Tuesday

The DIY Film Festival Gala 2015

THE DIY FILM FESTIVAL GALA

The 2015 DIY Film Fest had a full house in Silver Lake at the Lyric Theater on Hyperion Avenue on March 6th.


The DIY cafe/theater in Hollywood

The Lyric Theater is a great setting for the DIY Film Festival, as everything that goes on within its walls is created, produced and put together by those who rent the space.  Appetizers and drinks were served to the crowd, which included all age groups, all aspects of filmmakers, from child actors to film distributors.



A mixed-aged audience on hand for some excellent films.
DIY Convention's and DIY Film Fest co-founder Bruce Haring in black.

Rich Martini DIY Fest co-founder
DIY Film Festival co-founder Richard Martini introduced the filmmakers as well as their winning shorts and animated films.  Clips were shown of the feature length films and trailers of the other winning entries. 


Dash Arnott and Jillian Armanante of "Kittens In a Cage" which won Best Comedy Feature


Film Director Jillian Armanante introduced members of her crew, including producer Dash Arnott who was joined by actors Rebecca Mozo and Erin Anderson.  Jillian spoke of the journey her film has taken, from inception to screen and how it's currently an ongoing online series. Their film won BEST FEATURE COMEDY.

The winner for BEST DIRECTOR and BEST FILM was Camille Delamarre, for his entry "LAST CALL" and intense look at the last moments of a US GI who has stepped on a land mine.




A message from Best Film Producer and Star of "Last Call" David Atrakchi came in from Paris. Camille is directing a feature film, the reboot of the "Transporter" series, and David sent a text from Paris that the festival had "made his day."



Billy Redieck, Jeremy McGovern of "Sweet Dreams"
Producer and Director of BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY "Sweet Dreams" Director Billy Redieck and writer Jeremy McGovern told the story behind their winning film. They went off to film the unlikely story of two brothers trying to break the world record of ice cream flavors, only to see all their film equipment stolen.  They dusted themselves off and stayed with their story, just as the two crazy brothers stayed with her mission, which was successful in making the most ice cream flavors in Guinness Book History.



Trent Dion Soto Director of "Among the Discarded"
Artist Trent Dion Solo told the powerful story of how a year earlier he had come out to Los Angeles, and begun his film which was based on a simple premise.  What would it be like to arrive in LA with only a toothbrush and a gopro camera and live on the streets of LA for a month?  He found a home in skid row, and as he put it, his desire to make a change resulted in the people of the street changing him. His film won the JURY PRIZE BEST DOCUMENTARY.


Riley and Jimmy
Young filmmakers Riley Beres and Jimmy Deschler accepted an award for "Hope For Their Own: An LA Story." It also deals with the subject of homelessness in Los Angeles, and examined it from the aspect of average families who are forced into homelessness for a variety of economic reasons, and how they're trying to cope.  17 year old Riley is still in high school, and this was her first award as a filmmaker. Their film won BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY.




Terra Forbes spoke on behalf of "Buffalo"
Michael McCallum's sister Terra spoke about how her brother had been using their father as a bit actor for a number of films, and finally got him to star in the best dramatic feature "Buffalo" the story of an aging cab driver who tries to reconcile his path and journey with a new driver he's supposed to train.  Weather prevented father and son from making the ceremony, but their presence was felt. "Buffalo" won BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE.



The team behind "Kevin, Take Two"
Alex Wroten spoke of the genesis of his film "Kevin, Take Two," making it as part of the "five minute film festival."  Film examines what it would be like if you could come back from the future and alter the past.  It's one in a clever style, and the starring actor Steven Krimmel (pictured above) was on hand to explain how he did the "split screen" dialog having a conversation with himself. His film won BEST COMEDIC SHORT.


Finally, Roger Jackson from Kinonation.com, an online distribution company spoke of how all the winning films are eligible for digital distribution with his company. Roger mentioned how impressed he was with their work, and how not to devalue their efforts by taking whatever first deal is offered to them; their work as artists continues on in trying to get their work into the world.  He pointed out that the world market has opened up considerably because of the Internet, and what might be popular in Eastern Europe or Asia, might have a completely different audience than expected.

Roger Jackson of Kinonation.com
All winning films are eligible for distribution from Kinonation.com and received editing software packages from Pinnacle Systems, a Division of Corel Inc.  

Pinnacle Video Editing SoftwareThank you Pinnacle and Kinonation!!! 



Various pix:

Riley Beres and Tren Dion Soto - both made films about LA streets.
Rebecca Mozo in "Kittens in a Cage"
"Sweet Dream" filmmakers
Tyne Daly in a cameo in "Kittens in a Cage"



Fest Goers


Filmmakers of "Among The Discarded" Producer/Editor Joshua Dragge, Director Trent Dion Soto
Congratulations to all the filmmakers!!!!

Monday

And the Winners Are....


