Strad Style, Dim The Fluorescents, Dave Made A Maze, Take Top Prizes at 2017 Slamdance Film Festival

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Friday, 27 January 2017 08:07

The 23rd Slamdance Film Festival tonight announced the feature and short film recipients of this year's Sparky awards in the Audience, Jury, and Sponsored Categories. The award winners were announced at the festival's annual Awards Ceremony at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, UT.

Established in 1995 by a wild bunch of filmmakers, Slamdance has proven, year after year, that when it comes to recognizing talent and launching careers, independent and grassroots communities can do it themselves. Previous Slamdance alumni include: Christopher Nolan (THE DARK KNIGHT; MEMENTO), and Claire Carre (EMBERS).

"Independent film is made beautiful not by those individual artists that form celebrity culture but by creative collaboration" said Slamdance Co-Founder and President, Peter Baxter. "At Slamdance this year we've experienced an entire program of beautiful independent film and the promise of great emerging artists continuing the legacy of what we set out to do. With our awards we honor several filmmakers yet we know and must acknowledge Slamdance has just been made stronger by everyone of them who has taken part."

A jury of esteemed filmmakers and industry professionals determined the Slamdance Jury Awards for Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, and Short Film categories. The Audience Awards as well as the Spirit of Slamdance, an award given by the filmmakers of Slamdance 2017 to the filmmaker who best embodies the spirit of the Festival, were also bestowed. Additional sponsored awards were provided by NAB Show, Final Draft, and Pierce Law Group LLP. The feature competition films in the Documentary and Narrative Programs are limited to first-time filmmakers working with production budgets of less than $1 million.

This year's Slamdance Narrative Jury Prizes were selected by: film critic Jason Coleman, Ania Trzebiatowska (Visit Films), and filmmaker Jerzy Rose (CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY).  The Sparky Prize for Best Narrative Feature went to DIM THE FLUORESCENTS; directed by Daniel Warth, and written by Warth and Miles Barstead.

"It's empathetic, weird and insanely funny." said Slamdance jurors. "This film delivers its crazy script with guts & panache. It's a delight--beautifully executed and smart as a whip."

This year's Slamdance Documentary Jury Prizes were selected by: filmmaker Adrian Belic (GENGHIS BLUES; BEYOND THE CALL), filmmaker Mario DeAngelis, filmmaker/journalist Silvia Bizio. The  Sparky Prize for Best Documentary Feature went to STRAD STYLE; directed by Stefan Avalos.

Jurors shared that they honor the film, "for capturing a journey of passion and commitment, honesty and the triumph of one vision against all odds."

The same Jury also gave the Sparky Prize for Best Documentary Short to MORIOM, directed by Francesca Scalisi and Mark Olexa, highlighting "its arresting portrayal dramatically shot of human trauma and its consequence."

This year's Slamdance Narrative Shorts and Animated Shorts jury prizes were selected by: filmmaker Sonia Albert Sobrino, Jeffrey Bowers (VIMEO, Sr, Curator), and filmmaker Malik Vitthal (IMPERIAL DREAMS). The Sparky Prize for Best Narrative Short went to NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT, directed by Tim Mason

Jurors celebrated the film and shared, "we recognize this brave new voice that found the magical combination to create this work."

The Sparky Prize for Best  Animated Short went to Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw), directed by Renee Zhan.

"This film is brilliant, and nuanced portrait of power and control and the pain that this artists creates," said Jurors. "Its honest voice found a way to share a very private moment with a flawless combination of oppressed levity"

This year's Experimental Shorts/Anarchy Shorts Prizes were selected by: filmmaker Miriam Albert Sobrino, filmmaker Mike Olenick (RED LUCK; THE CURE), and film programmer Bryan Wendorf (Chicago Underground Film Festival)

The Sparky Prize for Best Experimental Short went to UpCycles, directed by Ariana Gerstein. "We are impressed by the unusual and meticulous process involved in making UpCycles," said Jurors. "We are even more affected that the process never overshadowed the pure visual delight of experiencing this experimental film."

The Sparky Prize for Best Anarchy Short was given to APE SODOM, directed by Maxwell McCabe-Lokos.

"While we were impressed by the strange and fully realized world of this film," Jurors said, "We were more impressed by seeing how many objects someone could shove up their ass at one time. Ape Sodom not only lived up to its name--it embodies the spirit of anarchy."

