The 4th Indie Spirit Film Festival closed Sunday evening with an awards ceremony at the Cornerstone Arts Center. And even if the attendance numbers were disappointing — early estimates place them at about the same level as last year, which organizers blame on the change in location — I doubt there’s anyone who wouldn’t agree that this was the best festival yet.

A special shout out to Colorado College for allowing the Indie Spirit folks to take over the southern end of their campus for the weekend. The venues were, without exception, comfortable, spacious and well-maintained.

Oh yeah, here the winners from this year’s festival:

Best Animated Film: Prayers for Peace

Best Colorado Short: Return

Colorado Spotlight Film: So Far From Home: Life as a WWII POW in Germany

Director’s Choice Award: A Lonely Place For Dying

Best Documentary: Rainbow Town

Best Documentary Short: Trout on the Wind

Best Environmental Film: What’s Organic about Organic?

Best Feature Film: Der Sandmann

Best Horror Film: Playing House

Best Horror Short: Enter The Dark

Best International Film: Close Encounters of Majhong

Best Native American Feature: The Dead Can’t Dance

Best Native American Short: American Indian Airforce: Eves Tall Chief

Best Short: Cold Sore

Best Sports Film: Run To The East

Best Student Film: TBA

Best Student Short: Marble Rye

Photo by ‘Der Sandmann’