Promising New Filmmakers Recognized at Slamdance Film Festival Awards
The winners of the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival were announced last night and, as per usual, they shine a spotlight on some very exciting new filmmakers.
The big winner among narrative features was Esra Saydam and Nisan Sag’s intimate debut feature (and Indiewire Project of the Day) “Across the Sea,” which scooped up the Audience Award for Narrative Feature as well as an honorable mention from the jury. On the documentary side, “Sweet Micky for President” dominated, winning both Jury and Audience Awards.
Feature-length jury prize winners are awarded $3,500 in legal services from Pierce Law Group. Narrative, animated and documentary short jury prize winners go on to qualify for the Academy Awards.
The complete list of winners is below:
Audience Awards
Narrative Feature:
“Across the Sea,” directed by Esra Saydam & Nisan Dag
Documentary Feature:
“Sweet Micky for President,” directed by Ben Patterson
Jury Awards
Narrative Feature:
“Tired Moonlight,” directed by Britni West (Honorable mentions: “They Look Like People,” directed by Perry Blackshear; “Across the Sea,” directed by Esra Saydam & Nisan Sag)
Documentary Feature:
“Sweet Micky for President,” directed by Ben Patterson (Honorable mention: “20 Years of Madness,” directed by Jeremy Royce)
Documentary Short:
“The Solitude of Memory,” directed by Juan Pablo Gonzalez (Honorable mention: “Dolphin Lover,” directed by Kareem Tabsch)
Narrative Short:
“Stay Awake,” directed by Jaime Sisley (Honorable mention: “09:55 – 11:05, Ingrid Ekman, Bergsgatan 4B,” directed by Christine Berglund & Sophie Vukovic)
Animation Short:
“The Pride of Strathmoore,” directed by Einar Baldvin (Honorable mention: “Hipopotamy,” directed by Piotr Dumala)
Experimental Short:
“Red Luck,” directed by Mike Olenick
Anarchy Short:
“Deviance,” directed by Aron Kantor (Honorable mention: “Sea Devil,” directed by Dean C. Marcial)
Special Awards
Spirit of Slamdance:
“Think Ink,” directed by Wally Chung
Digital Bolex Fearless Filmmaking Grand Prize:
“Coming To,” awarded to director Lindsey Haun; director of photography Spencer Rollins; and star Jacob Demonte-Finn (Honorable mentions: “The Character Study,” credited to director/director of photography Luke Pelizzari; “Isobel,” credited to director Marie Jamora and director of photography Jason McLagan)
Kodak Director’s Prize:
“Detritus,” directed by T.J. Misny
READ MORE: Slamdance Studios Launches Film Collection on Hulu
