Derby City Film Festival

[caption id="attachment_2486" align="alignnone" width="549"]It’s in the Blood[/caption]

Louisville natives Scooter Downey & Sean Elliot, and Frankfort filmmakers Todd Sheene, Allen Martin, & Scott Stafford are among the winners of the top prizes at the 2012 Derby City Film Festival which took place February 17th through the 19th.

“It’s in the Blood” written by Downey & Elliot, took home the awards for Best US Feature Film, Audience Choice, and Best Actor (Elliot). The film was directed by Downey and also stars Lance Henriksen who received a Lifetime Achievement Award prior to the film screening. Sheene, Martin, & Stafford took home the award for Best US Short Film for their film “Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic”

The full list of 2012 Award winners:

Videoblocks & The Footage Firm Award for Technical Achievement: “Grounded”
Audience Choice: “It’s in the Blood”
Lifetime Achievement: Lance Henriksen
Best Actor: Sean Elliot – “It’s in the Blood”
Best Actress: Kristen Booth – “Below Zero”
Best Student Short Film: “Thin Air”
Best International Short Film: “Donkey”
Best US Short Film: “Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic
Best Documentary: “Bailout”
Best Feature Film: “It’s in the Blood”

Dates for the 2013 Derby City Film Festival and call for entries will be announced later this Spring.

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Louisville natives Scooter Downey and Sean Elliot’s film It’s in the Blood was a big winner at the 2012 Derby City Film Festival.  The film which had its Kentucky premier at the film festival in Louisville, KY was awarded Best Picture, Audience Choice Award, Grand Jury Prize, and Elliot was awarded Best Actor (October).  Lead actor. Lance Henriksen (Russell) received a Lifetime Achievement Award in front of an audience of nearly 500.

Directed by Scooter Downey, It’s In The Blood is described as a wholly unique cinematic movement.  At its core a father son story, the film is a deconstruction of the prototypical “creature feature”, incorporating elements of mystical realism and psychological thriller.  This new motion in film is called a Psyche-Saga.  Lance Henriksen stars in this nightmarish descent into the wilderness, the very heart of darkness where more than your guilt can eat you alive.

The Film premiered at the New Jersey Film Festival where it received Honorable Mention.  At the Derby City Film Festival, Sean Elliot received Best Actor for his roll as October, the troubled son of Russell, portrayed by Lance Henriksen.  The picture received every award it was nominated for, including the Audience Choice Award and the Grand Jury Prize.

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[caption id="attachment_2451" align="alignnone" width="550"]The 2012 Derby City Film Festival runs February 17th – 19th at the Clifton Center in Louisville, Kentucky. [/caption]

The 4th Annual Derby City Film Festival opens today Friday, February 17th and will screen 56 films through Sunday the 19th. The lineup includes 24 International films representing 16 countries as well as 8 World Premieres, 5 US Premieres, and 28 KY Premieres. Eight films were produced in the Bluegrass State and another 5 have ties to Kentucky.

Legendary actor Lance Henriksen will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award Saturday evening before the screening of his film “It’s in the Blood” from Louisville Natives Scooter Downey & Sean Elliot on Saturday at 8:00 PM.

Opening night includes two feature films shot in Kentucky. At 7:00 PM on February 17th  “Wid Winner and the Slipstream” will open the fest. “Winner”, which was directed by Kentucky native Alex O Gaynor, tells the story of two men who embark on a cross-country journey to face the past, change the future, and collect enough used-auto parts to build a time machine. The 8:00 PM film, “Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice” is from New Albany filmmaker Tom Whitus and was shot in Downtown Louisville. The film stars Jacob Hays, Kevin Sorbo, Katherine McNamara & Dee Wallace. “Crystal Chalice” is the sequel to “Sam Steel and the Jr. Detective Agency” which screened at DCFF in 2010. The final film on Friday is the suspense film “Johnny’s Gone” from writer and actress LaDon Drummond. “Johnny’s Gone” tells the story of the unsettling but heartfelt relationship between Sarah and a two year-old she calls Johnny. Sarah hides a dark secret that will take them on a road trip across five states from California to Louisiana.

