"Roadie" Wins Top Prize at Stony Brook Film Festival

The 16th annual Stony Brook Film Festival ended in style Saturday night when hundreds turned out for the closing ceremony and dinner to celebrate the winners of the festival's competition.

Film critic John Anderson was emcee of the ceremony, and gave out the awards to the winning movies.

Roadie, a feature film about an ex-member of the Blue Oyster Cult, won the festival's Jury Award for Best Feature, while Don't Touch My Children, a Dutch drama, won the Audience's Choice Award.

Other films honored on closing night were Timefreak, which won the Jury Prize for Best Short Film, the Audience's Choice for Short Film Cataplexy, and Fort McCoy, which won the Special Jury Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film.

That film's producer, Kate Connor, thanked the festival as she accepted the award.

"You are a beautiful town, you are a beautiful festival, you are a beautiful community," said Connor, who directed, wrote, acted in and co-produced Fort McCoy.

Almanya, an independent German drama-comedy about a Turkish family, another crowd favorite that was screened on the festival's final night, and was given a special Jury award at the festival finale.

Anderson, in between quips and playful jokes, said he was glad to see the festival thrive.

"Let's hope this goes on for another 15 years at least," he said.