The 24th Annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival® (BHFF)
came to a close with the Gala Awards Ceremony at the iconic Roosevelt Hotel Sunday, May 5. “The
Kindness Within,” a soul-stirring adventure to find the meaning of life, was honored with the Golden
Palm Award (best film in all categories), presented by BHFF director and founder, Nino Simone, and
Festival producer, Adam Ottmar. David Kelsey was honored with the Best Actor award for his
performance in “Wrong Numbers,” while Shelby Slager was named Best Actress for her role in
“Chasing June.”
BHFF kicked off opening night with Rumer Willis for the premiere of “My Divorce Party”
and Jane Seymour with “And You Are?,” and closed as a family affair as Rob Reiner joined son
Jake Reiner for “Love and Taxe$” and Beau Bridges shared the carpet, and the screen, with son
Zeke Bridges in “Camera.”
Other notables included Maureen McCormack who attended the “Love and Taxe$” premiere
alongside producer Lloyd J. Schwartz (THE BRADY BUNCH); Emile Hirsch for “Bau,Artist at War’”
Frank Stallone for Chuck Zito: An American Story; Jessica Lord, Nicky Whelan, Perrey Reeves, Keli
Price for “Murder At Hollow Creek”; Kenneth Choi for “Joe Baby,” Jillian Shae Spaeder for “The
Noise,” Ted McGinley for SILENT THUNDER, and Dyan Cannon in support of “Confessions from a
War.” Plus, Amanza Smith from Selling Sunset, Patrick Kilpatrick, Josie Davis, and Beverly Johnson.
For five days, the Beverly Hills Film Festival featured over 250 films, hosted nightly red carpet
premieres, panel discussions and after-parties, culminating in the annual Gala Awards Ceremony.
2024 BEVERLY HILLS FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS
● BHFF Golden Palm Award – The Kindness Within
● Best Director – Jay Silverman for Camera
● Best Actress – Shelby Slager in Chasing June
● Best Actor – David Kelsey in Wrong Numbers
● Best Producer – Dominique Milano and Fabrice Sopoglian from Chuck Zito, an American Story
● Jury Best Feature – Mississippi Scholar
● Jury Best Short – Scarlet
● Jury Best Documentary – The Kindness Within
● Best Student Film – On the Dying Grass
● Best Cinematography – The Lost Princess
● Best Foreign Film – Document 56
● Best Animation – Starship
● Best Editing – Pendulum
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
● Best Feature – My Divorce Party
● Best Documentary – We Rise
● Best Short Documentary – Confessions from the War
● Best Short – Bottle Money
GOLDEN PALM SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
● Golden Palm Screenplay Competition Award – Mark Schmitz for “Heart Divided.”
● First runner-up award – “Graham,” written by Stephanie Hutchinson
● Second runner-up award, written by Daniel James Presley
Visit beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com to learn more.
About BHFF
Established in 2001 in the backyard of the entertainment capital of the world, the Beverly Hills Film
Festival® is considered among the most exclusive and influential film festivals globally. By linking the
groundbreaking talent of emerging filmmakers and exposing the community to the latest
innovations in the cinema field, the Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) exists as a cinematic and
cultural patron. The Festival merges today’s filmmaking pioneers with the wealth of cinematic
heritage of Beverly Hills to both develop the filmmaking community and enhance the impact of the
arts. The festival awards films in competition, with the top honor being the Golden Palm Award.
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