The California Independent Filmmakers Gala Slate Awards modeled itself after the Oscars but included enough Bay area personality to project an intimate, home-town atmosphere.

A jazz trio, naming themselves the CouldB Trio right on the spot, played in the background at the Walnut Creek Marriott while guests mingled with filmmakers, judges, festival volunteers, and this year’s Maverick Award winner, Lou Diamond Phillips.

Phillips said that talking to moviegoers was the entire reason for an actor to attend a film festival.

“I hardly do any, because it’s more time away from my family, but I love getting out there and talking to people,” he said.

His four daughters and wife come up often when he talks about his work. He’s even involved them in his projects—to a limit.

“They aren’t seeing any of my R rated movies and they don’t play with guns,” he said, adding that he isn’t “gun toting” either.

“I pick films I can relate to, or working with people I like, or because they’re fun. I like comedy: I agreed to do an episode of Chuck I hadn’t even read yet because I knew it was going to be fun.”

Toshiya Kubo, a 2011 judge and the Producer/Director of the Sapporo International Short Film Festival in Japan has been involved with CAIFF for six years.

“The films were more serious this year. Darker. I’d like to see more comedy,” he said, inadvertently giving a clue to next year’s entrants.

He agreed that comedy was difficult, saying cultural differences existed, with Japanese humor “more twisted” and American humor “straight.”

Jan Wahl, San Francisco’s lady of hats and the director of ceremonies, combined the best of both styles with her extensive film knowledge and provocative commentary on films, actors and Hollywood.

Wahl is revered for her celebrity interviews and film critiques on radio, television and in print media.

“Movies change our lives. No matter where you are from, no matter who you are, they have had an impact,” she said, growing serious for a moment.

Her favorite pick this year was The King’s Speech.

“I hope it shows young Hollywood how to make films. Give us a character we care about!” she shouted, to scattered applause.

Introducing the celebrity announcers, Wahl asked every person, including the award winners in each category, to prove her point about film’s influence by naming the film that had had the greatest impact on their lives. The tradition, if it becomes one, turned the ceremony into a mini film love fest, with sighs and applause greeting many of the named titles.

Here is a list of the winning films in each category:

Iron Filmmaker Contest: Bob’s Off Day’

Best Student Film: Kiddo (The film’s director, Michael Callahan, delivered the best line of the ceremony, saying, “When you are 3 or 4 years old, the line between reality and fiction doesn't exist. Every film is a documentary.”)

Best Short: Vento 

Best Mini Short: Khephir

Best Screenplay: Perfect Merger

Best Animation: The Lighthouse

Best Music Score: The Fifth Quarter

Best Music Video: So Hungover

Best Documentary: Eggsploitation

Volunteer of the Year: Tanya Bordelon

Best Editing: The North Cape

Best Cinematography: The North Cape

Best Director: David R. Brooks for The Yankles

Best Actor:  Ryan Merriman

Best Actress:  Hiromi Nagasaku  

Best Film:  Language of a Broken Heart