In Rust Creek, the new thriller from Kelly & Cal director Jen McGowan opening in theaters and VOD January 4th, an ordinary woman must summon extraordinary courage to survive a nightmare odyssey.
RUST CREEK
-
-
MARGUERITE, THE ETRUSCAN SMILE, AMERICAN RELAPSE Win Top Awards at 2018 Rhode Island International Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_29879" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
The Etruscan Smile[/caption]
Over its six-day run Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) screened 295 films and on Sunday announced the Award Winners for its 36th Anniversary Celebration.
RIIFF is one of 10 Festivals in the world that is an Academy Award qualifier in the Live Action, Animation and Documentary Short categories and a qualifier with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). The winners of RIIFF’s Live Action, Animation and Documentary Short Grand Prizes hold a special honor: they become the Festival’s nominees for Academy Award consideration.
The award for LIVE ACTION SHORT went “Marguerite,” directed by: Marianne Farley, Canada, 2017. “Marguerite,” is the story of an aging woman and her nurse who develop a friendship that inspires her to unearth unacknowledged longing and thus help her make peace with her past.
The award for ANIMATED SHORT went to “One Small Step” directed by: Bobby Pontillas | China/USA, 2018. “One Small Step” is an animation that tells the story of an ambitious young girl who aspires to be an astronaut with the support of her humble father.
The award for DOCUMENTARY SHORT went to “Father K” directed by Judd Ehrlich | USA, 2018. The story concerns Palestinian Lutheran Pastor Khader El-Yateem who decides to become NYC’s first Arab-American elected official and the political establishment writes off his candidacy as a fantasy. But they underestimate “Father K”, who’s determined to unite Bay Ridge, the conservative Brooklyn neighborhood he calls home that is also the heart of the city’s Middle Eastern community. As Father K’s trailblazing campaign picks up steam, he must confront the harsh realities of electoral politics while trying to hold onto the optimism and hope that made his unlikely candidacy possible.
2018 Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival AWARDS
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination) “Marguerite” | Directed by: Marianne Farley | Canada, 2017. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “I almost always try to avoid the word “beautiful” when I critique art, but I guess sometimes you simply can’t reject it for any other critical terms. This is a deeply beautiful film, even with its frightening glimpses of the infirmity of old age. The script and editing could not be more perfect.” FIRST Prize: “The Collar” | Directed by: Viktoria Runtsova | Russia, 2017. Tied with: “Woe is Me” | Directed by: Simon Cartwright | United Kingdom, 2018.BEST SHORT ANIMATION
GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination) “One Small Step” | Directed by: Bobby Pontillas | China/USA, 2018. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “Delightful. Brilliant. Touching. It left me in tears FIRST Prize: “Two Balloons” | Directed by: Mark C. Smith | USA, 2017. Tied with: “Negative Space” | Directed by: Max Porter & Ru Kuwahata | France, 2017.BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination) “Father K” | Directed by: Judd Ehrlich | USA, 2018. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “Documentaries are only as strong as their subject, and Father K is an inspirational subject. In these times it’s important to remember that causes can be ignited by individuals but are sustained by communities. This is an important film.” FIRST Prize: “Zion” | Directed by: Floyd Russ | USA, 2017. Tied with: “Guns Found Here” | Directed by: David Freid | USA, 2018.BEST FEATURE
GRAND Prize: “The Etruscan Smile” | Directed by: Mihal Brezis & Oded Binnun | United Kingdom, Switzerland, USA, 2018. FIRST Prize: “You Can Choose Your Family” | Directed by: Miranda Bailey | USA, 2018. Tied with: “BACK ROADS” | Directed by: Alex Pettyfer | USA, 2018.BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