Saturday highlights include the world premieres of the feature films “Frames” & “Blind Turn”, Producer and Louisville native John Paul Rice’s latest film “Mother’s Red Dress”, the road trip documentary “Bailout”, four short film groups, and 2 International features, “Znikniecie” and “Meherjaan”. Saturday afternoon there will also be a Filmmaker Symposium and Awards Presentation at Clifton’s Pizza from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM.

Following “It’s in the Blood” on Saturday night, at 10:00 PM audiences will receive a double treat from Louisville filmmakers. First Kristofer Rommel premieres the short “Wireface: In the Beginning” starring Josh Loren, Cindy Maples & Joe Chrysler. “Wireface…” is a prequel film which details the slow decent into madness that turns a loving family man into the serial killer known as “Wireface”. Following the short is Matt Niehoff & Brian Cunningham’s feature film “Overtime”, which was shot in Louisville and features Al Snow, John Wells & Sebrina Siegel. “Overtime” follows two hitmen who find themselves caught up in a conspiracy they never imagined which includes alien zombies. Both films are included on one ticket.

The closing film of the festival will be the Edward Furlong film “Below Zero”, which will screen at 6:00 PM on Sunday. “Zero” follows screenwriter Jack “The Hack” (Furlong) who, facing writer’s block and a crucial deadline, decides to remove himself from all distractions by locking himself in the freezer of an abandoned slaughterhouse, where fiction and reality blur. Inspired by true events, method writer Signe Olynyk’s BELOW ZERO is a twisty story within a story, within a real-life story. The film also stars Kristin Booth and Michael Berryman. “Zero” was directed by Justin Thomas Ostensen who’s film “By the Wayside” screened at the inaugural DCFF in 2008.

The 2012 Derby City Film Festival runs February 17th – 19th at the Clifton Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

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New Poster and trailer have been released for BELOW ZERO, the closing film of the 2012 Derby City Film Festival.

The film will be also screening at the following festivals in the coming months:

Derby City Film Festival (Louisville, Kentucky), 6pm Feb 19th

Garden State Film Festival (New Jersey), March 24

Indie Horror Film Festival (Chicago), March 24

International Horror & Sci Fi / Phoenix Film Fest (Phoenix), TBA

Dead By Dawn (Edinburgh, Scotland), TBA

Litchfield Hills Film Festival (Litchfield, CT), TBA

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Louisville natives Scooter Downey and Sean Elliot will have the Kentucky premiere of their film It’s In The Blood, a character-driven horror story starring veteran character actor Lance Henriksen, at the 2012 Derby City Film Festival.

The public premiere at the festival is 8:00 PM February 18th at the Clifton Center in Louisville. The festival runs February 17th-19th.  It’s In The Blood has been nominated for best picture, and Lance Henriksen and Sean Elliot are up for best actor.

Directed by Scooter Downey, It’s In The Blood is a wholly unique cinematic movement.  At its core a father son story, the film is a deconstruction of the prototypical “creature feature”, incorporating elements of mystical realism and psychological thriller.  We call it a Psyche-Saga.  Lance Henriksen, best known for his roles as Karl Bishop Weyland in the Aliens franchise and Frank Black in the TV series Millennium, stars in this nightmarish descent into the wilderness, the very heart of darkness where more than your guilt can eat you alive.

The film is a true Lousville film. Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and best friends since kindergarten, Sean Elliot and Scooter Downey co-wrote and produced the film. The film was also largely developed in Louisville where the script was drafted and revised, the LLC was established, the business plan was developed, and 100% of the funding was raised.

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The documentary Bailout will screen at this year’s Derby City Film Festival.

Why? According to the filmmakers, since “Gonzo Journalism” was born at the Derby, it’s only fitting that Bailout will screen at this year’s Derby City Film Festival.

The “Gonzo” style deviates from standard factual narratives by altogether jettisoning any pretext of objectivity where the author figures prominently as a character in the story.