Each jury also recognized additional films with Honorable Mentions;

• Narrative Features Honorable Mention: KATE CAN'T SWIM, directed by Josh Helman
• Documentary Feature Honorable Mention: THE MODERN JUNGLE, directed by Charles Fairbanks, Saul Kak
• Documentary Short Honorable Mention: IRREGULARS, directed by Fabio Palmieri
• Narrative Shorts Honorable Mention: OH WHAT A WONDERFUL FEELING, directed by Francois Jaros
• Animated Shorts Honorable Mention: MY FATHER'S ROOM, directed by Nari Jang
• Experimental Shorts Honorable Mention: BLUA, directed by Carolina Charry Quintero
• Anarchy Shorts Honorable Mention: HORSESHOE THEORY, directed by Jonathan Daniel Brown

The Spirit Of Slamdance Award went to the film team of NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD DRIVE, directed by Jerzy Rose, and written by Rose, Halle Butler, and Mike Lopez.

Awards were also given to festival favorites, voted on by the Slamdance audiences. The Narrative Feature Audience Award was given to DAVE MADE A MAZE, Bill Watterson, and written by Watterson and Steven Sears. The Documentary Feature Audience Award was given to STRAD STYLE. The Beyond Feature Audience Award was given to FUTURE '38, directed by Jamie Greenberg.

Immediately following closing night, Slamdance will present a special encore screening in Los Angeles of their opening night film, WHAT LIES UP STREAM. The documentary feature, directed by Cullen Hoback will launch the ArcLight Presents Slamdance Cinema Club 2017 season on Tuesday, January 31st at the ArcLight Hollywood.

Full list of winners:

Jury Awards | Narrative Features

Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize

Dim the Fluorescents

(Canada) World Premiere

Director: Daniel Warth; Screenwriter(s): Miles Barstead, Daniel Warth  

Jury statement: "Empathetic, weird and insanely funny, this film delivers its crazy script with guts & panache. It's a delight--beautifully executed and smart as a whip. The jury is thrilled to present the grand jury prize for best narrative feature to DIM THE FLUORESCENTS."

Narrative Features Honorable Mention

Kate Can't Swim

(USA) World Premiere

Director: Josh Helman; Screenwriter(s): Jennifer Allcott, Josh Helman

Jury statement: "Flawless in its execution of portraying real relationships with believably nuanced characters, authentic on-screen chemistry and an engaging story that thrives on what isn't said."

Jury Awards | Documentary Features, Documentary Shorts

Documentary Feature Grand Jury Prize

Strad Style

(USA) World Premiere

Director: Stefan Avalos

Jury statement: "For capturing a journey of passion and commitment, honesty and the triumph of one vision against all odds.'

Documentary Feature Honorable Mention

The Modern Jungle

(Mexico/USA)

Director(s) & Screenwriter(s): Charles Fairbanks, Saul Kak

Jury statement: "For its beautiful cinematography, for a compassionate journey into a dangerous and uncharted world."

Documentary Short Grand Jury Prize

Moriom

(Switzerland)

Director(s): Francesca Scalisi, Mark Olexa

Jury statement: "For an arresting portrayal dramatically shot of human trauma and its consequence."

Documentary Short Honorable Mention

Irregulars

(Italy)

Director: Fabio Palmieri

Jury statement: "For its visionary take on the dehumanized face of immigration."

Jury Awards - Narrative Shorts/Animated Shorts

Narrative Shorts Grand Jury Prize

No Other Way To Say It

(USA)

Director and Screenwriter: Tim Mason

Jury statement: "Brave new voice, that found the magical combination to create the complete short film. "It's Good There's no other way to say it."

Narrative Shorts Honorable Mention

Oh What a Wonderful Feeling

(Canada)

Director and Screenwriter: François Jaros

Jury statement: "Powerful storytelling that found a way to lean away from the stereotypes and consider the humans within the context, with a technical savvy and social responsibility this film reminds us to witness everyone and to see their power."

Animated Shorts Grand Jury Prize

Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw)

(USA)

Renee Zhan

Jury statement: "For its brilliant, and nuanced portrait of power and control and the pain that this artists creates. This honest voice found a way to share a very private moment with a flawless combination of oppressed levity"

Animated Shorts Honorable Mention

My Father's Room

(South Korea) North American Premiere

Director and Screenwriter: Nari Jang

Jury statement: "This heartbreaking portrait of a girl's broken relationship and the lifelong effects of growing up with an abusive father found a way to sear into its audience to look at the root of pain, asking us to reflect if we could ever escape its cloud. A complete and touching film."

Jury Awards - Experimental Shorts/Anarchy Shorts

Experimental Shorts Grand Jury Prize

UpCycles

(USA)

Director: Ariana Gerstein

Jury statement: "We are impressed by the unusual and meticulous process involved in making UpCycles. We are even more affected that the process never overshadowed the pure visual delight of experiencing this experimental film."

