The 14th Indie Memphis Film Festival ran November 3rd thru 6th, and wrapped on Sunday night with its awards ceremony. A Little Closer by director Matthew Petock took the top Jury prize for best film. In the film, set in rural Virginia, Sheryl struggles to balance her work as a housekeeper and raising her two sons, fifteen year-old Marc and eleven year-old Stephen. Hoping to meet the love of her life and bring home a father for her boys, she frequents a depressing, weekly mixer for the towns aging singles set. Meanwhile, Marc is desperate to lose his virginity, and spends his days working at a used car lot. And his brother Stephen, in the throes of sexual discovery, becomes infatuated with his schoolteacher while struggling to win the approval of a group of peers who adamantly detest her.
Heaven + Earth + Joe Davis, directed by Peter Sasowsky won the Jury award for Best Documentary. The film takes the viewer with Joe Davis,a peg-legged artist and motorcycle mechanic from Mississippi, around the world and into the visual and philosophical landscape of his art.
The complete list of winners:Audience Awards
Narrative Feature – Jeff, Who Lives at Home, directed by Mark & Jay Duplass
Documentary Feature – Undefeated, directed by Dan Lindsay & T.J. Martin
Short Film – Home Game, directed by Suzannah Herbert
Hometowner Film – Fresh Skweezed, directed by Ryan Parker & G.B. Shannon
Duncan-Williams Scriptwriting Award (Jury: Craig Brewer, Daniel Waters)
The Dish and the Spoon, written (& directed) by Alison Bagnall
Includes $1,000 cash prize, presented by Duncan-Williams, Inc.
Oxford American ‘Soul of Southern Film’ Award
Lord Byron, directed by Zach Godshall
Includes $1,000 cash prise, presented by the Editors of The Oxford American.
Narrative Feature Jury Awards (Jury: Brian Newman, Daniel Waters)
Best Narrative Feature
A Little Closer, directed by Matthew Petock
Nice Shoes Award
Without, directed by Mark Jackson
Includes $25,000 in color grading and finishing services at Nice Shoes, an artist-driven design, VFX and color grading studio in New York City
Documentary Awards (Jury: Dorothy Henckel, Paul Rachman)
Best Documentary Feature
Heaven + Earth + Joe Davis, directed by Peter Sasowsky
Best Documentary Short
Come on Down and Pick Me Up, directed by Jonathan Bougher & Nicholas Corrao
Special Documentary Jury Award for Feature
This is What Love in Action Looks Like, directed by Morgan Jon Fox
Special Documentary Jury Award for Short
Kudzu Vine, directed by Josh Gibson
Short Film Jury Awards (Jury: Mark Bell, Skizz Cyzyk, Christine Elise McCarthy)
Best Narrative Short
Pillow, directed by Joshua & Miles Miller
Best Animated/Experimental Film
The Bird Upstairs, directed by Christopher Jarvis
Special Short Film Jury Award for Acting
Ed Lowery (Pillow, Ballerina)
Special Short Film Jury Award for Storytelling
Two-Legged Rat Bastards, directed by Scott Weintrob
Hometowner Jury Awards (Jury: Adam Donaghey, Eliza Hajek, Chris Parnell)
Best Hometowner Feature
This is What Love in Action Looks Like, directed by Morgan Jon Fox
Includes $1,000 cash prize, presented by the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission / Memphis ED
Special Jury Award for Hometowner Feature
Stepping: Beyond the Line, directed by Dee Garceau
Best Hometowner Short
Fresh Skweezed, directed by Ryan Parker & G.B. Shannon
Includes $1,000 cash prize, presented by the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission / Memphis ED
Special Hometowner Jury Award for Production Design
John Gray, directed by Dan Baker & Chris Pollack
Special Hometowner Jury Award for Animation
Of Love and Sea Monsters, directed by Tiffany Baker, Jessie Kotis & Robbie Siskin
Special Festival Award
Ron Tibbett Excellence in Filmmaking Award
Bad Fever, directed by Dustin Guy Defa
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