Festival 2011 Winners

Feature Screenplay:
Winslow and the Emperor (Screenwriter: D. H. Martin) - An earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area opens a time portal in the Berkeley Hills, and three eleven-year-olds travel more than a hundred years back in time. When they return, they are followed by the incorrigible 'Emperor Norton' of old San Francisco.

Short Screenplay:
Canvas (Screenwriter: Jason Bickings) - An artist faces the turbulence of his past to find the inspiration he lost long ago.

Feature Film:
Double Loss (Producer: Alexandr Litvinov) - A story about loss of illusionist and his assistant during a performance in a circus. Assistant`s husband and illusionist`s daughter try to find their relatives, but it is useless. Gradually all people forgot about this story, and around this mysterious loss have appeared some new relations.

Professional Documentary:
Sloss: Industry to Art (Director; Producer: Christopher Holmes) - This documentary explores the transition of the Sloss Furnaces site in Birmingham, AL, from its former industrial function to its current role as a focal point for the contemporary Cast Iron Art movement. From pig iron plant that helped establish the city of Birmingham to neglected industrial hulk saved by a legion of concerned citizens to centerpiece of the modern Cast Iron Art movement, this is the story of what one place can mean to a community and the world.

Professional Narrative:
Scent (Director: Darren Bolton) - A quiet, sensitive and poignant film, Scent aims to explore themes of love, death and denial through a delicate observation of heart breaking, yet intriguing situations.

Student Documentary:
The Time Machine (Director; Producer:  Mark Kendall) - A watchmaker in Grand Central deconstructs his process and muses about the nature of time.

Student Narrative:
Achille (Director; Producer:  Giorgia Farina) - Achille, a cranky retired high diver is threatened to end his life in a retirement home.

Vanguard:
The Birds Upstairs (Director; Producer:  Christopher Jarvis) - Frustrated attempts to bear children overwhelm the lives of an aristocratic, avian couple in the early nineteenth century.

Young Filmmaker:
Charlie's Closet (Director; Producer:  Spencer Reed, Executive Producer:  Mark Reed) - Zoe Jacobs, a lonely young girl who has just moved to a new town, finds a friend in the aspiring author, Charlie Cordell. Charlie just happens to be the monster living in her closet.

Best of State - Clyde "Sappo" Black Award:
Secret to a Happy Ending (Director; Producer: Barr Weissman) - This is a film about the redemptive power of rock-and-roll, told through the music and bawdy history of the Drive-By Truckers. It's a film about the American South, where rock was born, and about one band's daily struggle to make art, make love, and make a living. With unparalleled access, the film documents three critical years of touring and recording as the Truckers struggle to overcome the trauma of divorce and survive a near breakup in their persistent quest for "The Secret to a Happy Ending."

Best of Show:
Achille (Director; Producer:  Giorgia Farina)

Jury Awards
Best Story: The Time Machine (Director; Producer:  Mark Kendall)
Best Directing: Scent (Director: Darren Bolton)
Best Actress: Monica Scattini (Achille)
Best Actor: Lando Buzzanca (Achille)
Best Sound Design: Scent (Director: Darren Bolton)
Best Score: Achille (Director; Producer:  Giorgia Farina)
Best Editing: Scent (Director: Darren Bolton)
Best Cinematography: The Birds Upstairs (Director; Producer:  Christopher Jarvis)
Audience Choice Awards:
Michael (Director & Executive Producer:  Luke Broyles)
the ah of life (Director:  Bank Helfrich; Producer:  Aviva Christie)



George Lindsey UNA Film Festival Finalists for each category:
Feature Screenplay:
Halfway Home (Screenwriter: David Schroeder) - Gabriel Matthews, a twenty-year old athlete/scholar recovering from a paralyzing injury, reluctantly takes a summer job as a live-in supervisor in a halfway house for the mentally challenged.
Winslow and the Emperor (Screenwriter: D. H. Martin) - An earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area opens a time portal in the Berkeley Hills, and three eleven-year-olds travel more than a hundred years back in time. When they return, they are followed by the incorrigible 'Emperor Norton' of old San Francisco.

Short Screenplay:
Dreamer in Exile (Screemwriter: Tyler Ham Pong) - A salesman and his partner grift their way across America, while raising trouble with the law, women, and common decency. With Southern charm, and a hint of the mythical American Dream, these good ‘ol boys scour the land for the chance at a new life.
Canvas (Screenwriter: Jason Bickings) - An artist faces the turbulence of his past to find the inspiration he lost long ago.