That definition fits the new feature documentary Bailout like silks on a jockey. Bailout is the tale of an unemployed Chicago lawyer who stops paying his mortgage and enlists four friends (also unemployed) to join him in a Winnebago trip to Las Vegas. Their plan is tear a page out of Wall Street’s playbook and piss away the bank’s money by gambling and partying their asses off. Along the way our gang discovers first hand how Americans have been adversely affected by the financial crisis, principally through foreclosures.

Bailout focuses on unchecked financial fraud and the refusal to punish such fraud that lies at the root of our nation’s illness, examined through the well informed filter of its lead character, John Titus and his “dukes of moral hazard”.

While many financial documentaries have done a great job of enraging audiences and leaving us shaking our heads, Bailout is also a call to action culminating with the Tea Party and subsequently the Occupy Wall Street movement -both of which saw ordinary Americans railing against bailouts of recklessly greedy banks- Bailout inspires Americans to exercise their right to speak out against injustice and take their grievances to the streets until their voices are heard.

To quote Sean Fahey the director, “It will make you laugh, it will piss you off, and I can promise that you will rarely see a stranger form of patriotism from a stranger group of people”.

Bailout screens at the Derby City Film Festival on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at 3:30 p.m. EST.

 

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[caption id="attachment_2358" align="alignnone"]Mother’s Red Dress by director Edgar Michael Bravo[/caption]

A total of 56 films from 16 countries, including 24 International selections, will be screened at the upcoming Derby City Film Festival, February 17th – 19th, but this year films from current and former Kentucky residents are the one’s dominating the field.

Of the films who’s filmmakers are from Kentucky, seven of them are feature films, four are shorts and one is a documentary. Another feature film “Sam Steel and the Crystal Chalice” is from New Albany filmmaker Tom Whitus and was shot in Louisville and the documentary “Bailout” is from Chicago filmmaker Sean Fahey and part of it was shot at the 2011 Kentucky Derby. “Steele”, starring Kevin Sorbo, screens on opening night and “Bailout” screens Saturday afternoon.

Also on Friday night is the film “Wid Winner and the Slipstream” from Western Kentucky native  Alex O Gaynor. “Winner” tells the story of two men who embark on a cross-country journey to face the past, change the future, and collect enough used-auto parts to build a time machine. Much of the film was shot in Western Kentucky.

Four more features take the stage on Saturday including the World Premiere of “Frames” from Western Kentucky graduate Brandon Colvin. In “Frames” a young filmmaker uses his camera to transform the banality of his hometown into art. When a friend goes missing, however, his footage exposes a disturbing mystery . . . one he might be merely inventing.

Producer and St. Xaiver alum John Paul Rice brings his latest collaboration with writer and director Edgar Michael Bravo, “Mother’s Red Dress”, back to his hometown. “Red Dress” is a  tragic love story/psycho-drama about a young man, Paul, who is suffering from PTSD and trying to piece together the past after seeing his mother kill her abusive boyfriend.

Louisville natives, and Ballard High graduates, Scooter Downey & Sean Elliot bring the feature “It’s in the Blood” to their hometown Saturday night. Featuring Lance Henriksen, Elliot & Rose Sirna, “Blood”  tells the tale of a father and son who become stranded in the wild and must confront the horrors of their past to escape with their lives.  However, this wilderness is not what it seems, and as they deteriorate, so to does their concept of reality: horrifying creatures, ghostly apparitions, is it all in their heads, or could the truth be far more terrible?

Prior to the screening actor Lance Henriksen will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the festival for his outstanding contributions to Television and film over the last 40 plus years.

Henriksen is probably best known for his role as Bishop in the “Aliens” and “Aliens vs. Predator” films and video games, but he has also appeared in the classic films “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, “The Right Stuff” and “Terminator” among others.  In the late 90’s he played  Frank Black in the television series “Millennium”. and more recently he has lent his voice talents to video games like “Transformers”, “Call of Duty”  and “Mass Effect”. The film and award presentation begin at 8:00 PM.

Saturday’s final film at 10:00 PM is Matt Niehoff & Brian Cunningham’s feature film “Overtime” , which was shot in Louisville and features Al Snow, John Wells & Sebrina Siegel. “Overtime” follows two hitmen who find themselves caught up in a conspiracy they never imagined which includes alien zombies. Both films are included on one ticket.