GRAND Prize: “AMERICAN RELAPSE” | Directed by: Pat McGee & Adam Linkenhelt | USA, 2018. FIRST Prize: “The Push” | Directed by: Brian Niles & Grant Korgan, | USA, 2018. Tied with: “Snow Birds” | Directed by: Joannie Lafrenière | Canada, 2017.FILMMAKER OF THE FUTURE AWARD
Presented to a filmmaker whose vision excites audiences and judges alike about the potential to produce compelling and successful films in the future. Delphine Le Courtois, Director, “Upset Body” | Canada, 2018.BEST ACTOR
Michael Rouse, Actor/Director, “Geoff” | United Kingdom, 2018. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “Original, moving, peaceful and lovely story complemented by a perfectly balanced and sensitive portrayal by Michael Rouse. In 20 minutes, he conveys the pathos of a sensitive soul who must overcome his greatest fear with passion and warmth.”BEST ACTRESS
Celine Held, Actor/Director, “Caroline” | USA, 2018. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “A masterful performance filled with nuance and truth; one that stays with you long after the last frame has faded.”BEST COMEDY SHORT
GRAND Prize: “We Are the Freak Show” | Directed by: Philippe Lupien & Marie-Hélène Viens | Canada, 2018. FIRST Prize: “Chuchotage” | Directed by: Barnabas Toth | Hungary, 2018. Tied with: “Fern” | Directed by: Johnny Kelly | United Kingdom, 2017.BEST EXPERIMENTAL
GRAND Prize: “Interstitial” | Directed by: Shunsaku Hayashi | Japan, 2017. FIRST Prize: “Triptych” | Directed by: Katia Lom | United Kingdom, 2018.BEST DIRECTOR
GRAND Prize: Pascal Plante, “Fake Tattoos” | Canada, 2017. FIRST Prize: Maggie Kiley, “6ate7” | Australia, 2018. Tied with: Ray Nomoto Robison “An Affair Remains” | USA, 2018.DR. J. GERALD LAMOUREUX AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Presented to a filmmaker and artist who represents the spirit of cultural exchange between the United States and Canada. “Modified” | Directed by: Aube Giroux | Canada, 2017.DIRECTORIAL DISCOVERY AWARD
GRAND Prize Feature: “Rust Creek” | Directed by: Jen McGowan | USA, 2017 GRAND Prize Short: “Hero” | Directed by: Freddie Fox | France, United Kingdom, 2018BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
GRAND Prize: Olivier Gossot, Cinematographer/DP, “Fauve” | Directed by: Jeremy Comte| Canada, 2018 FIRST Prize Sarah Cunningham, Cinematographer/DP, “Flowers” | Directed by: Baptiste Petit-Gats | France, 2018 Tied with: Kelly Jeffrey, Cinematographer/DP, “Hunting Incident” | Directed by: Matthew James Thompson| USA, 2018CINEMA WITHOUT BORDERS AWARD
“Saving My Pig” | Directed by: Frank Dobrin | Bulgaria, 2018THE CALL TO ACTION AWARD
A film promoting advocacy or awareness of a pressing social or cultural issue GRAND Prize: “American” | Directed by: Richie Adams | USA, 2018 FIRST Prize: “Requiescat” | Directed by: S.J. Main Muñoz | Costa Rica, USA, 2018THE NEXT GENERATION AWARD
Celebrating New Voices And New Perspective In Cinema “eHero” | Directed by: Joseph Procopio | Canada, 2018PRIX DU CINEMA SUISSE
“Maximilian” | Directed by: Nicholas Greinacher | Switzerland, 2016THE MARLYN MASON AWARD
New voices, new perspectives by women in film GRAND Prize: “The Lost Ones” | Directed by: Les Egares | France, 2018 FIRST Prize: “Mary Goes Round” | Directed by: Molly McGlynn | Canada, 2017VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY
Exploring narratives that showcase the dynamics of youth GRAND Prize:“Warriors of Sanita” | Directed by: Luca Nappa | United Kingdom, Italy, 2018 FIRST Prize:“The Boy Who Wanted to Fly” | Directed by: Jorge Muriel | Spain, 2018RIIFF NEW ENGLAND DIRECTOR’S AWARD
GRAND Prize:“Good Morning” | Directed by: Elaine Mongeon | USA, 2017 Tied with: “Warrior” | Directed by: Gene Pina | USA, 2017RIIFF DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AWARD
“The Boy At Platform 3” | Directed by: Michael Daniel Vetter | Germany, Switzerland, 2018HEARTS, MINDS, SOULS AWARD
Celebrating Films that Reflect the Jewish Experience. GRAND Prize: “Life Will Smile” | Directed by: Drey Kleanthous | Greece, Israel, United Kingdom, 2017 FIRST Prize: “The Driver is Red” | Directed by: Randall Christopher | USA, 2017 Tied with: “Oma” | Directed by: Bill Kirstein | USA, 2017BEST EDITING
