A few weeks ago, we introduced you to, “Wah Do Dem (What They Do),” a small indie travelogue about a young Brooklynite who makes a trip to Jamaica on his own after his girlfriend dumps him. The girlfriend happens to be songwriter Norah Jones and her appearance in the film, her second acting gig since taking on the lead role in Wong Kar-Wai’s English-language debut, “My Blueberry Nights,” was pretty much off everyone’s radar.
Directed by Sam Fleischner and Ben Chace, the film also just won the top narrative feature award at the just finished Los Angeles Film Festival. The other big winner which took the audience award was Cyrus Nowrasteh’s all-the-more relevant Iranian drama, “The Stoning of Soraya M.,” which has been receiving accolades wherever it goes (and the NY Times have been seemingly writing about it non-stop).
When we first wrote about “Wah Do Dem” we did write about some of the musical happenings in the film, but we’ve since learned more. Norah Jones and lead actor Sean Bones (also a musician who contributed music to the film) sing a duet called “Turn Them” which closes out the movie. The song will also be featured on Bones upcoming album Rings which is being released this summer by French Kiss records. Other musicians with supporting roles and cameos include from Ira Tuton from Yeasayer, Ben Goldwasser (MGMT) Brooklyn folkie Turner Cody, Simon Oconnor (Amazing Baby), Mikal Rose (Black Uhuru), and ’90s dancehaller Mr Lexx. The film’s climax features an incredible live session from the legendary dub reggae band, The Congos. Here’s the trailer again if you missed it.
Here’s all the winners from LAFF.
– Best Narrative Feature: Wah Do Dem (What They Do), written and directed by Sam Fleischner & Ben Chace
– Best Documentary Feature: Those Who Remain (Los Que se Quedan), directed by Juan Carlos – Rulfo and Carlos Hagerman
– Best Short in the Future Filmmaker Showcase: Lipstick, directed by Sam Rubin
– Outstanding Performance in the Narrative Competition: Shayne Topp, Dear Lemon Lima
– Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature: The Stoning of Soraya M., directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh
– Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature: Soul Power, directed by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
– Audience Award for Best International Feature: Born Without (Nacido Sin), written & directed by Eva Norvind
– Best Narrative Short Film: Time and Again, written & directed by Antonio Mendez Esparza
– Best Documentary Short Film: Replayground, by Anna Gaskell
– Best Animated Short Film: Skhizein, by Jérémy Clapin
– Audience Award for Best Short Film: Instead of Abracadabra, by Patrik Eklund
– Audience Award for Best Music Video: Grapevine Fires, by Walter Robot (Music: Death Cab For Cutie)
[LAFF]