The short films from Kentucky include “Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic” from Todd Sheene, Allen Martin, and Scott Stafford and three World Premieres from Louisville filmmaker and DCFF founders Kristofer & Ashley Rommel. “Please Try Again”, “Just for Today” and “Wireface: In the Beginning…” we all shot in Louisville and feature local talent. All four of the short films screen Saturday at various times. “Bizarnival” is also a nominee for Best US Short Film.

Henriksen is probably best known for his role as Bishop in the “Aliens” and “Aliens vs. Predator” films and video games, but he has also appeared in the classic films “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, “The Right Stuff” and “Terminator” among others.  In the late 90’s he played  Frank Black in the television series “Millennium”. and more recently he has lent his voice talents to video games like “Transformers”, “Call of Duty”  and “Mass Effect”.

Sunday features the World Premiere of former Northern Kentucky, now Cincinnati, filmmaker Isaac Stambaugh ‘s latest film “Smells Like Community Spirit” and Lexington filmmaker Michael Crisp’s documentary “Legendary: When Baseball Came to the Bluegrass”.

The 2012 Derby City Film Festival runs February 17th – 19th at the Clifton Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

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The indie film “Below Zero,” will close the 2012 Derby City Film Festival.  The film is also a festival finalist for awards in the BEST FEATURE, BEST ACTOR (Edward Furlong), and BEST ACTRESS (Kristin Booth) categories.

International indie sensation “Below Zero,” (www.belowzeromovie.com) starring Edward Furlong (Terminator 2, American History X, The Green Hornet), Michael Berryman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Hills Have Eyes, Scooby Doo, Weird Science), and Kristin Booth (Young People F*cking, Defendor, The Kennedys) is bringing its world festival tour to Louisville. The perplexing and disarming thriller will close the festival, playing in the Clifton Center’s luxurious Eifler Theater (2117 Payne Street, Louisville, 40206).  The film is a finalist for the DCFF awards in the BEST FEATURE, BEST ACTOR (Edward Furlong), and BEST ACTRESS (Kristin Booth) categories. A ‘Question & Answer’ session with the filmmakers will follow the screening.

Inspired by true events, “Below Zero” is the story of Jack the Hack (Furlong), a desperate screenwriter with writer’s block, who arranges to have himself locked in the freezer of a slaughterhouse owned by Penny (Booth) in order to meet a deadline. While confined, he imagines the story of an emotionally disturbed butcher (Berryman) and his young son (played by newcomer Sadie Madu) who use the slaughterhouse to dispose of victims.  As the temperature drops, the lines between reality and fiction blur, and Jack’s script comes dangerously to life as he struggles to meet his deadline.

“I call this film an autobiographical horror,” says writer/producer, Signe Olynyk, who struggled with her own case of writer’s block.  “You’ve heard of method acting?  You could say I’m a ‘method writer’.”  In order to complete the script, Olynyk arranged to have herself physically locked in the meat freezer of an abandoned slaughterhouse.  After camping out for five days, she emerged with the script for “Below Zero.”

“The film is extremely suspenseful.  More of a thriller, than a horror,” adds producing partner, Bob Schultz.  “As producers, we wanted to create a film that would appeal to horror fans, but also capture a mainstream audience.”  Filmed entirely at the same location as where the script was written, Schultz credits Olynyk for creating “…a cool, twisty story within a story, within a real-life story.

The producing team will also be featured on various panels on Sunday, February 19 to discuss screenwriting, independent production, and the screenwriting conference they run, The Great American PitchFest (www.pitchfest.com).  To learn how to make a successful independent film, raise financing, pitch, and write a great script, visit www.derbycityfilmfest.com for details on this panel and others.

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[caption id="attachment_2256" align="alignnone"]Below Zero[/caption]

With the festival opening in lass than a month, the organizers of The Derby City Film Festival have announced the award finalists for the 2012 edition. Awards will be handed out in 7 categories; US Short Film, International Short Film, Student Short Film, Documentary Film, Feature Film, Best Actor and Best Actress. The festival has also partnered with York Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, who will offer distribution to one or more of the Feature Films and IndieFlix, based in Seattle, who will hold an on-line short film contest the week before the opening of the festival.