GRAND Prize: Amelia Allwarden, Editor, “Lunch Ladies” | Directed by: J.M. Logan | USA, 2017 FIRST Prize: Reema Senguptam, Editor, “Counterfeit Kunkoo” | Directed by: Reema Sengupta | India, 2017 Tied with: Mindy Elliott, Editor, “Pie” | Directed by: Adria Tennor | USA, 2018BEST SCREENPLAY
GRAND Prize: “Find Me” | Directed by: Tom Huang | USA, 2018 FIRST Prize:“We Win” | Directed by: Michael Stahl-David | USA, 2018 Tied with: “One Cambodian Family Please for My Pleasure” | Directed by: A.M. Lukas | USA, 2018FLICKERS’ AMBASSADOR AWARD
Presented to an individual who inspires and empowers communication and cultural understanding. Michele Noble, Director, “Reclamation: The Rise at Standing Rock” | USA, 2018FLICKERS’ INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Given annually to films or filmmakers who inspire social change and community outreach and strive to better the world in which we live. GRAND Prize: “QUAKERS: The Quiet Revolutionaries” | Directed by: Janet P. Gardner | USA, United Kingdom, 2018 FIRST Prize: “2nd class” | Directed by: Jimmy Olsson | Sweden, 2018PROVIDENCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARD
Presented annually to a New England director whose work brings cinematic excellence to an international audience. “TRE MAISON DASAN” | Directed by: Denali Tiller | USA, 2017ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (LGBTQ) SHORT
GRAND Prize: “A Man My Son” | Directed by: Florent Gouëlou | France, 2018. FIRST Prize: “Fran This Summer” | Directed by: Mary Evangelista | USA, 2018. Tied with: “#hashtag” | Directed by: Atzin Ortiz Gonzalez | Mexico, 2017.ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (FEATURE)
GRAND Prize: “Retablo” | Directed by: Alvaro Delgado Aparicio | Peru, 2017. FIRST Prize: “Funny Story” |Directed by: Michael Gallagher | USA, 2017.ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (DOCUMENTARY)
GRAND Prize: “One Leg In, One Leg Out” | Directed by: Lisa Rideout | Canada, 2018. FIRST Prize: “Empire on Main Street” | Directed by: Jessica Congdon | USA, 2018.KIDSEYE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS
Presented to a film that resonates with the filmmaker within both children and adults alike.BEST CHILDREN’S ANIMATION
GRAND Prize: (Feature) “Sgt Stubby – American Hero” | Directed by: Richard Lanni | France, Ireland, USA, 2018 GRAND Prize: (Short) “Tyrannosaurus Funk” | Directed by: Sandra Boynton | USA, 2017 FIRST Prize: “Rising Waters In Underwood Springs!” | Directed by: Mathieu Auvray | France, 2017LIVE ACTION
GRAND Prize: “Space Girls” | Directed by: Carys Watford | United Kingdom, 2017 FIRST Prize: “The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop” | Directed by: Jennifer Potts | USA, 2018GREEN PLANET AWARD
Celebrating the vision of man’s shared humanity and achieving sustainability on our planet. GRAND Prize Feature: “Secret Ingredients” | Directed by: Amy S. Hart & Jeffrey M. Smith | USA, 2018 GRAND Prize Short: “The Kodiak Queen” | Directed by: Rob Sorrenti | United Kingdom / Virgin Islands (British), 2018VORTEX SCI-FI & FANTASY AWARD
GRAND Prize: “The Comet” | Directed by: Bård Røssevold | Norway, 2017 FIRST Prize: “Invaders” | Directed by: Daniel Prince | United Kingdom, 2018 Tied with: “ASIAN GIRLS” | Directed by: Hyun Lee | Australia, 2017BEST STUDENT FILM AWARD COLLEGE
GRAND Prize: “The Day That” | Directed by: Dorian Tocker | USA, 2017 FIRST Prize: “SATAN” | Directed by: Carlos Tapia | Switzerland / Mexico, 2017HIGH SCHOOL
GRAND Prize: “memory” |Directed by: Mew Kano | Japan, 2018 First Prize: “Blacked Out” | Directed by: Highland Park African-American History Project | USA, 2017 Tied with: “The Homecoming Game” | Directed by: Andrew Gerstenblatt | USA, 2017BEST MUSIC VIDEO
GRAND Prize: “COPYSHOP” | Directed by: Jakob Grunert | Germany, Hong Kong, 2017 First Prize: “Ode to life” | Directed by: Coline Declef | France, 2018BEST TELEVISION PILOT
GRAND Prize: Bhak – ‘Pilot’ | Directed by: Shreyom Ghosh & Arjun Chatterjee | India, 2018 First Prize: “Man-Babies” | Directed by: Tyler Hollinger | USA, 2018FLICKERS’ YOUTH FILM JURY AWARDS
Awards were presented by Will Ford and the 2018 Youth Film Jury members:BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
