First Time Filmmakers Win at Queen Palm International Film Festival in Palm Springs
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Californer -- New Girl Pictures' first feature film, To the New Girl, has won Gold Awards for Best Feature - First Time Filmmaker (Directors Aurora J. Culver, Ambika Leigh, Adriana Gonzalez-Vega) and Best Writer (Samantha Macher) at the Queen Palm International Film Festival in Palm Springs. The film is screening online as a part of the festival's virtual event from January 15 - 22, 2021. The virtual festival will feature 150+ online film screenings including Academy Award™ & BAFTA nominated titles. Tickets to the event can be purchased here.

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"It's such an honor to be recognized by the Queen Palm Film Festival. We're so appreciative that they recognized so many creative and technical elements of the project and are looking forward to celebrating (virtually) with our cast and crew," said Samantha Macher, winner of a Best Writer Gold Award at the festival.

To the New Girl is a bold anthology feature film made by an all-women cast & creative team. Based on the popular play of the same name, the 80-minute movie follows 10 heartbroken women as they address their exes' new wives & lovers at an open mic night in Los Angeles. Created by a dynamic group of emerging filmmakers at a time when audiences are demanding films made both by and for women, the project taps into a social and political climate that's left women poised to take back their voices and be heard.

To the New Girl was also given a Silver Award for Best Actress (Skyler Vallo) and an Honorable Mention for Best Editing (Hillary Wills) at the festival.

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"We're so thrilled for the continued success of this project, and the support that the Queen Palm Festival has given us with these awards is amazing," said Producer Laura Hunter Drago. "Our team was almost entirely made up of women making their first feature film, so it is a huge deal to all of us to see the movie get recognized as our production company continues to push for more opportunities for women in entertainment."

Next up for To the New Girl is a virtual "Galentine's Day" watch party of the film on February 13, 2021, where guests will be able to chat with the filmmakers during the screening. Tickets for the free event can be reserved here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXAKatu3HI