Deep in the Heart Film Festival in Waco, Texas, announced the award winners for the 4th edition of the film festival with the top awards going to Chauncey Crail’s July Rising winning Best Narrative Feature, Aaron and Amanda Kopp’s Liyana took Best Documentary Feature, and Chris Hansen’s Seven Short Films About (Our) Marriage receiving the Audience Award.
Additional winners in the feature film categories were O. Corbin Salekin, who won Best Director for his film, The Dummy Factor, and Michael Erger, who got the nod for Best Performance for his work in Pescado.
Leading the award winners in the short film categories were; Ivan Sainz-Pardo’s Minor Key, which took the prize for Best Short Film; Ya’Ke Smith’s Brother, which garnered the Best Texas Short Film award; Brian Blum’s My Daughter Yoshiko, which won Best United States Short Film; Dekel Berenson’s Anna, which was named Best Foreign Short Film; and Joshua DeFour’s The 11th Order, which won Best Student Short Film. Short films cited with Special Jury Awards included; Cash Stash (Directors: Martin Darondeau, Enya Baroux); Fatale Collective: Bleed (Directors: Megan Rosati, Lola Blanc, Francesca Maldonado, Danin Jacquay, Linda Chen, Natasha Halevi); Miracle Baby (Director: Michelle Bossy); and My Hero(Director: Logan Jackson). Alejandro Salcido’s The Traveling Hatter was the popular choice among the Deep in the Heart film fans, winning the Audience Award in the Short Film category.
2020 Deep in the Heart Film Festival Filmmaker Award Winners
Feature Film Awards
Best Feature Film
JULY RISING
Director: Chauncey Crail
Best Director – Feature Film
O. Corbin Salekin (THE DUMMY FACTOR)
Best Performance – Feature Film
Michael Erger (PESCADOR)
Best Documentary – Feature Film
LIYANA
Directors: Aaron and Amanda Kopp
Audience Award – feature Film
SEVEN SHORT FILMS ABOUT (OUR) MARRIAGE
Director: Chris Hansen
Short Film Awards
Best Short Film
MINOR KEY
Director: Ivan Sainz-Pardo
Best Texas Short Film
BROTHER
Director: Ya’Ke Smith
Best United States Short Film
MY DAUGHTER YOSHIKO
Director: Brian Blum
Best Foreign Short Film
ANNA
Director: Dekel Berenson
Best Student Short Film
THE 11TH ORDER
Director: Joshua DeFour
Special Jury Award – Short Films
CASH STASH (Directors: Martin Darondeau, Enya Baroux)
FATALE COLLECTIVE: BLEED (Directors: Megan Rosati, Lola Blanc, Francesca Maldonado, Danin Jacquay, Linda Chen, Natasha Halevi)
MIRACLE BABY (Director: Michelle Bossy)
MY HERO (Director: Logan Jackson)
Audience Award – Short Film
THE TRAVELING HATTER
Director: Alejandro Salcido
Short Film Awards by Genre
Best Drama Short
REHEARSAL
Director: Courtney Hope Thérond
Best Comedy Short
WE GOT A MONKEY’S PAW
Director: Aaron Pagniano
Best Documentary Short
RECLAMATION: THE RISE AT STANDING ROCK
Director: Michele Noble
Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Short
COMPARTMENTALIZATION STORAGE FACILITY
Director: Eliaz Rodriguez
Best Horror/Thriller Short
WE DIE ALONE
Director: Marc Cartwright
Best Family Short
A CAT CALLED JAM
Director: Lorraine Lordan
Best Music Video
“Panther Branch Road”
Artist: Zach Pack
Director: Ryan Schorman
Short Film Craft Awards
Best Director – Short Film
JC Doler and Taylor Bracewell (WAR PAINT)
Best Performance – Short Film (Drama)
Melissa Jackson (HUNG UP)
Best Performance – Short Film (Comedy)
Madeleine Coghlan (OH, SORRY)
Best Cinematography – Short Film
James Burniston (MOTHER’S DAY)
Best Editing – Short Film
Lee Rothenflue (THE METHOD OF PLACES)
Best Screenplay – Short Film
Courtney Hope Thérond and Emily Claire Utley (THE DRESS YOU HAVE ON)
Best Unproduced Screenplay – First Place
“People in a Box” (Writer: M R Fitzgerald)
Best Unproduced Screenplay – Honorable Mention
“The Problem with Time Travel” (Writer: Michael Kearby)