The Results are in...

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FILMMAKERS!!!!

We at the DIY Film Festival are proud to announce the WINNING FILMS and HONORABLE MENTIONS for the DIY FILM FESTIVAL 2013

THE DIY FILM FESTIVAL GALA IS ON MARCH 8TH AT THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL.

The filmmakers will be notified by email how to get tickets for the Gala event where we will screen the films, the feature length films will show trailers, the shorts will be shown in full (and the features and some of the shorts will be seen during the year when we have our festival screenings)

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE FILMMAKERS!!!

BEST DIRECTOR:  THOMAS DOLBY FOR "THE INVISIBLE LIGHTHOUSE"

An elegiac film about a lighthouse that comforted the musician and filmmaker as a child; Thomas Dolby's debut film "The Invisible Lighthouse" is a haunting examination of a lighthouse on the coast of Suffolk in East Anglia, and the ancestral home to his family.  Part musical, part historical journey, a journey of the heart, done by a filmmaker who expands the boundariess of DIY filmmaking. 29 minutes.

BEST PICTURE - DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - "INNER WORLDS, OUTER WORLDS"

An elegiac look at the birth of the Universe, at the birth of consciousness, at why we’re on the planet, and how that came to be.  Stunning visuals from Director Daniel Schmidt from Canada, 118 minutes.

Documentary Feature

HONORABLE MENTION DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - "CARDBOARD BERNINI"

“Cardboard Bernini” is a fascinating portrait of an artist who has spent a lifetime creating art, including a woodcut print for an iconic Jethro Tull cover and recently has become a virtuoso working with cardboard.  "As an artist you're always on the precipice of disaster. It's how you get out of the pit that defines who you are." Directed by Olympia Stone.  76 minutes.

HONORABLE MENTION - DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - "WAR ON HEALTH"

Prolific filmmaker Gary Null takes on the FDA takes on the FDA with another incendiary documentary that exposes some horrific practices done in the name of our health.  Directed by Gary Null.

HONORABLE MENTION - DOCUMENTARY FEATURE.  “CALABRIA TO CALIFORNIA” 

Film tracks the journey to find the family roots – and follow an Italian family from Calabira, Italy wound up in California.  Also a graphic demonstration of how food is made at home and on the farm in Italy, and how we’ve lost touch with what it means to grow our own food and to honor great quality. Submitted by Jennifer Kendzior from France.  

Student Short film

BEST STUDENT SHORT - 'STRAY"  

Two best friends in high school, one goes to college, the other stay behind and gets involved in drugs and the thug life.  When the friend returns, he’s swallowed up by the events that follow in this well acted, well directed short.  Directed by Brendan Dean. 28 Minutes.

HONORABLE MENTION - STUDENT SHORT - “BOOKSTORE”

A funny look at a Bookstore in a high school, shots by students in that high school.  Like “The Office” the “Bookstore” is a place ripe for comic spins and romantic entanglements. Shot at LA's own Harvard-Westlake, 18 minutes. Submitted by Alexander Haney.

HONORABLE MENTION - STUDENT SHORT - "STATUE"

A mime who covers himself in silver paint is beset by revelers in New Orleans.  However, he strikes up a non verbal friendship with a guitarist on the same block.  10 minutues, Directed by Andrew Bryan.

HONORABLE MENTION - STUDENT SHORT - "BLACK"

A new take on an old genre – black and white journey into a detective’s world – there’s a dame and a murder and someone’s gotta fall – nicely done potboiler from our friends at LMU film school.   Mason Howard, 15 minutes.

Dramatic Short

BEST DRAMATIC SHORT - "DISCONNECTION"

“Disconnection” is a tale told through web cams.  Phone rings late at night, his girlfriend is missing him. Then she calls back after a dropped connection – it’s the middle of the day. Is he awake? Is he dreaming? A clever and surprising journey into an online relationship. Submitted by Kristine Gerolaga, Directed by Steven Krimmel 10 minutes long.

HONORABLE MENTION  - DRAMATIC SHORT - “THE DROP”

based on a true story.  A blind student trying to learn his way in a sighted world, he’s dropped off on one side of Philadelphia and he has to find his way home – on his own. Written by Marvelyne Engel. Co-Directors: Crystal Clear, Martha Minuzzi 7 minutes.