Experimental Shorts Honorable Mention

Blua

(Colombia)

Director and Screenwriter: Carolina Charry Quintero

Jury statement: "We were surprised by the unexpected shifts between the documentary, narrative, and experimental moments in Blua, and we look forward to seeing the path the filmmaker takes with her future work."

Anarchy Shorts Grand Jury Prize

Ape Sodom

(Canada)

Director and Screenwriter: Maxwell McCabe-Lokos

Jury statement: "While we were impressed by the strange and fully realized world of this film, we were more impressed by seeing how many objects someone could shove up their ass at one time. Ape Sodom not only lived up to its name -- it embodies the spirit of anarchy."

Anarchy Shorts Honorable Mention

Horseshoe Theory

(USA) World Premiere

Director: Jonathan Daniel Brown

Jury statement: "At a time when America is more divided than ever, this film gives us the hope that two opposing sides can set aside their differences, come together, work together, fall in love... and cum together."

Spirit of Slamdance Award Winner:

Neighborhood Food Drive

(USA) World Premiere

Director: Jerzy Rose; Screenwriter(s): Halle Butler, Mike Lopez, Jerzy Rose

Audience Awards

Audience Award for Narrative Feature:

Dave Made a Maze

(USA) World Premiere

Director: Bill Watterson; Screenwriter(s): Steven Sears, Bill Watterson

Audience Award for Documentary Feature:

Strad Style

(USA) World Premiere

Director: Stefan Avalos

Audience Award for Beyond Feature:

Future '38

(USA) World Premiere

Director and Screenwriter: Jamie Greenberg

ABOUT SLAMDANCE:

Slamdance is a community, a year-round experience, and a statement. Established in 1995 by a wild bunch of filmmakers who were tired of relying on a large, oblique system to showcase their work, Slamdance has proven, year after year, that when it comes to recognizing talent and launching careers, independent and grassroots communities can do it themselves.

Slamdance alums are responsible for the programming and organization of the festival. With a variety of backgrounds, interests, and talents, but with no individual filmmaker's vote meaning more than any others, Slamdance's programming and organizing committees have been able to stay close to the heart of low budget and do-it-yourself filmmaking. In this way, Slamdance continues to grow and exemplify its mantra: By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers.

The 2017 Slamdance Film Festival will run January 20-26  in Park City, Utah.

Notable Slamdance alumni who first gained notice at the festival include: Christopher Nolan (Interstellar), Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity), Marc Forster (World War Z), Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), Lena Dunham (Girls), Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Anthony & Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin), Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses), Lynn Shelton (Humpday) and Matt Johnson (Operation Avalanche). Box Office Mojo reports alumni who first showed their work at Slamdance have earned over $11.5 billion at the Box Office to date.

In addition to the Festival, Slamdance serves emerging artists and a growing audience with several year-round activities. These include the popular Slamdance Screenplay Competition, the traveling On The Road screening events, the Anarchy Workshop for student filmmakers, and The ArcLight Presents Slamdance Cinema Club – a monthly cinema club partnership with ArcLight Cinemas based at the ArcLight Hollywood and ArcLight Chicago, with two screenings and filmmaker Q&A's each month:

www.arclightcinemas.com/en/news/arclight-presents-slamdance-cinema-club

Slamdance Presents is a new distribution arm established to access broader distribution of independent films. The goal is to build the popularity of independent films and support filmmakers on a commercial level through theatrical releases. In August 2016, Slamdance Presents launched the week long release of Claire Carré's feature sci-fi film, Embers, at ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood. Steve Yu's The Resurrection of Jake The Snake was the first film to be released by the company. The documentary reached number one on iTunes in December, 2015.

In November 2015, Slamdance announced DIG (Digital, Interactive & Gaming), a new digital, interactive and gaming showcase dedicated to emerging independent artists working in hybrid, immersive and developing forms of digital media art. Ten works were featured in the inaugural DIG show that opened in Los Angeles at Big Pictures Los Angeles on December 4, running through December 13, 2015. The show was also featured at the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival. DIG opened in Los Angeles December 2-10, 2016 and will form part of the 2017 Film Festival.

2017 Slamdance Film Festival Sponsors include Blackmagic Design, Distribber, CreativeFuture, Directors Guild of America, Fusion, Different By Design, Pierce Law Group LLP, Writers Guild Of America West, Salt Lake City's Slug Magazine, Beehive Distilling, and BlueStar Café. Slamdance is proud to partner with sponsors who support emerging artists and filmmakers. Additional information about Slamdance is available at www.slamdance.com

Facebook: SlamdanceFilmFestival

Twitter: @slamdance

Instagram: @slamogram