The 2015 Tallgrass Film Festival announced their filmmaker awards during a rousing ceremony preceding their Closing Night Gala screening of Ian and Eshom Nelms’ WAFFLE STREET on Sunday, October 18 at the Orpheum Theater in Wichita, Kansas.
Matt Sobel’s TAKE ME TO THE RIVER, (pictured above) was named “Best Narrative Feature,” and Abigail Disney & Kathleen Hughes’ ARMOR OF LIGHT, chosen as “Best Documentary Feature.”
Justin Johnson’s DOUBLE DIGITS: THE STORY OF A NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE STAR (pictured above) got the nod for both “Best First Feature,” as well as the Golden Strands Vanguard Award for “Dedication to the Craft of Filmmaking” for the film’s subject, R.G. Miller.
The Vimeo Audience Awards were led by Emily Ting, who added to her big night by receiving the $1000 Narrative prize for ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG. Producer Dennie Aig was on hand to accept the $1000 Documentary prize for Philllip Barbeau’s UNBRANDED. Benjamin Wolff’s BIS GLIECH took home the Audience Award and $500 prize for the short film category. The awards for Emily Ting provided a happy exclamation point to the filmmaker’s return to Tallgrass following her films MAN FROM RENO (2014), THE KITCHEN (2012), and BIG BAD SWIM (2005) (all of which she served as either a producer, associate producer or executive producer).
2015 Tallgrass Film Festival Filmmaker Awards
Vimeo Audience Awards
Audience Award Winning Narrative Film:
($1,000) IT’S ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG, Directed by Emily Ting
Vimeo Audience Award Winning Documentary Film:
($1,000) UNBRANDED, Directed by Phillip Barbeau
Vimeo Audience Award winning Short Film:
($500) BIS GLIECH (Germany), directed Benjamin Wolff
Golden Strands Programming Awards
Best Emerging Student Award:
THE GIRL, WHO’S SHADOW REFLECTS THE MOON, Directed by Walaa Al Alawi (Syria)
Best Kansas Short Film Award:
EPIC OF HERSHEY, Douglas McGinness, New York/Wichita, KS
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Female Filmmaker:
Emily Ting, IT’S ALREADY TOMORROW IN HONG KONG
(Award is the Venus Award which is designed by Glass Artist Claire Anderson
and is a representation of a Paleolithic Era Venus de Lespugue)
Golden Strands Award for Courage in Filmmaking:
PERVERT PARK, Directed by Frida & Lasse Barkfors of Sweden
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Cinematography:
OMO CHILD: THE RIVER AND THE BUSH, Sebastian Humphreys
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Ensemble Cast:
TANGERINE
Golden Strands Vanguard Award for Dedication to the Craft Of Filmmaking:
R.G. Miller, DOUBLE DIGITS (Award designed by Fisch Haus)
Golden Strands Award, Best First Feature:
DOUBLE DIGITS: THE STORY OF A NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE STAR, Directed by Justin Johnson
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Documentary Short Film:
LAST DAY OF FREEDOM, Directors Dee Hibbert-Jones/Nomi Talisman
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Narrative Short Film:
GUEST ROOM, Directed by Joshua Tate
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Documentary Feature:
ARMOR OF LIGHT, Abigail Disney & Kathleen Hughes
Golden Strands Award, Outstanding Narrative Feature:
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER, Directed by Matt Sobel