The 25th Indie Memphis Film Festival announced the 2022 award winners with the top jury prizes going to Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father, The Devil for Best Narrative Feature and Reed Harkness’ Sam Now for Best Documentary Feature.
Best Hometowner Feature went to The ‘Vous directed by Jack Lofton’s, Best Departures Feature went to This House (Cette maison) directed by Miryam Charles, and Best Sounds Feature went to Kumina Queen directed by Nyasha Laing.
The festival also awarded two yet-to-be-produced short films with Indie Grant prizes: “Bluff City Chinese” (Dir. Anna Cai) and “R.E.G.G.I.N.” (Dir. A.D. Smith). These films from Memphis-based filmmakers were chosen by a jury and were each awarded with $39K; grant support comprised of $15K cash provided by sponsor Mark Jones and $24K of cash-equivalent rentals and donations provided by sponsors Firefly Grip & Electric, LensRentals, Music + Arts Studio, and VIA. Three winners will each receive grant packages worth $13K.
2022 Indie Memphis Film Festival Award-Winners
Winners by Category
Jury Awards
Narrative Features
Best Narrative Feature, OUR FATHER, THE DEVIL (Dir. Ellie Foumbi) – $1K Cash Prize
Duncan Williams Best Screenplay Award, ACTUAL PEOPLE (Dir. Kit Zauhar) – $1K Cash Prize
Documentary Features
Best Documentary Feature, SAM NOW (Dir. Reed Harkness) – $1K Cash Prize
Special Jury Mention for Revolutionary Cinema, SILENT BEAUTY (Dir. Jasmin Mara López)
Special Jury Mention for Transcendent Cinema, OUTTA THE MUCK (Dir. Ira McKinley, Bhawin Suchak)
Hometowner
Best Hometowner Feature, THE ‘VOUS (Dir. Jack Lofton) – $1K Cash Prize
Best Hometowner Narrative Short, “Nordo” (Dir. Kyle Taubken) – $500 Cash Prize
Best Hometowner Documentary Short, “What We’ll Never Know” (Dir. Lauren Ready) – $500 Cash Prize
Departures
Best Departures Feature, THIS HOUSE (CETTE MAISON) (Dir. Miryam Charles) – $500 Cash Prize
Best Departures Mid-Length Film, “Civic” (Dir. Dwayne LeBlanc)
Best Departures Short, “Maya at 24” (Dir. Lynn Sachs)
Sounds
Best Sounds Feature, KUMINA QUEEN (Dir. Nyasha Laing) – $500 Cash Prize
Best National Music Video, “Vacant Spaces” (Dir. Joe Baughman)
Best Hometowner Music Video, “Don’t Come Home” (Dir. Emily Rooker)
Shorts
Best Narrative Short, “Sugar Glass Bottle” (Dir. Neo Sora) – $500 Cash Prize
Best Documentary Short, “The Body is a House of Familiar Rooms” by Eloise Sherrid + Lauryn Welch – $500 Cash Prize
IndieGrants
“Bluff City Chinese” (Dir. Anna Cai)- $15K Grant ($7.5K cash, $7.5K In-Kind Filmmaking Services)
“R.E.G.G.I.N.” (Dir. A.D. Smith) – $15K Grant ($7.5K cash, $7.5K In-Kind Filmmaking Services)
Poster Design
THIS HOUSE (CETTE MAISON) (Dir. Miryam Charles)
Festival Awards
Ron Tibbett Excellence in Filmmaking
ME LITTLE ME (Dir. Elizabeth Ayiku)
Craig Brewer Emerging Filmmaker
VERY RARE (Dir. Eric Younger)
Soul of Southern Film Award
OUTTA THE MUCK by (Dir. Ira McKinley, Bhawin Suchak)
Vision Award
Ryan Watt
Indie Award
Sallie Sabbatini
Best After Dark Film
“Gussy” (Dir. Chris Osborn)