GRAND Prize: “Wyrm” | Directed by: Christopher Winterbauer | USA, 2017BEST ANIMATION
“The Death, Dad & Son” | Directed by: Vincent Parronaud | France, 2017BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
“TRE MAISON DASAN” | Directed by: Denali Tiller | USA, 2017BEST FEATURE FILM NARRATIVE
“The Maestro” | Directed by: Adam Cushman | USA, 2017BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
“My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes” | Directed by: Charlie Tyrell | Canada, 2017BEST LGBTQ FILM
“Marguerite” | Directed by: Marianne Farley | Canada, 2017MOST POPULAR
“Souls of Totality” | Directed by: Richard Raymond | USA, 20182018 INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS & SPECIAL AWARDS
GILBERT STUART ARTISTIC VISION (LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT) AWARD was presented to Joseph M. Alves, an American film production designer. He designed the three mechanical sharks for the movie Jaws (1975). Alves also designed three features for Steven Spielberg, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction and won the BAFTA for Best Art Direction for his work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind. RI FILM & TELEVISION OFFICE DREAMMAKER AWARD Henry Bronchtein, Producer (“The Sopranos”) RIIFF SCREENPLAY COMPETITION AWARD was presented to Barry Brennessel from Silver Spring, MD whose screenplay is entitled “ANH SANG.” THE PRODUCER’S CIRCLE AWARDS are presented annually to members of the community who have actively worked to support and promote the mission of the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival. This year’s recipients include: • Michael Braca, photographer; • Judge Frank Caprio, Municipal Judge and television personality; • Fr. Kenneth Gumbert, Educator/filmmaker; • Mike Maino, Classical 95.9 FM WCRI; • Dr. J. Scott Oberacker, RIIFF Educational Outreach Director; • The Greenwich Odeum, East Greenwich Arts Center; • The Rhode Show, daily morning news magazine; • Libby Slader, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts; • Niko Stamatakos, business sponsor/supporter; and • Trinity Repertory Company, Tony Award winning Theatre WINIFRED BROWNELL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD BACKGROUND: Beginning on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, a special year long “Celebration of Women in Film and Arts” was launched by the Festival. In a recent study by The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, at San Diego State University, RIIFF was one of 23 “high profile” film festivals in the United States that was surveyed. What was striking about the study was that women accounted for 29 percent of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the indie films screened at the examined U.S. festivals in 2017-18. At the Rhode Island International Film Festival, that number was 41 percent with films selected by an international team of judges for quality, not a quota. This year, the Festival’s percentage is even higher. Out of nearly 300 films screening at RIIFF, 193 were created by female writers, directors and producers. That number translates to 65% of all the films at this year’s Festival had a woman at the helm. Here are the official numbers: FEMALE DIRECTORS: 99 FEMALE PRODUCERS: 72 FEMALE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: 22 = 193 FEMALE SCREENWRITERS: 18 FEMALE EDITORS: 48 FEMALE SOUND EDITORS: 14 = 80 TOTAL: 273 To celebrate this achievement, the Festival dedicated this year’s event to Dr. Winifred E. Brownell, a groundbreaking educator and Dean Emerita of the Arts and Sciences at the University of Rhode Island. Her visionary work propelled the University to become a leading hub for film media studies and nurtured the Festival during its infancy, spurring it to become the internationally acclaimed event that it is today. The Festival is also establishing a $2,000 annual scholarship in her name that pays recognition to her career championing the arts and humanities at the University of Rhode Island and a leading female voice in higher education. This year’s winner of the Award: Alyssa Botelho, a University of Rhode Island student in the Harrington School of Communication and Media.