Three films with Kentucky ties are among the finalists. One, the short film “Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic” from filmmakers Todd Sheene, Allen Martin, and Scott Stafford screens Saturday February 18th at 4:00 PM with Shorts Group C. “Bizarnival” is a pseudo-experimental film which follows three men who seek the key to a magic suitcase, guarded by a mechanical man, and takes them on a journey through the ridiculously fantastic world of Bizarnival. “Bizarnival” is nominated for Best US Short Film.

James Sheldon who stars as the title character from Alex O. Gaynor’s “Wid Winner and the Slipstream” is nominated for Best Actor. ‘Wid Winner & the Slipstream’ is a poetic, blue-collar story of a disenchanted auto parts store clerk and the road trip that will change his life. “Wid” screens Friday February 17th at 7:00 PM.

“It’s in the Blood” from Louisville natives and Ballard High School graduates Scooter Downey & Sean Elliot is up for three awards including Best Feature Film and two Best Actor Nominations for the film’s stars Sean Elliot & Lance Henriksen. “Blood”  tells the tale of a father and son who become stranded in the wild and must confront the horrors of their past to escape with their lives.  However, this wilderness is not what it seems, and as they deteriorate, so to does their concept of reality: horrifying creatures, ghostly apparitions, is it all in their heads, or could the truth be far more terrible? “It’s in the Blood” screens at 8:00 PM on February 18th with the short film “Endless”.

Another film up for three awards is the closing film of the festival, the Edward Furlong film “Below Zero”, which will screen at 6:00 PM on Sunday February 19th. “Zero” follows screenwriter Jack “The Hack” (Furlong) who, facing writer’s block and a crucial deadline, decides to remove himself from all distractions by locking himself in the freezer of an abandoned slaughterhouse, where fiction and reality blur. Inspired by true events, method writer Signe Olynyk’s BELOW ZERO is a twisty story within a story, within a real-life story. The film also stars Kristin Booth and Michael Berryman. “Zero” was directed by Justin Thomas Ostensen who’s film “By the Wayside” screened at the inaugural DCFF in 2008. “Zero” is nominated for Best Feature, Best Actor (Furlong) and Best Actress (Booth).

All 9 of the Short Film Finalists (US, International & Student) have also been invited to take part of the DCFF-IndieFlix on-line film contest which will run February 10th-16th. All films will be available to watch on-line and the public can vote on their favorite. The winning film will receive a one year subscription to Videoblocks & The Footage Firm, an online library of downloadable production material, video clips and royalty free music. A link to the IndieFlix film contest will be available on the DCFF website starting February 10th.

York Entertainment has invited 4 films to be considered for distribution. Included among the finalists is “Overtime” from Louisville filmmakers Matt Neihoff & Brian Cunningham. The other three are “Below Zero”, “Blind Turn” & “It’s in the Blood”. Any agreement will be between York and the selected film(s) and the festival will not be part of the negotiations

The 2012 Derby City Film Festival runs February 17th – 19th at the Clifton Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The full festival schedule and film descriptions are available on the festival website. Tickets for all films and screening groups are also on-sale through the website. More information on the festival can be found at the festival website: www.derbycityfilmfest.com or by calling the DCFF office at 502-454-7801. Additional details about the upcoming festival will be released in the coming weeks.

The following includes the full list of award finalists for the 2012 Derby City Film Festival.


