, Grete Eliassen, Lynz Adams, Lauren Perkins. In Attendance at VFF 09: John Roderick, Liesl Holtz (Producer).

Kevin Smith
2009 Renegade Award

Writer/Director/Actor: Clerks, Mall Rats, Dogma, Chasing Amy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Michelle Monaghan
Excellence in Acting Award

Actress: Trucker, Eagle Eye, Made of Honor, Gone Baby Gone, Mission Impossible III