The 2019 Indie Memphis Film Festival which ran from October 30th to November 4th, 2019, announced this year’s award recipients with the Narrative Competition award going to DE LO MIO by New York-based filmmaker Diana Peralta; DE LO MIO is a drama about three siblings who reunite in the Dominican Republic to face their demons.
The documentary competition winner was MIDNIGHT IN PARIS by James Blagden and Roni Moore. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS captures the intense teenage anticipation of prom week in Flint, Michigan. Blagden and Moore also were the Jury Poster Competition winners for the poster design for the film. Both the Narrative and Documentary Competition winners were recipients of a $1K cash prize.
In addition, Nubia Yasin was named the recipient of the $10K Bounty Prize at the Black Creators Forum Pitch Rally for her treatment for her very personal film “See Jane Run.” Yasin is eligible to claim the cash prize if she begins production on her film in Memphis before August 1, 2020; she was one of eight filmmaker teams carefully selected to present their work on Friday, November 1st at Playhouse on the Square. Her project was awarded by the jury of Daily Memphian Reporter Elle Perry, producer James Armfield, and producer/actor Richard Cummings, Jr. (HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE). Yasin also was the IndieGrant Documentary Winner for her short “Cut Up” on Saturday night and is proving herself to be a filmmaker-to-watch.
Other award winners who were also recipients of cash prizes are NO ORDINARY LOVE by Chyna Robinson (Duncan-Williams Scriptwriting Award, $1K), LIL BUCK: REAL SWAN by Louis Wallecan (Best Hometowner Feature, $1K), SOUL MAN by Kyle Taubken (Best Hometowner Narrative Short, $500), “Floating Pilgrims” by David Goodman (Best Hometowner Documentary Short, $500), EMPTY METAL by Adam Khalil and Bayley Sweitzer (Best Departures Feature, $500), BAKOSÓ: AFROBEATS OF CUBA by Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi (Best Sounds Feature, $500), “I’m the One Who’s Singing” by Blair Seab McClendon (Best Narrative Short, $500), “We Die Alone” by Marc Cartwright (Best After Dark Short, $500), and “Sidelots” by Atieno Nyar Kasagam (Best Documentary Short, $500 Cash Prize).
As previously announced, the festival also presented cinematographer Sean Price Williams as the recipient of this year’s Cinematography Award — Williams notably has worked with notable filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie (GOOD TIME, HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT), Alex Ross Perry (HER SMELL), Nathan Silver (THIRST STREET), Michael Almeryda (MARJORIE PRIME), and others.
2019 Indie Memphis Film Festival Award Winners
Black Creators Forum Pitch Rally Recipient
$10,000 provided by Epicenter Memphis
Nubia Yasin’s “See Jane Run”
Best After Dark Short
($500 Cash Prize)
“We Die Alone” by Marc Cartwright
Best Music Video
“Got It, Got It” by Darrius The Greatest
Best Departure Short
“Mirrors” by Jas Marie
Best Departure Feature
($500 Cash Prize)
EMPTY METAL by Adam Khalil, Bayley Sweitzer
Best Sounds Feature
($500 Cash Prize)
BAKOSÓ: AFROBEATS OF CUBA by Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi
Jury Poster Competition Winner
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Ron Tibbet Excellence Award
THE UNICORN by Isabelle Dupuis & Tim Geraghty
Craig Brewer Award
Numa Perrier (JEZEBEL)
Soul of Southern Film Award
YOU GAVE ME SONG: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF ALICE GERRARD by Kenny Dalsheimer
Vision Award
Iddo Patt
Indie Award
Alicia George
Cinematography Award
Sean Price Williams
IndieGrant Documentary Winner
Nubia Yasin for ”Cut Up”
IndieGrant Narrative Winner #1
Abby Meyers for “Orifice”
IndieGrant Narrative Winner #2
Noah Glenn for “The Secret”
Best Hometowner Feature
($1,000 cash prize)
LIL BUCK: REAL SWAN by Louis Wallecan
Best Animated Short
“Into the Flame” by Sean McClintock
Best Hometowner Music Video
“Healing Creek” by Kevin Brooks
Best Hometowner Documentary Short
($500 Cash Prize)
“Floating Pilgrims” by David Goodman
Best Hometowner Narrative Short
($500 Cash Prize)
“Soul Man” by Kyle Taubken
Best Documentary Short
($500 Cash Prize)
“Sidelots” by Atieno Nyar Kasagam
Best Documentary Feature
($1,000 cash prize)
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS by James Blagden, Roni Moore
Duncan-Williams Scriptwriting Award
($1,000 cash prize)
NO ORDINARY LOVE by Chyna Robinson
Best Narrative Short
($500 Cash Prize)
“I’m the One Who’s Singing” by Blair Seab McClendon
Best Narrative Feature
($1,000 Cash Prize)
DE LO MIO by Diana Peralta