The 29th Sonoma International Film Festival concluded its five-day run Sunday, reporting record attendance and ticket sales , and announcing this year’s awards for its showcase of international cinema and culinary programming.

Held March 25 through 29, the festival opened with the California premiere of “Poetic License,” the directorial debut of Maude Apatow, daughter of film director Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann, who stars in the film. Steven Soderbergh’s “The Christophers” was featured as the Centerpiece Film, and the festival closed with “Under the Lights,” a feature film written and directed by Santa Rosa native Miles Levin and filmed in Sonoma County.

“This year’s record-breaking attendance and ticket sales underscore the extraordinary appetite for bold, international cinema and immersive cultural experiences here in Sonoma,” said Carl Spence, the festival’s artistic director.

Soderbergh’s comedy “The Christophers,” starring Ian McKellen, received the Stolman Audience Award for Best Film. The Audience Award for Best Documentary went to “Jane Elliott Against the World,” directed by Judd Ehrlich.

The festival also featured a conversation with the artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel following a screening of his film, “In the Hand of Dante.”

In total, the festival showcased 104 films from 37 countries, including 41 narrative features, 16 documentaries and 47 short films.

“Independent cinema thrives on curiosity and courage, and we believe SIFF embodies that spirit,” said festival co-director Ginny Krieger when the festival opened March 25. “I want to extend our deepest gratitude to our filmmakers, where creativity and dedication make all this possible.”

Culinary programming remained a central component of the festival, with pass holders attending afternoon “pop-in” events featuring local food and wine at venues including The Bar at MacArthur Place, Williams Sonoma and the Sonoma Cheese Factory.

Special events included The Moon & Stars Dinner at Valley Bar + Bottle, featuring wines from the Moon Mountain appellation paired with a seasonal menu, and the Studio 54 Disco party at HopMonk Tavern in Sonoma.

Grand jury awards

The Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature went to “Maspalomas,” a Spanish drama directed by Jose Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi. Jurors praised the film for its “authentic and rare depiction of an elder man confronting personal and physical crisis at the onset of the COVID pandemic.”

The Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature was awarded to “State of Firsts” (United States), directed by Chase Joynt, which the jury described as a “nuanced portrait of leadership and responsibility.”

“A Very Normal Seeming Man” (United States), directed by Al Pattanashetty, won the Grand Jury Award for Live Action Short.

“Voices from the Abyss” (Mexico), directed by Irving Serrano and Victor Rejon, received the Grand Jury Award for Documentary Short.

The Grand Jury Award for Animated Short went to “Two Black Boys in Paradise” (United Kingdom), directed by Baz Sells.

Audience awards and special jury prize

The McNeely Award for Best Short Film (Audience Award) was presented to “Abalone Stories: Loss, Connection, Renewal” (United States), directed by Cynthia Abbott.

A Special Jury Prize for Directing was awarded to “Silent Rebellion” (Switzerland), directed by Marie-Elsa Sgualdo.

A full list of competition films and additional award winners is available on the festival’s website, sonomafilmfest.org