The Ithaca Fantastik film festival wrapped up the 7th edition of genre programming, documentaries, events last Sunday, and awarded the top prize of Best Film to MY NAME IS MYEISHA, directed by Gus Krieger.
The 2018 edition of the festival hosted films from 19 different countries and welcomed guests such as STARFISH director A.T. White; GIRLS WITH BALLS actress Anne-Solenne Hatte; Perry Blackshear, director of THE RUSALKA; BOILED ANGELS director Frank Henenlotter, producer Mike Hunchback and criminal indie comic book artist and subject of the film Mike Diana; and CAM actor Patch Darragh. The festival also hosted the very first DRUNKEN CINEMA projection in the US where spectators were invited to participate to an informal drinking game involving secret rules while watching an 80’s classic genre film.
This year, the jury was composed of Yellow Veil Pictures co-owner Joe Yanick, programmer and producer Vanessa Meyer and the Archive co-owner and Vinegar Syndrome lead restoration artist Brandon Upson.
2018 Ithaca Fantastik Film Festival Award Winners
Best Film: MY NAME IS MYEISHA, dir. Gus Krieger
Best Screenplay: DOG, Samuel Benchetrit and Gábor Rassov
Best Achievement in Directing: Gus Krieger, MY NAME IS MYEISHA
Special Mention directing: Yann Gonzalez, KNIFE + HEART
Short Films
Best Horror Short: MILK dir. Santiago Menghini
Best WTF! Short: MOTHER FUCKER dir. Nicholas Payne, who was in attendance at the festival.
Best comedy Short: FETISH, dirs. David Lee Hess and Richard H. Perry
Necessary Voices Short Films
The Necessary Voices shorts section was created this year to uplift the voices of filmmakers and narratives that often aren’t lifted. This year’s Necessary Voices honorable mentions are as follows :
DEATH METAL GRANDMA, dir. Leah Galant,
EVERY GHOST HAS AN ORCHESTRA, dir. Shayna Connely
TiCK, dir. Ashlea Wessel
THOSE WHO CAN DIE, dir. Charlotte Cayeux
SWEET DECEIT, dir. Shannon Jones
ENTROPIA, dir. Marinah Janello
BFF GIRLS, dir. Brian Lonano
Audience Awards
Cinema Pur Audience Award: KEEP AN EYE OUT, dir. Quentin Dupieux
International Competition Audience Award: MY NAME IS MYEISHA, dir. Gus Krieger
Short Audience Award: FETISH, dirs. David Lee Hess and Richard H. Perry