The 15th annual Slamdance Film Festival has announced 16 film and screenplay prize winners in four categories who will share more than $100,000 in cash and prizes, including UNDONE for the Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short.
The just-concluded Festival in Park City, Utah, received over 3,000 submissions from 25 countries for 120 programming slots. 2009 marked the 15th anniversary of the Slamdance Film Festival, one of the few remaining movie showcases whose sole mission is to nurture, support and introduce truly independent works from first-time filmmakers.
There are three competitive divisions at Slamdance: Grand Jury, Audience and Writer Awards, in addition to Special Awards given by Kodak, Dos Equis and IndieRoad.net. Selections from the Grand Jury and Audience Award winning films will be screened at the IFC Center in New York City and the DGA in Los Angeles. Feature competition is limited to first-time filmmakers working with production budgets of $1 million or less.
The winners of the 15th Slamdance Film Festival and their prize packages are as follows:
GRAND JURY AWARDS
Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature
Winner: A QUIET LITTLE MARRIAGE, directed by Mo Perkins Special Jury Mention for Best Performance: Larry Fessenden in I SELL THE DEADWinner receives: Filmworksfx credit ($15,000 value), $3,500 credit on legal services from Pierce Law Group, LLP, FilmTracker System, Showbiz Software Package and Jungle Software Package.
Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature
Winner: STRONGMAN, directed by Zachary LevySpecial Jury Mention: SECOND SIGHT, directed by Alison McAlpineWinner receives: Filmworksfx credit ($10,000), Panasonic HVX200 Camera, $3,500 credit on legal services from Pierce Law Group, LLP, FilmTracker System, Showbiz Software Package and Jungle Software Package.
Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short
Winner: UNDONE, directed by Hayley MorrisWinner receives: Filmworksfx credit ($2,500 value), FilmTracker System, Showbiz Software Package and Jungle Software Package.
Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short
Winner: RARE CHICKEN RESCUE, directed by Randall WoodWinner receives: Filmworksfx credit ($2,500 value), FilmTracker System, Showbiz Software Package and Jungle Software Package.
Grand Jury Award for Best Experimental Short
Winner: FUNNY GUY, directed by Frank R. RinaldiWinner receives: Filmworksfx credit ($2,500 value) and FilmTracker System.
Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short
Winner: PRINCESS MARGARET BLVD, directed by Kazik RadwanskiSpecial Jury Mention: TONY ZOREIL, directed by Valentin PotierWinner receives: Filmworksfx credit ($2,500 value), FilmTracker System, Showbiz Software Package and Jungle Software Package.
Grand Jury Award for Best Music Video
Winner: Don McCloskey's MISTER NOVOCAINE, directed by Peter RhoadsWinner receives: Gibson SG Special Guitar presented by Gibson Guitar.
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
Winner: PUNCHING THE CLOWN, directed by Gregory Viens Winner receives: $2,000 credit from Alpha Cine, FilmTracker System Post Factory NY editing credit, Showbiz Software Package and Jungle Software Package.
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
Winner: HEART OF STONE (formerly IT'S HARD TO BE AN INDIAN), directed by Beth Toni KruvantWinner receives: $2,000 credit from Alpha Cine, $4,000 credit from Filmworks, FilmTracker System, Post Factory NY editing credit, Showbiz Software Package and Jungle Software Package.
Audience Award for Best Anarchy Film
Winner: THE TIDES, directed by Eva FlodstromWinner receives: $2,500 credit from Filmworks, FilmTracker System, Showbiz Software Package and Jungle Software Package.
Spirit of Slamdance Award
Winners (tie): ZOMBIE GIRL, directed by Aaron Marshall, Erik Mauck, Justin Johnson; and VAPID LOVELIES, directed by Frank FeldmanAwarded by the Class of 2009 filmmakers to the film teams that best exhibit passion and talent, commitment to the independent community, and enthusiastically embrace all Slamdance has to offer.Winners receive: Michael Collins Gift Basket.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Kodak Vision Award for Best Cinematography
Winner: I SELL THE DEAD, cinematographer Richard LopezWinner receives: $10,000 worth of Kodak Film (35mm or 16mm film stock).
Dos Equis "Most Interesting Film" Award
Winner: YOU MIGHT AS WELL LIVE, directed by Simon EllisWinner receives: Special Prize Package from Dos Equis
IndieRoad Award
Winner: PUNCHING THE CLOWN, directed by Gregory ViensThe online audience award voted on by IndieRoad.net viewers.Winner receives: $5,000 credit from Lightning Media.
WRITER AWARDS
Award for Best Screenplay
Winner: NUMBERED (Comedy/Thriller) by Neil McGowanWinner receives: $7,000 Cash Prize
Award for Best Short Screenplay
Winner: CRYBABY (Thriller) by Mark SeidelWinner receives: $500 Cash Prize
