qFLIX Philadelphia 2015 Awards Announced


A scene from "Mala Mala."

A scene from “Mala Mala.”

The 2015 qFLIX awards, featuring both audience and juried favorites, were announced yesterday, with films Mala Mala and Fourth Man Out winning numerous categories.

It was also the first year that festival presented the Barbara Gittings International Human Rights Award to Ugandan filmmaker Kamoga Hassan for his documentary Outed: The Painful Reality. In his remarks, Hassan said, “We in Uganda are where you in America were 50 years ago in the granting of LGBTQ rights as citizens of your country. I hope to see the same freedom and acceptance in my homeland 50 years from now.”

One of the festival’s producers, James Duggan, who claims that qFLIX will return again for a 2016 season, said, “Our LGBTQ community in the tristate area, our city of Philadelphia, and community of young and emerging filmmakers. They all deserve a world-class film festival. We intend to deliver one each year.”

Below is a full list of the winners for the 2015 festival. For more information on qFLIX, visit their website.

2015 Audience Awards

  • First Time Director: Dan Sickles, Mala Mala
  • Best Feature (tie): Mikal Odom, LUV Don’t Live Here Anymore and Andrew Nackman, Fourth Man Out
  • Best Documentary: Dan Sickles, Mala Mala

2015 Jury Awards

  • First Time Director (tie): Dan Sickles, Mala Mala and Andrew Nackman, Fourth Man Out
  • Best Feature: Michelle Ehlen, S&M Sally
  • Best Documentary: Michiel Thomas, Game Face
  • Best Shorts (tie): Gregorio Davik, Nancy from East Clover and Drew Van Steenbergen, Alone With People

Barbara Gittings International Human Rights Award

  • Kamoga Hassan, Outed: The Painful Reality