(PARK CITY, UT – January 28, 2016)– The 22nd 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.As in previous years, juries of leading industry experts and esteemed filmmakers 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 2016 to the filmmaker who best embodies the spirit of the Festival, were also bestowed. Additional sponsored awards included this year’s Digital Bolex Fearless Filmmaking Grand Prize. 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.
“Congratulations to all of the filmmakers this year. Outside of winning a Sparky, as a collective they showed us the power of real independent film and how much it enriches our lives,” stated Peter Baxter, Slamdance President and Co-founder.
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Audience Award for Narrative Feature:
HONEY BUDDIES dir. by Alex Simmons
When David is dumped just days before his wedding, Flula, his upbeat and very German best man, convinces him to go on David’s honeymoon together: a seven-day backpacking trip through the Oregon wilderness. On the trail, the two friends meet a conspiracy theorist, a friendly backpacker, and a bloodthirsty predator, on an unrelenting trek that tests their friendship and their lives.
Audience Award for Documentary Feature:
THE MILLION DOLLAR DUCK dir. by Brian Golden David
The Million Dollar Duck dives into the wonderfully eccentric world of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest, the only juried art competition run by the U.S. government. The Duck Stamp is among the most successful conservation tools ever created, spawning a uniquely American subculture brimming with talent, big money, and migratory birds. The film follows the artists who competitively paint waterfowl in their obsessive quests to win the “Olympics of wildlife art.”
JURY AWARDS - NARRATIVE
This year's Slamdance Narrative Jury Prizes were selected by the esteemed panel of industry members Julie La'Bassiere, Erik Jambor, & Damon Russell.
Jury Award for Narrative Feature:
DRIFTWOOD dir. by Paul Taylor
“A thoroughly original outsider voice that leaves us eager to see what the filmmaker creates next.”
The award winner was granted $3,500 in legal services from Pierce Law Group.
Jury Honorable Mention for Acting-Narrative Feature:
HUNKY DORY dir. by Michael Curtis Johnson, starring Tomas Pais and Edouard Holdener
“Two breakout performances; a heartfelt story about love and families, both biological and chosen."
JURY AWARDS - DOCUMENTARY
This year's Slamdance Documentary Jury Prizes were selected by the esteemed panel of industry members Skizz Cyzyk, Vanessa Hope, & Steve Yu.
Jury Award for Documentary Feature:
THE MILLION DOLLAR DUCK, dir. by Brian Golden Davis
"With humor and empathy, The Million Dollar Duck looks into the little-known world of avid, nature-loving duck painters who seek to win the glory and financial dividend of being on a federal stamp. Artfully shot and edited, with a colorful cast of characters, the film weaves these human stories into the larger picture of how the annual competition has served to create and protect America's many wildlife refuges. It's about more than the duck."
The award winner was granted $3,500 in legal services from Pierce Law Group.
Jury Honorable Mention for Documentary Feature:
ART OF THE PRANK, dir. by Andrea Marini
"Shining a spotlight on an interesting person whose mission isn’t likely to get exposure from the media, since the media is his deserving victim. Told with a mischievous glee, the artfulness of this film mirrors its content."
Jury Award for Documentary Short:
IF MAMA AIN'T HAPPY, NOBODY'S HAPPY, dir. by Mea de Jong
"Multi-generational traditions examined from two very different perspectives within a family. Charming sweetness and comedic sadness, all rolled into one thought-provoking short film. A film that makes clear the power of women who go it alone and take charge of their lives when men disappoint."
The award winner qualifies for the Annual Academy Awards®.
Jury Honorable Mention for Cinematography- Documentary Short:
THE BULLET, dir. by Jordan Bahat, cinematography by Mike Gioulakis
"Beautiful cinematography offering a peek into a profession most of us would never consider. And who doesn’t love the circus?"
JURY AWARDS - SHORT FILMS
The below Short Film Jury Prizes were selected by the esteemed panel of industry members Steve Montal, Ina Pira, and Mark Shapiro.
Jury Award for Narrative Short:
WINTER HYMNS, dir. by Dusty Mancinelli
“A story where innocence, mischief and brazen confidence abruptly meet at a tragic crossroads. There is beauty and sadness here, and the director handles both with natural, unpretentious skill.”
The award winner qualifies for the Annual Academy Awards®.
Jury Honorable Mention for Narrative Short:
THE BEAST, dir. by Daina Oniunas Pusic
"The Beast, produced in Croatia, portrays the strained and codependent relationship of two aging women. It is a sophisticated and elegant portrayal of anger and despair."
