ANIMATION DIRECTOR HONORED AT FESTIVAL.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The 11th annual International Family Film Festival concluded Saturday night with a gala banquet celebrating renowned directors and winners of the annual competition in wholesome, family-appropriate movies.

Director/producer Henry Selick (``The Nightmare Before Christmas,'' ``James and the Giant Peach'') was given the ``Friz Award'' for his contributions to the animation film industry, and California Institute of the Arts directing professor Lou Florimonte was given the 2005 Excellence Award.

Other winners included Michael Sammaciccia, whose film ``Always Will'' took the Top Applause Award, which is voted on by festivalgoers; Darla Rae, whose film ``The Goal'' won the IFFF Spirit Award; and Michael J. Jacobs, whose film ``Crab Orchard'' won the IFF Directors Gold Award and was a finalist in the feature drama category.

Awards were also given to the following films:

--``Come Away Home,'' Best Feature Drama

--``The Connecticut Kid,'' Best Feature Comedy

--``Citizen Tanouye,'' Best Feature Documentary

--``No Greater Love,'' Best Short Drama

--``Before I Go,'' (Germany) Best Short Drama, Foreign

--``No Experience Needed,'' Best Short Comedy

--``Red Planet Blues,'' Best Short Animation, Computer

--``The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers,'' Best Short Animation, Classic

--``The Wheel of Peace,'' Best Short Educational Film

In the student film category, awards went to the following:

--Jeff Stephenson for ``Chasing Daylight,'' Best Student Drama

--David May for ``Fetch,'' Best Student Comedy

--Jody Rice for ``The Rubber Duckling,'' Best Student Animation, Classic

--Chao Kuang Hsieh for ``Gong Yi,'' Best Student Documentary

For information on other films or next year's festival, call [phone] or visit the organization's Web site at www.iffilmfest.org.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com