Best Feature:
Below Zero: Directed by: Justin Thomas Ostensen
It’s in the Blood (KY Premiere): Directed by: Scooter Downey
Johnny’s Gone (KY Premiere): Directed by: Giorgio Serafini

Best Documentary
Bailout (USA – KY Premiere): Directed by: Sean Patrick Fahey
Israel vs. Israel (Israel – KY Premiere): Directed by: Terje Carlsson
Holding the Line (Libya/UK – US Premiere): Directed by: Patrick Wells

Best US Short Film
Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic: Directed by: Todd Sheene, Allen Martin, and Scott Stafford
Easy Street (KY Premiere): Directed by Russell Greene
Grounded (World Premiere): Directed by Kevin Margo

Best International Short
Donkey (UK – KY Premiere); Directed by: Keir Burrows
Employee of the Month (Switzerland – KY Premiere): Directed by: Olivier Beguin
Endless (UK – KY Premiere): Directed by: Matt Bloom

Best Student Short
GoldenBox (USA): Directed by: Matt MacDonald
Made in China (USA – World Premiere): Directed by: Kellen Moore
Thin Air (USA – World Premiere): Directed by: Max Rosen

Best Actor
Sean Elliot – It’s in the Blood
Lance Henriksen – It’s in the Blood
James Sheldon – Wid Winner and the Slipstream
Edward Furlong – Below Zero
Michal Cholka – Znikniecie

Best Actress
Katarzyna Zawiglak-Dolny – Znikniecie
Inge Chiles – Thin Air
LaDon Drummond  – Johnny’s Gone
Rachel Boston – Blind Turn
Kristin Booth – Below Zero

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[caption id="attachment_2139" align="alignnone"]Wid Winner and the Slipstream[/caption]

56 films have been selected to screen during the three day Derby City Film Festival held February 17th – 19th, 2012. The lineup includes 24 International films representing 16 countries as well as 8 World Premieres, 5 US Premieres, and 28 KY Premieres. Eight films were produced in the Bluegrass State and another 5 have ties to Kentucky.

Opening night includes two feature films shot in Kentucky. At 7:00 PM on February 17th  “Wid Winner and the Slipstream” will open the fest. “Winner”, which was directed by Kentucky native Alex O Gaynor, tells the story of two men who embark on a cross-country journey to face the past, change the future, and collect enough used-auto parts to build a time machine. The 8:00 PM film, “Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice” is from New Albany filmmaker Tom Whitus and was shot in Downtown Louisville. The film stars Jacob Hays, Kevin Sorbo, Katherine McNamara & Dee Wallace. “Crystal Chalice” is the sequel to “Sam Steel and the Jr. Detective Agency” which screened at DCFF in 2010. The final film on Friday is the suspense film “Johnny’s Gone” from writer and actress LaDon Drummond. “Johnny’s Gone” tells the story of the unsettling but heartfelt relationship between Sarah and a two year-old she calls Johnny. Sarah hides a dark secret that will take them on a road trip across five states from California to Louisiana.

A full slate of workshops, panels, shorts, docs, and features also happen all day Saturday. Highlights include the world premieres of the feature films “Frames” & “Blind Turn”, Producer and Louisville native John Paul Rice’s latest film “Mother’s Red Dress”, the road trip documentary “Bailout”, four short film groups, and 2 International features, “Znikniecie” and “Meherjaan”. Saturday afternoon there will also be a Filmmaker Symposium and Awards Presentation at Clifton’s Pizza from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM.

Saturday night features 3 more films with Kentucky roots. Louisville natives, and Ballard High graduates, Scooter Downey & Sean Elliot bring the feature “It’s in the Blood” to their hometown. Featuring Lance Henriksen, Elliot & Rose Sirna, “Blood”  tells the tale of a father and son who become stranded in the wild and must confront the horrors of their past to escape with their lives.  However, this wilderness is not what it seems, and as they deteriorate, so to does their concept of reality: horrifying creatures, ghostly apparitions, is it all in their heads, or could the truth be far more terrible? “It’s in the Blood” screens at 8:00 PM with the short film “Endless”.

At 10:00 PM on Saturday audiences will receive a double treat from Louisville filmmakers. First Kristofer Rommel premieres the short “Wireface: In the Beginning” starring Josh Loren, Cindy Maples & Joe Chrysler. “Wireface…” is a prequel film which details the slow decent into madness that turns a loving family man into the serial killer known as “Wireface”. Following the short is Matt Niehoff & Brian Cunningham’s feature film “Overtime”, which was shot in Louisville and features Al Snow, John Wells & Sebrina Siegel. “Overtime” follows two hitmen who find themselves caught up in a conspiracy they never imagined which includes alien zombies. Both films are included on one ticket.