HONORABLE MENTION - DRAMATIC SHORT – "LONG DAYS AFTER"

Beautifully shot short film where a man goes out into the world as if it’s a typical day. But for some reason there’s no one else left on the planet, so he’s spending his last day on Earth trying to do the same things that he used to do.  Submitted by Noel Taylor, 28 minutes.

HONORABLE MENTION - DRAMATIC SHORT - "WELCOME"

Firmly in filmmaker David Ayer ("End of Watch") territory, this short film is shot in the barrio where a young latino has to decide to join a gang or not.  When he realizes it’s the gang who shot his mother, his fate (and their fate) is sealed.  Submitted by Max Loera, 11 minutes.

Comedy Short

BEST COMEDY SHORT - "2ND AVENUE"

Very clever story told through music and google maps – where two characters meet in NYC and use the tiny little yellow men of Google Maps to help them find each other. Submitted by Joe Gabriel, 3 minutes 15 seconds.

HONORABLE MENTION - COMEDY SHORT - “EVIL” 

"Evil" tells the tale of an elderly gent who is hunted by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Turns out that he’s Mr. Evil himself. Only this old gent has mellowed with age, and he’s not entirely sure he wants to see the planet disappear as predicted in the Bible. Submitted by Director Brendan Dean, 26 minutes.

HONORABLE MENTION -COMEDY SHORT - "WE THINK NATE TORRENCE IS DEAD"  

Shot on his cell phone, this creepy yet funny film follows a comedian as he makes a fateful stop in the mountains.  Starring and directed by (and shot on his own cell phone cam) Nate Terrence. 23 mins.


Animated Short

BEST ANIMATION SHORT - "HOW NOT TO ROB A BANK"

Legos on the rampage wind up robbing a bank.  Hilarious caper film by Harrison Allen. 5 minutes 30.  This is one hilarious romp for anyone who has ever enjoyed Lego's - and a brilliant story, well told.  Destined to be viral.

HONORABLE MENTION - ANIMATED SHORT - "ROCK 01"

 In a world in the future, a robot trying to survive a cruel planet, winds up in a position to save his planet. Fun innovative animation as robots battle for the planet’s future. Submitted by Erdi Yao from Brooklyn. 7 minutes.


Documentary Short

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT: "THE INVISIBLE LIGHTHOUSE"

An elegiac film about a lighthouse that comforted this musician and filmmaker as a child; Thomas Dolby's debut film "The Invisible Lighthouse" is a haunting examination of a lighthouse on the coast of Suffolk in East Anglia, ancestral home to his family.  Part musical, part historical journey, a journey of the heart, done by a filmmaker who expands the bounds of filmmaking. 29 minutes.

HONORABLE MENTION - DOCUMENTARY SHORT - "I IS ANOTHER"

A filmmaker with agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) makes a film about it and forces herself into a new phase of life.  She's finally able to get out of her apartment, if only to make this film about her journey outside.  Kelly Donnellan, 40 minutes.

HONORABLE MENTION  - DOCUMENTARY SHORT - "TEAL DIVA"

Insightful look into women dealing with Ovarian cancer and how they learn to cope with it by learning to share their stories with each other. Directed by Brady Bigalke.

Feature Drama

BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE - "FRANCIS OF BROOKLYN"

Veteran returns from the war a damaged individual. Violent, angry, he has an apotheosis and becomes non violent and joins a Christian community. He has his own conversion in this well shot, well acted feature. Josh Wick. 107 minutes.


World Cinema


BEST WORLD CINEMA - "ELEGY FOR A REVOLUTIONARY"  

A couple of young men living in apartheid South Africa have to decide to join the revolution.  One is imprisoned and tortured until he gives up the name of his friend.  When he’s released, he avenges his friend and in so doing saves him. Submitted by Director Paul van Zyl of South Africa. 22 minutes.

Jury Prize


JURY PRIZE - CINEMATOGRAPHY - "NILE PERCH"

A film that feels like it was found from the earliest days of filmmaking.  An elegiac study of the life of a river perch, and how it goes from central Africa to markets in Europe. Directed by Duke University's Josh Gibson.  Shot on location in Lake Victoria, 17 minutes. Josh won an award at Slamdance this past year.

THE DIY FILM FESTIVAL GALA WILL BE AT THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL ON MARCH 8TH!!!
DETAILS TO FOLLOW....