The DIY Film Fest is pleased to announce this year's WINNING ENTRIES for the 2015
DIY FILM FESTIVAL

BEST FILM and BEST DIRECTOR:


"LAST CALL" Directed by Camille Delamarre, Produced by and starring David Atrakchi  Trailer: 

  

Young French film director uses the latest techniques in digital filmmaking to help tell this powerful short story that's shot in the vein of "American Sniper." Camille has gone from his role Director Second Unit to Directing Feature films. David Atrackchi sent us his regards from Paris:



BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE

BUFFALO Directed by Michael McCallum

Moving story about an elderly Cab driver who has demons of his own that he must come to terms with while training a new cab driver.  Disarmingly simple, with the Director's Father in the title role, this story weaves a tale of heartbreak from the point of view of an old cab driver who doesn't have much reason to get up every day.  Role is reminiscent of Robert Duvall's work in its simplicity and honesty. Directed by Michael McCallum Trailer: 

 

Trailer: 

 
HONORABLE MENTION DRAMA:

"Saturdays or Sundays" by Ethan Knecht
Improvised feature film about a filmmaker and a teacher. His complaint is that “during the week she turns into this educational monster” but it just so happens that she cares deeply about her students, and those scenes are directed and shot in a way that we can't tell if these amazing children are acting or not.  Directed by Ethan Knecht:  Film Trailer. 

"BLACK AND BLUE" by Vincenzo Bertillo. 
A close up R rated look at a complex relationship between two young adults. A chat with filmmaker Bertillo. 

"RAIN" by Shimon Machida
What if in the future our memories were place in the Internet Cloud? How would it affect who we are? Bio for Shimon Machida

"VALIANT" by Shyam Sundar Sengupta
An epic adventure helped with the use of miniatures.
 Trailer:
  

 


 BEST DRAMATIC SHORT 

 "FIXATION" – by Jak Kerley
The trials and tribulations of love that borders on fixation. The ten minute film.


   
Fixation - Short Film from ShibbyPictures on Vimeo.



BEST STUDENT FILM:


"STASHBOX" by Isaac Burns and Simon Lansberg-Rodriguez
Two friends out in the desert looking for a box.  Why? Brings memories of Breaking Bad and includes a surprise ending.
Stashbox Film
 
 

 

BEST COMEDY FEATURE:

"KITTENS IN A CAGE" from Stoic Entertainment
Directed by Jillian Armanante. Starring Rebecca Mozo.


Hilarious comedic sendup of the B Movie "Girls in Prison" films. Trailer

  15. 
 


BEST COMEDY SHORT FILM

"KEVIN, TAKE TWO" by Alex Wroten

What if you met yourself walking on the street?
 Film

  



HONORABLE MENTION:

"Die Gstettensaga: The Rise of Echsenfriedl" by Johannes Grenzfurthner 

Off beat world cinema comedy that takes place in the future, with "The Prisoner" meets "Sleeper"


  

 

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

"SWEET DREAMS" from Mattoid Entertainment

Two ice cream makers attempt to break a world's record. Documentary Feature.  Trailer:


    




BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY

"Hope For Our Own : An LA Story" by Riley Beres and Jimmy Deschler 

Two students take a trip with their cameras into homelessness in L.A. trailer  
 

  39. 



HONORABLE MENTION DOCUMENTARY:
 
"White Rock Boxing" by Laura Voltorta

Documentary feature about a boxing gym and its affect on all of those who train within it. Trailer


  


"THE EDGE OF THE WILD" by Gail Mallimson

A local community fights on behalf of a tiny butterfly in the San Bruno Mountains.  Trailer 

 



JURY PRIZE FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

"Among The Discarded" by Trent Dion Soto

An artist decides to film his experience living 30 days in downtown LA's skid row among the homeless. Trailer



AMONG THE DISCARDED - Trailer from Among The Discarded on Vimeo.


HONORABLE MENTION:


"Dukha in Summer" by Cameo Wood

Filmmaker travels to Tuva to document every day life among the Tuvan people. Trailer:


"Expect Resistance" by Shane Burley

A journey into one man's battle with the bank over losing his home, expanded to the wider picture of the "Occupy WallStreet" movement that swept the nation. 


Expect Resistance Trailer from Shane Burley on Vimeo.


BEST NEW DIRECTOR
 
"BASTA" by Gary Bergeron

Powerful indictment of the Catholic Church in Boston by one of its abuse victims. Trailer:

    6123 

 

BEST ANIMATION:

"MONSTER" by Patrick Fatica

Animated short film using only paper cutouts about a mysterious creature in the woods. Trailer

   
Trailer for MONSTER from Patrick Fatica on Vimeo.


HONORABLE MENTION:

"THE LAST LEAF" by Gwyneth Christofell

Ah, to be the last leaf of summer. A short animated film.  Here is GC's "thank you."

  5. 6096 


"THE STAR FISHING BOY" by Chuanshu Shi

Animated fairy tale about a boy who falls to Earth. Trailer

   
The Star Fishing Boy trailer from Chuanshu Shi on Vimeo.


Congratulations to all you DIY Filmmakers!!!!  We salute you and appreciate your entering our festival.  Good luck to all of you filmmakers with your films, and keep the DIY Flag waving high!