2008 Winners

Feature 1st Place: WAR EAGLE,ARKANSAS Director, Robert Milazzo Screenplay by Graham Gordy - Story by Vincent Insalaco and Graham Gordy Producers – Marco Henry, Vincent Insalaco Assistant Director – Chris Carroll with: Bryan Dennehy, Dan McCabe, James McDaniel, Luke Grimes, Mare Winningham, Mary K. Place, Misti Traya War Eagle, Arkansas is a character driven drama about a young man’s dilemma of whether to leave his family and friends for a career in baseball or stay and redeem his struggling community. The story takes place over a few pivotal weeks in the summer after Enoch Cass’s senior year, and is set against the backdrop of the Ozark Mountains.

2nd Place: GREETINGS FROM THE SHORE Writer/Director – Greg Chwerchak Writer/Producer – Gabrielle Berberich Co-Producer – Gregory Charles Schaefer Executive Producer – Robert I. Schulman with: Kim Shaw, Paul Sorvino, David Fumero, Jay O. Sanders, Andrew Shaifer, Lars Arentz-Hansen Still reeling from the death of her father, a young girl spends one last summer at the Jersey Shore before heading off to college. But when her plans fall apart, the girl stumbles into a mysterious world of Russian sailors, high-stakes gambling, and unexpected love.

Documentary 1st Place: FINDING KRAFTLAND Directors/Writers - Richard Kraft, Adam Shell Producer – Richard Kraft with: Richard Kraft, Nicky Kraft, Stacey Asward, Alan Menken, Christophe Beck, Danny Elfman, David Zippel, Graeme Revell, John Ottman, John Brion, Marc Shaiman, Treveor Rabin After the death of his older brother, a Hollywood talent agent drags his son through an excessive quest to recapture his childhood. The quest involves zero gravity flights, obsessive collecting of pieces of Disneyland, and a trek around the world to discover the perfect rollercoaster. Along the way both father and son discover the true meaning of living life to its fullest.

2nd Place: CHASIN’ GUS’S GHOST Writer, Director, Producer – Todd Kwait Executive Producer – Carol Kwait with narrator Todd Kwait A personal exploration of the roots and growth of jug band music in the US starting with Gus Cannon in the 1920’s and his dynamic influence on the popular folk music movement of the 60’s and 70’s. The film discovers its modern popularity in Japan and features interviews and performances by John Sebastian – Lovin’ Spoonful, Bob Weir - Grateful Dead, the voice of Taj Mahal and Jim Kweskin, Geoff Muldaur, and the late Fritz Richmond, Bill Keith and Maria Muldaur from the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, and David Grisman.

Short 1st Place: ENGLISH LANGUAGE (With English Subtitles) Writer, Director – Tim Plester Producers - Margery Bone, Collin Teague with: Tim Plester, MyAnna Buring, Craig Parkinson An offbeat black and white romantic comedy about love and communication ... with subtitles. This film features sparking music by singer/songwriter Barbarossa.

2nd Place: BOOK OF WISDOM Writer – Ryan Costello, Jr. Director – Lorne Hiltser Producer – Josh Kimmel with: Josh Kimmel, Erika Rosenbaum, Larry Day, Mike Paterson, Christine Ghawi Danny Brown was unhappy with his life, invisible to the girl he liked, and constantly picked on by his co-worker. When a magical book boasting "All The Answers" appears in his apartment, Danny's life starts to turn around. Suddenly, he's getting the attention of his dream girl, respect from his boss, and a new found confidence. As Danny goes through the chapters, step by step, he realizes he's changing, but is the change for the better?

Honorable Mention: EPICAC Writer, Director – Will Tully Producers – Will Tully, Jenny Lenz Associate Producer – Joel Austin with: Heather Long, Jack Serino, (voice-over) Lou Young Based on a Kurt Vonnegut short story, EPICAC is a science fiction romance about a machine that learns to love. When it understands that it is not made of “protoplasm” it short circuits itself out of the female and male mathematician’s lives forever.

Best Music Video TRAINWRECK Writer, Director, Producer – April Perea with: The Mangled Fairy This video is a music project by an underground Mississippi artist.

Best Experimental STANDING ON A WHALE Writer, Director, Producer – Jorge Arrieta with: Dominique Arrieta, Elijha Conley, Gabriel Wilson, Grant Beauchamp, Jeff Wilson, Jorge Arrieta This imaginative film features artwork, animation and the concept of creation to bring to life the inspiration of one man – one artist.

Best Student THE FATHER Writer, Director, Producer – Anthony Onah Executive Producer – Brian Flanagan Associate Producers – Evelyn Lewis, Roselynn Lewis with: Christopher L. Davis and Brandon White Injustice cuts both ways when a father’s misguided effort drives his son to a shocking end.

Best Young Filmmaker THE HONEST SHEPHERD Writer, Director, Producer – Lubomir Mihailo Kocka with: Jozef Bajnok, Viktor Setnicky, Zuzka Zimanova, Edo Janko, an ordinary shepherd, becomes a subject of a bet concerning his honesty. Eventually everyone involved must face the consequences of their choices.

Made in Mississippi ESCAPE FROM 13 Writer, Director, Producer, – Russell Fox with: Animated Characters - (Voice-overs – Robin Haire, Neal Sanford, Ken Calloway, Doug Stewart, Rudy Pounds, Russell Fox) She wants to be free – at any costs – and sometimes your friends pose the greatest obstacles. A tale of yearning, betrayal and struggle.

The Ron Tibbett Award WAR EAGLE,ARKANSAS Director, Robert Milazzo Screenplay by Graham Gordy - Story by Vincent Insalaco and Graham Gordy Producers – Marco Henry, Vincent Insalaco Assistant Director – Chris Carroll with: Bryan Dennehy, Dan McCabe, James McDaniel, Luke Grimes, Mare Winningham, Mary K. Place, Misti Traya War Eagle, Arkansas is a character driven drama about a young man’s dilemma of whether to leave his family and friends for a career in baseball or stay and redeem his struggling community. The story takes place over a few pivotal weeks in the summer after Enoch Cass’s senior year, and is set against the backdrop of the Ozark Mountains.

Also Recognized Adrian Belic (Genghis Blues and Beyond the Call) and Dr. Jim Laws (Beyond the Call) were honored for their humanitarian work with special recognition awards. These were non-competition films.