-
Impressive Slate of 96 Feature Film Selections on Lineup for 4th Bentonville Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_27971" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Mary Goes Round[/caption]
The inclusive lineup for this year’s 2018 Bentonville Film Festival includes 42 Competition Films, 13 episodic content presentations, notable showcase screenings of top festival films, critical favorites, anniversary screenings of classics, a presentation of family focused and animated greats, and every film to date from the Marvel Cinema Universe in a special free-to-the-public presentation for BFF’s film fans.
“This year’s edition of the Bentonville Film Festival truly exemplifies our mission,” said BFF co-Founder Geena Davis. We are thrilled to honor industry pioneers, while at the same time recognizing current trendsetters and changemakers, and showcasing a new class of inclusive storytellers. To be able to bring them all together in one place to enact change – that is what BFF is all about.”
Films in the dramatic feature competition this year include: Marisol Gomez-Mouakad’s ANJELICA; Sanghoon Lee’s BANANA SEASON; Kevin Arbouet’s BENJI THE DOVE; Marinanna Palka’s EGG; Tom Huang’s FIND ME; Sean Olson’s F.R.E.D.I.; Anne-Marie Hess’s GOOD AFTER BAD; Jenna Laurenzo’s LEZ BOMB; Molly McGlynn’s MARY GOES ROUND; Autumn McAlpin’s MISS ARIZONA; Vashhti Anderson’s MOKO JUMBIE; Santiago Rizzo’s QUEST; Alex Ranarivelo’s RIDE; Jenn McGowan’s RUST CREEK; Megan Griffith’s SADIE; Anthony Nardolillo’s SHINE; Ramaa Mosley’s TATTERDEMALION; Mark Dennis and Ben Foster’s TIME TRAP; Teddy Smith’s URBAN COUNTRY; Nadine Truong’s I CAN I WILL I DID; Suzi Yoonessi’s UNLOVABLE; and Kendall Goldberg’s WHEN JEFF TRIED TO SAVE THE WORLD.
Documentary features in competition include: Marvin Blunte’s 6 WEEKS TO MOTHER’S DAY; Joanna James’s A FINE LINE; Skye Borgman’s ABDUCTED IN PLAIN SIGHT; Robin Hauser’s BIAS; Stacey Reiss’s DAUGHTERS OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION; Luis Prieto’s THE DISUNITED STATES OF AMERICA; Brian Ivie’s EMANUEL; Dan Habib’s INTELLIGENT LIVES; Susan Kucera’s LIVING IN FUTURE’S PAST; Trish Russo and Craig E. Shapiro’s LOVE ALWAYS, MOM; T Cooper’s MAN MADE; Sebastien Paquet’s MIND OVER MATTER; Rob Herring and Ryan Wirick’s THE NEED TO GROW; Kulap Vilaysack’s ORIGIN STORY; Kate Hickey’s ROLLER DREAMS; Mark Hayes’s SKID ROW MARATHON; Robin Berghaus’s STUMPED; Jillian Moul and Matthew Moul’s SURVIVING HOME; Maya Washington’s THROUGH THE BANKS OF THE RED CEDARS; P.J. Marcellino, and Hermon Farahi’s WHEN THEY AWAKE and Sally Colón-Petree’s WOMEN LIKE US.