Sunday February 19th features, among other films; the World Premiere of “Smells Like Community Spirit” from Cincinnati filmmaker Isaac Stambaugh, the controversial documentary “Israel vs. Israel” and “Legendary: When Baseball Came to the Bluegrass” from Lexington filmmaker Michael Crisp.

The closing film of the festival will be the Edward Furlong film “Below Zero”, which will screen at 6:00 PM on Sunday. “Zero” follows screenwriter Jack “The Hack” (Furlong) who, facing writer’s block and a crucial deadline, decides to remove himself from all distractions by locking himself in the freezer of an abandoned slaughterhouse, where fiction and reality blur. Inspired by true events, method writer Signe Olynyk’s BELOW ZERO is a twisty story within a story, within a real-life story. The film also stars Kristin Booth and Michael Berryman. “Zero” was directed by Justin Thomas Ostensen who’s film “By the Wayside” screened at the inaugural DCFF in 2008.

The following includes the full list of selected films for the 2012 Derby City Film Festival. Country and premiere status in ( ).

US Features:
Below Zero (KY Premiere)
Blind Turn (World Premiere)
Frames (World Premiere)
It’s in the Blood (KY Premiere)
Johnny’s Gone (KY Premiere)
Mother’s Red Dress (KY Premiere)
Overtime
Sam Steel and the Crystal Chalice (KY Premiere)
Smells Like Community Spirit (World Premiere)
Wid Winner and the Slipstream

International Features
Meherjaan (Bangladesh)
Znikniecie (Poland – US Premiere)

Documentary Features
Bailout (USA – KY Premiere)
Israel vs. Israel (Israel – KY Premiere)
Legendary: When Baseball Came to the Bluegrass (USA)
The Book of Vaudeville (Canada – US Premiere)

US Shorts
20th Century Man (World Premiere)
A Finger, Two Dots Then Me (KY Premiere)
Ambiguous Figure (KY Premiere)
Bizarnival: Tuxedos in the Attic
Blue Highway (KY Premiere)
Easy Street (KY Premiere)
Grounded (World Premiere)
Just for Today (World Premiere)
Love’s Got My Goat (KY Premiere)
Penny
Please Try Again (World Premiere)
The Eater (KY Premiere)
The Scream of the Screaming Screamer! (World Premiere)
Wireface: In The Beginning… (World Premiere)

International Shorts
108.1 FM Radio (Italy – KY Premiere)
A Fable About Beauty (Canada – KY Premiere)
Air (UK – KY Premiere)
Donkey (UK – KY Premiere)
Employee of the Month (Switzerland – KY Premiere)
Endless (UK – KY Premiere)
Protect the Nation (South Africa/Germany)
The Anchor (UK – KY Premiere)
The Unicorn (New Zealand – KY Premiere)
Tocaia para Tuco Valente (Brazil – US Premiere)

Student Shorts
Balls (USA – KY Premiere)
Closed (Australia – KY Premiere)
GoldenBox (USA)
Live Outside the Box (Taiwan – KY Premiere)
Look to the Cookie (USA)
Made in China (USA – World Premiere)
My Avatar (USA/Singapore – KY Premiere)
Normal People (Poland – KY Premiere)
The Birds Upstairs (USA)
Thin Air (USA – World Premiere)
Will & The Worry Dolls (UK – US Premiere)
Wonderland (Kuwait – KUY Premiere)
Workers Leaving the Factory (Germany – KY Premiere)

Documentary Shorts
As Time Goes By (Germany – KY Premiere)
Hey Rube! (Canada – KY Premiere)
Holding the Line (Libya/UK – US Premiere)

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Louisville native Greg King and New Albany, Indiana filmmaker Ray Cart are among the winners of the top prizes at the 2011 Derby City Film Festival which was held February 18th through the 20th. Greg King and David Teague’s “Our House” took home Best Documentary and Cart’s “Queens of the Dead” won the Audience Choice award for favorite film.

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