Jury Award for Animation Short:
MY DAD, dir. by Marcus Armitage
"My Dad expresses compelling universal themes -- the director's powerful, heartbreaking message and the film's bold, colorful palette are perfectly suited to his experimental animation format.”
The award winner qualifies for the Annual Academy Awards®.
Jury Honorable Mention for Animation Short:
FLAWS, dir. by Josh Shaffner
"Flaws brilliantly portrays the trajectory of life and death within a world of helplessness. It beautifully interlaces images, icons, words and music to deliver a powerful piece of thought-provoking cinema in under three minutes."
The below Short Film Jury Prizes were selected by esteemed industry members Wally Chung, Dekker Dreyer, & Jack Sargeant.
Jury Award for Experimental Short:
INFRASTRUCTURES, dir. by Aurèle Ferrier
“A pensive and serene vision that challenges the audience to consider and reevaluate not just the structure of film, but also the world in which we live.”
Jury Honorable Mention for Experimental Short:
CUP OF STARS, dir. by Ryan Betschart, Tyler Betschart
"The beauty of the mutable universe and the individual; finding the transcendent in the everyday."
Jury Award for Anarchy Short:
DISCO INFERNO, dir. by Alice Waddington
“An emerging voice with a powerful aesthetic that pays homage to classic cinema while simultaneously affirming a future for visionary film.”
Jury Honorable Mention for Anarchy Short:
GWILLIAM, dir. by Brian Lonano
“Fucking visceral. A fresh take on goblin fun.”
Jury Honorable Mention for Anarchy Short:
HI HOW ARE YOU DANIEL JOHNSTON? dir. by Gabriel Sunday
“A dream meditation on music creativity, mental health, and lost love. A poignant journey into the psyche of the creative mind.”
SPECIAL AWARDS
Spirit of Slamdance Award:
Cast and crew of FURSONAS, dir. by Dominic Rodriguez
The Spirit of Slamdance is awarded by the filmmakers of Slamdance 2016. It goes to the filmmaker who best embodies the spirit of the festival, creatively promoting their film, joyfully participating in screenings and events, and generally putting good energy into the festival.
The Digital Bolex Fearless Filmmaking awards were selected by the esteemed panel of industry members Jeremy Osbern, Misti Boland, Lindsey Haun, Michael Dunaway, Ben Kasulke, Leah Shore & Tina Mabry.
Digital Bolex Fearless Filmmaking Grand Prize:
SMALL TALK dir. by Hilary Campbell
Digital Bolex Fearless Filmmaking Honorable Mention:
YOU WILL FIND A WAY dir. by A.J. Molle
Digital Bolex Fearless Filmmaking Honorable Mention:
EYES OF THE CITY, dir. by Luke Randall
To continue following the Festival, join us for the ArcLight Presents Slamdance Cinema Club screening of DIRECTOR’S CUT at the ArcLight Hollywood February 2nd at 8pm followed by a filmmaker Q&A with director Adam Rifkin and Penn & Teller, and Slamdance Studios on Hulu will premiere CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY on February 3rd. This year’s films that sold out of Festival that audiences will be seeing globally include: FURSONAS (Gravitas Ventures), THE MILLION DOLLAR DUCK (Animal Planet/Discovery and Lionsgate).
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 other’s, 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.
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, with two screenings and filmmaker Q&A’s each month: https://www.arclightcinemas.com/en/news/arclight-presents-slamdance-cinema-club
In January 2015, Hulu partnered with Slamdance Studios to offer a new film collection from festival alumni. The nascent but already profitable venture allows viewers to access Slamdance Studios on Hulu at http://www.hulu.com/companies/slamdance
Slamdance Presents is a new distribution arm established to access broader distribution of independent films made or acquired by Slamdance Studios. The goal is to build the popularity of independent films and support filmmakers on a commercial level through theatrical releases. The Resurrection of Jake The Snake is the first film to be released by the company. The documentary is now number one on iTunes.
In November, 2015, Slamdance announced DIG, 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 4th, running through December 13th, 2015. Admission is free and open to the public. The show was also featured at the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival.
2016 Slamdance Film Festival Sponsors include Blackmagic Design, Distribber, CreativeFuture, Directors Guild of America, Kodak, Digital Bolex, The International Fusion Doc Challenge, Carhartt, Different By Design, Pierce Law Group LLP, G-Technology, Media Storage Group, 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 the Slamdance is available at www.slamdance.com
Connect with Slamdance:
Facebook: SlamdanceFilmFestival
Twitter: @slamdance
Instagram: @slamogram
PRESS CONTACT:
Annie Jeeves/Cinematic Red
Phone: 323.834.9733
Annie@CinematicRed.com