The Episodic Projects vying for prizes are: Ben Strang’s Beast; Morgan Beck’s Brooke; Keith Miller’s Brooklynification; Jennifer Morrison’s Fabled; Raj Trivedi’s From Jappan; Corrie Chen and Tori Garrett’s Mustangs FC; Kholi Hicks’s Reaver Vs. Specter; Max Rissman’s Root for the Villain; Will Seefried’s Sink Sank Sunk; Andrew Olsen’s SusaneLand; Jeremy Redleaf’s Threads; Milena Govich’s Unspeakable; and Allison Vanore’s Whatta Lark (Ep 1).
BFF previously announced that Elissa Downs’s THE HONOR LIST would make its world premiere as the Opening Night selection, with Lea Thompson’s THE YEAR OF SPECTACULAR MEN screening as this year’s Centerpiece selection.
Special Spotlight selections include; Carlos Lopez Estrada’s drama BLINDSPOTTING, about the intersection of race and class, set against the backdrop of a rapidly gentrifying Oakland; Sara Driver’s documentary BOOM FOR REAL, about legendary New York City-centric artist Jean-Michel Basquiat; Brett Haley’s crowd-pleaser HEARTS BEAT LOUD, starring Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons as a father and daughter, who form an unlikely songwriting duo; Julie Cohen and Betsy West documentary RBG, about the inestimable Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Andrew Bujalski’s latest, SUPPORT THE GIRLS, about a restaurant manager attempting to outmaneuver the owner as she tries to help one of her employees; and Jennifer Fox’s Sundance hit, THE TALE, which stars Laura Dern, Ellen Burstyn, and Common, in a devastating film which dramatizes Fox’s reconciling her memories of her first sexual relationship with the reality of what actually transpired.
The Sony/ConAgra Outdoor Theatre @ Lawrence Plaza will offer a number of family-friendly and animated hits including; the recent Academy Award winner, Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina’s COCO, Ang Lee’s classic, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000); Otto Bell’s adventure film, THE EAGLE HUNTRESS (2016); both Joe Johnston’s JUMANJI (1995) and Jake Kasdan’s recent blockbuster hit, JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, and Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook’s animated classic, MULAN (1998), celebrating its 20th Anniversary.
Additional highlights and events within the film festival are; the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Finalists screening on Wednesday, May 3, followed by a Q&A with founder Nic Novicki; the special Project Zero screening and event on, Sunday, May 5, to raise awareness for the Arkansas-based organization’s mission to diligently and passionately promote adoption through the foster care system; the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center, Ready Nation, Moms in Film and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families presentation of Raising America on Friday, May 4, followed by a panel discussion with Kyle Peterson, Alysia Reiner and others; the Samsung Create Event, on Thursday, May 23, presenting student filmmakers challenged to make a short film based on the mission of BFF by utilizing a Samsung Galaxy phone and tablet; and Marvel Experience, Wednesday May 2 – Friday May 4, at Skylight Cinema which will offer the ultimate Marvel Experience for film fans, with free film screenings, themed concessions and galactic experiences.
For the 4th consecutive year, BFF will remain the only film festival in the world to offer guaranteed distribution to its narrative feature film winner. BFF’ s distribution partners include AMC Theatres, Lifetime, Starz, ACI-Inspires and others.
In 2018, BFF will add new prizes for its other juried categories. Through a partnership with MarVista Entertainment, the winner of the Short Film Competition will be awarded a directing role on one of MarVista’s future feature films, providing an opportunity for diverse ideas, opinions and stories to be heard.
The winner of the Documentary Film Competition will receive a mentorship prize package sponsored by ITVS, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that has, for over 25 years, funded and partnered with a diverse range of documentary filmmakers to produce and distribute untold stories. The Episodic Competition winner will receive a prize package sponsored by SeriesFest, an award winning festival dedicated to showcasing the best and boldest in episodic storytelling from around the world, that includes a screening at the SeriesFest Season 4 in Denver, a consultation with an industry professional, and a VIP Badge.