DIY FILM FEST GALA 2013

Thomas Dolby scoring, narrating and playing "The Invisible Lighthouse"

The 11th Annual DIY Film Festival celebrated its winners and honorable mentions in the Academy Room of the Roosevelt Hotel on Friday night.

Site of the original Academy Awards, the room was treated to an unusual event; a live performance by Thomas Dolby while screening his award winning "The Invisible Lighthouse" film.

Bruce Haring announcing the winners of the Los Angeles Book Festival & DIY Film Festival

Winner of the Best Director and Best Short Documentary categories, Thomas Dolby performed live in front of a crowd that included the winning authors for the Los Angeles Book Festival.  It was an amazing performance, part reminiscence, part sound effects, part singing - the performance seamlessly went between the filmed on camera presence of Thomas Dolby and the performer playing keyboards and speaking in front of the audience.

An avant-garde foray into the original performance/visual event that films once were, with a live performance on a Wurlitzer or other instrumental while the film ran above the orchestra, this was a perfectly time masterful examination of the performer's life - the town in eastern england on the shore where he grew up, the lighthouse that became part of his memory, whether real or imagined, the history of his family who had been in Suffolk for centuries.

Thomas Dolby interacted with himself on the screen at various times.

Plus the inventive story telling, which included CGI, flying cameras, negative images, sunsets that evoked fires - the visuals complemented the story telling, and the story telling enhanced the visuals, while the music and sound effects tied it all together into one masterful, standing ovation receiving performance.

Watching the live performance

As Jean Cocteau, the avant-garde artist and filmmaker once comments; "When the cost of filmmaking is as much as a pencil and a piece of paper then you'll find true art."  We at the DIY Film Festival have adopted that as our motto, and probably never experienced a more pure form of it than in Dolby's "The Invisible Lighthouse" film/performance.

Dolby plans to tour with the film in live performance, so look for it in a theater near you.  He's planning two nights here at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, so there may be a chance to still get tickets.

We also honored some of the other films and filmmakers, some who could not be in attendance.  The audience was treated to a trailer of Daniel Schmidt's "Inner Worlds, Outer Worlds," and we screened Harrison Allen's "How Not To Rob A Bank" which had the audience roaring with laughter.  (Check the film on the panel to the right, there are clips from all of the films and honorable mentions).

Clip from Daniel Schmidt's Best Film, Best Doc "Inner Worlds, Outer Worlds"

  Also screened and honored were the filmmakers behind "Disconnection" - Writer/Producer/Star Kristine Gerolaga, and Director Steven Krimmel.  Also on hand was her co-star Ben Winston.

Ben Winston, Steven Krimmel & Kristine Gerolaga of "Disconnection"

Finally, Josh Wick from "Francis of Brooklyn" was on hand as well as some of the behind the scenes folks from his film, including his star Mig Feliciano.

Josh Wick and Mig Feliciano of "Francis of Brooklyn"

Josh explained that the film is actually a reworking of the "Francis of Assisi" story - revealing that Francis had returned from being in a war in Italy, had eschewed all money, taken the robes of a monk, and changed Christianity.

Josh Wick and pals from "Francis of Brooklyn"

In like form, Francis of Brooklyn is about an Iraq/Afghanistan war veteran who returns and has an apotheosis that forces him into the streets of New York, along with some of the many other veterans who are suffering from PTSD.  But is it stress related? or is it a religious conversion?  And what does that mean to the average person who wants to practice Christianity?

Steven Krimmel Director, Writer/Producer/Actress Kristine Gerolaga
from "Disconnection"

A good time was had by all

Josh and the other filmmakers were awarded software from our new sponsor Pinnacle, now a division of Corel.  The company graciously awarded each winning filmmaker with their latest in home editing software Studio 16, a state of the art editing system developed with Avid codecs and technology.

Here's a pice of some of the winning filmmakers and authors from the Los Angeles Book Festival and DIY Film Festival.  For clips from the winning films, please look to the panel to the right... ----------------------->

Congratulations to all the winners!!!!

The winning film: "Avabot" - check it out.. AMAZING FILM!!!!!!!!!!!!

AVABOT from Jamie Surgener on Vimeo.

WINNERS OF THE 2009 FILM FESTIVAL

2009 DIY FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED
2/14/2009 LOS ANGELES (Feb. 14, 2009)_ The disturbing short film “11 Missed Calls” has been named the Best Film of the 2009 DIY Film Festival, which honors the best of international do-it-yourself filmmaking.

The film, which also won the Best World Cinema category, will be screened at the American Film Institute on Friday, March 13 as part of the 2009 DIY Convention, which showcases the top independent films, music and books of the last year.

“11 Missed Calls” details three people seemingly trapped for an interminable length of time in an elevator. The tension mounts as they try desperately to summon help, quell dissension and find a way out. Director Philip Moran’s surprise ending will linger in your imagine for a long time.

