With 47 films screening at the Showboat Stadium 6 Theatre, the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest was a big presence in Polson last weekend, thanks to David and Jessica King and their crew of FLIC volunteers.

Even a determined snowfall didn’t stop FLIC fans or film personnel from filling the Showboat’s theaters and attending several social events.

"Water Girl," a Montana-produced narrative feature film by Nigerian-born writer, producer and director Nnamdi Kanaga, reaped three awards: Best Feature, Best Actress (Moriyah Faith Jackson) and Best Original Score (Blessing Agu and Udemadu Kasiemobi).

The audience favorite was "Columbia River Canoe Project," about cousins Robert Lester and Braxton Mitchell who attempt a 1,300-mile canoe expedition from the Continental Divide near Butte, down the Clark Fork and Columbia rivers, all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Other award winners were:

Impact Award – James Bauer, General Manager, Showboat Stadium 6 theatre

Best Animation – “Yellowstone 88 – Song of Fire”

Best Montana Film – “Bring Them Home”

Best Cinematography – Akash Raje – “Anuja”

Best Actor – Chris Pang – “Neither Donkey Nor Horse”

Best Documentary Short – “Journey of Transformation”

Best Documentary Feature – “Capturing Kennedy”

Best Director – Paul Schwartz – “Stop Time”

Best Picture, Short – “Neither Donkey Nor Horse”

Audience Award – “Columbia River Canoe Project”

Encore week continues through Thursday, Feb. 20, with screenings at 4 and 6:30 p.m.

    Robert Lester picked up the FLIC Audience Award for the "Columbia River Canoe Project," a documentary about the journey he and his cousin Braxton Mitchell took from the Continental Divide near Butte to the Pacific Ocean. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
  

    FLIC producer David King helps Nnamdi Kanaga who wrote, directed, and co-produced "Water Girl", arrange his awards for a photo. "Water Girl" won Best Picture--Feature, Best Original Score, and Best Actress at the film festival. (Berl Tiskus/:eader)