STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

A feature film depicting the life of a Northwest logger in the early 1900s won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2025 Sun Valley Film Festival.

And a documentary about a woman who sued President Trump for defamation twice—and won both times--was voted Best Documentary Feature at the 14th annual Sun Valley Film Festival, which ended on Sunday.

“Train Dreams,” directed by Clint Bentley, won Narrative Feature and Ivy Meeropol’s “Ask E. Jean” won Best Documentary Feature. The Short Winner of the Audience Awards was “Go Forward,” directed by Peter Cambor.

Coldrin Iorga wore a sparkly jacket—and equally sparkly shoes—to replicate the glamour of the movie industry.

Joel Edgerton, the Australian who portrayed the logger in “Train Dreams” won Best Performance in a Film Award.

“FeatherCover,” written by Collin Insley, won the 1 Potato Short Screenplay Competition given to emerging U.S. filmmakers who wish to create a short narrative or documentary filmed entirely in Idaho.

“Natchez,” directed by Suzannah Herbert, won the One in a Million Award for a feature-length film made for under $10 million.

“Trivial Pursuit,” directed by Eve Weston, Richard Pathomsiri and Martin McGreevy, won the Gem State Award given to the best short film made in Idaho.

Carter Hedburg and Patti Doerr enjoy a moment Wednesday evening during the opening party thrown by BSU Radio and George Prentice.

And Ondi Timoner received the Impact Award for her documentary “And the Walls Came Down,” which focuses on the Black community of Altadena in the aftermath of the devastating fires in California in January 2025.

This is the second year the Sun Valley Film Festival has given the Impact Award, and it’s due to the impact it’s having for the community, said Chris Albert. Timoner, for instance, noted that dozens of audience members had written letters on behalf of the community, which is fighting to keep residents from losing their property.

The festival, which moved to the first week of December this year from its former spring time slot, featured 16 narrative and documentary features and 32 shorts.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and his son Patrick took part in a lively Cocktail Talk before a full house at The Argyros after receiving the Festival’s Vision and Rising Star awards.

Phil Greede and hiss daughter Brooke Amede were among many out-of-towners who came to Sun Valley for the festival.

Gus Van Sant took part in a Coffee Talk, while receiving a Vision Award and screening his new movie “Dead Man’s Wire.” And “Train Dreams” Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, who finished out the festival’s popular Coffee Talks, received the Disruptor Award presented by Deadline for the innovative ways they’ve found to pay film crews and actors while keeping costs down.

Even Cedric the Entertainer put in an appearance, along with many of the stars in his new movie “Above the Line.”

This is the first year Susan Cegavske and her husband have attended the festival. And the couple made the most of their days, skiing on Bald Mountain, surveying the gingerbread house contest in Sun Valley Village and taking in the holiday bazaar, in addition to watching films.

“In all honesty, it’s a little exhausting,” said Cegavske, who lives in Bend, Ore. “It’s not like going to ‘101 Dalmatians’ where you just being entertained. A lot of these films are thought provoking—you have to think about what you’ve seen.”

Nathan Wooldridge bartender for Roadbars, served up everything from a cocktail named “The Terminator in honor of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Cocktail Talk to a coffee laced with S’mores brandy.

Phil Greede of Texas has attended several film festivals, including Telluride, Tribeca, the Los Angeles Film Festival and SWSX, with his daughters. This year they came to the Sun Valley Film Festival at the suggestion of his daughter Brooke Amede, who lives in Boise.

“This is perfect,” he said as he popped into the lounge at the Bailey Theater. “We’re having a great time.”

Adrienne Leigleys of Boise said she wept as she watched a short about a depressed woman who had trouble cleaning the bathroom even though it meant so much to her relationship with her loved one.

“I feel like this film festival has been pivotal. I love films like ‘Dating Game’ and ‘Natchez’ that lead you into conversations. And that film about the woman cleaning the toilet—I found myself on the front row sobbing because I’ve been there. It’s all about how important self-care is.”

Will McCormack, an actor, screenwriter and film director who received an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, has been coming to the Sun Valley Film Festival since its beginning. And he said he was being honest when he call the Sun Valley festival his favorite.

“When I come to the film festival and see great filmmakers, it gives me tools to live,” he added.

“Train Dreams” director Clint Bentley said he feeds on the chance to hear from audience members who watch his films.

“Something gets created new in the collaboration between the audience and the movie,” he said.