Our friend, GL Contributor and Red Hook Film Festival Director Nathan Kensinger emails with word about the 2008 Red Hook Film Festival, which appears to have turned out to be quite the success, with attendance exceeding everyone’s expectations. As sponsors of the fest, we’re thrilled to hear that. Nate writes about the fest and about a couple of utterly fascinating films that won awards. (Hint: get us the screeners on DVD, stat.) Here’s the official word:

The Red Hook International Film Festival went really well. We had a much bigger turnout then we ever expected, and the films got a great response. The judges decided to award Best Documentary to “Twilight Becomes Night” – directed by Virginie-Alvine Perrette – a film about the death of mom & pop stores in New York City, which brought several people in the audience to tears. Best Fiction Film went to Sam Fleischner’s “Cave Flower” – which was shot in a canoe on the Gowanus Canal, onboard the F-Train, in the Batcave on the canal’s edge, on a Park Slope stoop, and in the Red Hook Container Port…. the judges felt that both films were perfect for the festival. We also awarded “Spirit of Red Hook” Awards to 4 other films, including one about the Red Hook Community Farm and one about a Fort Greene beekeeper. The complete awards are up on our myspace page.Going to be even better in 2009.