Feature Film:
The Secret to a Happy Ending (Director; Producer: Barr Weissman) - This is a film about the redemptive power of rock-and-roll, told through the music and bawdy history of the Drive-By Truckers. It's a film about the American South, where rock was born, and about one band's daily struggle to make art, make love, and make a living. With unparalleled access, the film documents three critical years of touring and recording as the Truckers struggle to overcome the trauma of divorce and survive a near breakup in their persistent quest for "The Secret to a Happy Ending."
Double Loss (Producer: Alexandr Litvinov) - A story about loss of illusionist and his assistant during a performance in a circus. Assistant`s husband and illusionist`s daughter try to find their relatives, but it is useless. Gradually all people forgot about this story, and around this mysterious loss have appeared some new relations.

Professional Documentary:
Open Secret (Director; Producer: Melanie Jeffcoat) - Open Secret is a short film based entirely on the transcripts of the 1901 Alabama Constitutional Convention where the delegates set out to unabashedly 'Establish White Supremacy!' This Constitution of 1901 was a catalyst for the decades of struggle in the south and why the state of Alabama became the epicenter of a civil rights movement that transformed a nation. Open Secret is the first reenactment of these transcripts and was written using exact quotes from the proceedings. The 30 minute film, shot and produced in Alabama, brings to life eight of these men and one brave suffragist. We are guided through the conversations by an on-screen narrator, the only fictional character, who puts the words of these delegates into the context of American history.
Sloss: Industry to Art (Director; Producer: Christopher Holmes) - This documentary explores the transition of the Sloss Furnaces site in Birmingham, AL, from its former industrial function to its current role as a focal point for the contemporary Cast Iron Art movement. From pig iron plant that helped establish the city of Birmingham to neglected industrial hulk saved by a legion of concerned citizens to centerpiece of the modern Cast Iron Art movement, this is the story of what one place can mean to a community and the world.

Professional Narrative:
Scott's Dead (Director: Matt Irvine; Producer: David Miller) - Estranged brothers from a dysfunctional family are forced to reunite in 'Scott's Dead,' a gritty tale of addiction, betrayal and metamorphosis.
Scent (Director: Darren Bolton) - A quiet, sensitive and poignant film, Scent aims to explore themes of love, death and denial through a delicate observation of heart breaking, yet intriguing situations.

Student Documentary:
Honeymoon (Director: Grzegorz Krawiec; Co-Producers: Grzegorz Krawiec, Andrzej Bednarek) - History of a man who has just been released from prison after 7 years of punishment.
The Time Machine (Director; Producer:  Mark Kendall) - A watchmaker in Grand Central deconstructs his process and muses about the nature of time.

Student Narrative:
Cliquetastrophe (Director: Michael Felker) - Set in 1999 at the Cobb High School cafeteria, Clarke Averbush, a movie geek, attempts to ask Becky Lauderdale, a popular cheerleader, to the Star Wars: Phantom Menace premiere during their lunch period. But first, Clarke has to overcome the adversity of the intimidating football jock, Brad Stokes, and a cafeteria food fight started by held-back giant bearded punk rock student. Will the movie geek get the girl of his dreams before lunch is over?
Achille (Director; Producer:  Giorgia Farina) - Achille, a cranky retired high diver is threatened to end his life in a retirement home.

Vanguard:
the ah of life (Director: Banks Helfrich; Producer: Aviva Christie) - In a world where time is vertical, mathematician Nigel Kline, stumbles upon himself which lays the foundation for acceptance of his own mortality.
The Birds Upstairs (Director; Producer:  Christopher Jarvis) - Frustrated attempts to bear children overwhelm the lives of an aristocratic, avian couple in the early nineteenth century.

Young Filmmaker:
Michael (Director & Executive Producer: Luke Broyles) - Eleven year old director, Luke Broyles, and Michael became friends in second grade. Luke wanted to make this documentary to show other kids that Michael, despite his unique challenges, is a kid just like them. It's a personal glimpse of Michael ...a special needs kiddo who is bubbling with hope and joy. Michael loves life. Especially singing and his dream of Broadway. This touching view of Michael, from another child's perspective, opens all our eyes.
Charlie's Closet (Director; Producer:  Spencer Reed, Executive Producer:  Mark Reed) - Zoe Jacobs, a lonely young girl who has just moved to a new town, finds a friend in the aspiring author, Charlie Cordell. Charlie just happens to be the monster living in her closet.