The film had its premiere during the festival at The Biscuit Factory, the Newcastle art gallery.
It also won the people’s choice Victorem, voted for by members of the public.
It seems the festival managed to implant Newcastle in the minds of several influential people.
Abel Ferrara said: “This is the first time I’ve been here. I’ve been here 24 hours but so far, so good.
“I went to school in England. I have good memories of the country. I shoot people, I shoot real life – sure, I could make a movie in Newcastle.”
* Best Short – Perplexed Music - Mark McGann
The film explores the temporary madness and isolation experienced by a middle-aged man played by Paul McGann as he battles for reason and stability with worlds past and present in need of closure and the strength to continue on his life's journey without his long-term companion.
OTHER VICTOREM WINNERS
Actor and producer Craig Conway, one of the organisers of the festival, said the ambition was to establish a festival that championed honesty, integrity and transparency (HIT) in the film industry.
Businesswoman Jacqui Miller-Charlton, president of the festival, said: “The first NIFF was a huge success and has firmly put Newcastle on the world stage when it comes to recognising independent film-making based on the three HIT principles of honesty, integrity and transparency.
“We have been supported from as far afield as India and Australia and really look forward to starting work almost immediately on year two.”
* Best Documentary – The Run - Anupam Sharma
The Run is a feature length film on Australian Pat Farmer's test of human spirit amidst behind the scenes drama as he runs the length of India 85 kilometers a day for 64 days with the backdrop of colourful, enchanting, challenging, organized chaos of India, which will saturate your senses. The film will provide a nail biting, humorous, visually enchanting, dramatic, inspiring journey through a diverse and visually stunning India which will saturate your senses. This film is a journey where the destination really does not matter.
* Best Animation – Mary and the Witch’s Flower - Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Young Mary follows a mysterious cat into the nearby forest and discovers an old broomstick and the strange Fly-by-Night flower, a rare plant that blossoms once every seven years. Together, the flower and the broomstick whisk Mary above the clouds, and far away to Endor College -- a school of magic run by headmistress Madam Mumblechook and the brilliant Doctor Dee. But there are terrible things happening at the school, and when Mary tells a lie, she must risk her life to try and set things right.