The other winners of the 2009 DIY Film Festival:

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: “Hard Coal,” an examination of the hardscrabble world of independent mining and the stacked deck such operations face;

BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE: “The Appearance of a Man,” a dark look at mysterious lights
over the Southwest;

BEST DRAMATIC SHORT: “Hung Up,” a noir-ish tale told by a red dress;

BEST STUDENT FILM, “Escapism,” a look at how two characters from different worlds find common ground;

BEST ANIMATED SHORT, “Larry and Roz,” a nostalgic look back at a grandfather’s attempts to woo his bride;

BEST WORLD CINEMA: “11 Missed Calls,” which details the interactions of three people in a stuck elevator;

BEST DIRECTOR: Philip Moran, “11 Missed Calls”
* * *

2008 Winner Jeff Wadlow Directs Feature Film

DIY FILM FESTIVAL WINNER WADLOW HITS THEATERS
3/15/2008 Former DIY Film Festival winner Jeff Wadlow has his first theatrically-released film debuting this weekend.

Wadlow, who won the first short film award at the inaugural DIY Film Festival, will see his film “Never Back Down” hit theatres nationwide.

“Today is one of the days I've been working my whole life towards,” said Wadlow. “I've got to be honest, there were times, like when I was a PA on “Law and Order” and my only job was keeping the homeless people from eating off the snack table, that I doubted a day like today would ever come. But it's here -- at last!”

The film stars two-time Academy Award nominees Djimon Hounsou, who has appeared in “Blood Diamond,” “Amistad” and “Gladiator.” The initial reviews have been positive, with the Hollywood Reporter noting, “Never Back Down” is “energetic and warm-hearted enough to become a word-of-mouth hit.”

TRAILER: "NEVER BACK DOWN"

Past DIY Film Festival Winners

The DIY Film Festival is proud to talk about.. itself! We've had a lot of talented filmmakers in the past 8 years, and we want to brag about a few of them. Early winners from the festival, include Jeff Wadlow, (Tower of Babble, 2002, and Katching Kringle 2004) who won awards in two festivals, once for a comedy short, and another year for an animated short. He went on to win the Million dollar Chrysler Film Festival, and then Jeff went on to direct the feature film Cry Wolf in 2005.
2006 BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE and BEST DIRECTOR for "SELF MEDICATED" filmmaker Monty Lapica went on to release his film theatrically after winning numerous other film festivals.
2006 BEST FILM "AMAZING GRACE: JEFF BUCKLEY" went on to win numerous other film festivals, as well, the terric and moving portrait of the winger, and is awaiting release on DVD.
The 2007 Festival included recent theatrical release "Last Stop for Paul" by director Neil Mandt. "Last Stop" went on to win awards in 45 film festivals and was released theatrically this past spring. And finally, last year's Documentary feature winner "The American Drug War: the Last White Hope" went on to win numerous awards and was purchased by Showtime where it made its debut in March and is now on DVD. Congratulations to director Kevin Booth and kudos to all the filmmakers who've allowed us to get a glimpse of their careers early on! Keep up the good work!!

Last year's winner Best Film "Buskers" is showing at the upcoming Coney Island Festival on Sept 8th.

2007 DIY FILM Festival Winners

Just to recap.. for those who are new to the blog..

2007 DIY FILM FESTIVAL NAMES WINNERS

"Last Stop For Paul" Wins Best Film Award

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 12, 2007)_ The hilarious comedy "Last Stop For Paul," the tale of two cubicle-bound workers who take an inspired trip around the world with a dead friend's ashes, has been named Best Film at the 2007 DIY Film Festival, which concluded Sunday.

The film was screened as part of the 2007 DIY Convention, which took place Feb. 9-11 at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

In "Last Stop For Paul," director Neil Mandt improvises a film based on the idea of a worldwide journey seeking both pleasure and to honor the memory of a departed comrade. Using local amateurs and actors he picks up along the way, Mandt crafted a hilarious film from a cast that the makers of "Babel" would envy. For his innovative use of resources and his flair for storytelling, Mandt wins the 2007 DIY Film Festival "Best Director" honors to go along with his best film award.

A special award was granted acclaimed writer/director Henry Jaglom, who was named "DIY Filmmaker of the Year" for his vast body of independent filmmaking, which includes 16 feature films. Jaglom was honored at a special Saturday evening screening of his latest film, "Hollywood Dreams," and participated in a post-screening interview with DIY Film Festival programming director Richard Martini and lead actress Tanna Frederick.

The other winners of the 2007 DIY Film Festival include:

BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE – "SHAMELOVE"
In the vein of "Fight Club," a group of friends decide on a novel way to pick up girls: staging a street mugging and then pretending to save them. But things go downhill when one of the friends falls in love with a victim...

BEST SCREENPLAY - "UNDER THE MUD"
An uproarious comedy depicting a dysfunctional family from Liverpool. Reminiscent of "Little Miss Sunshine," the story revolves around a young girl's first communion and her completely wacky family, all told in DIY fashion with residents of Liverpool as the cast.

BEST COMEDY FEATURE – "BIGGA THEN BEN"
Two Russian slackers move to London to scam their way to riches in two weeks. Thoroughly exploring the immigrant underworld of the UK, this film manages to feel like a "Borat" through the eyes of two hip Eastern Europeans.

BEST DOCUMENTARY – "THE LAST WHITE HOPE"
Director Kevin Booth exposes the people behind the so-called "War On Drugs" proposed by the Nixon administration and still operating as government policy – or is it? Featuring interviews with a former DEA agent, a conservative judge and other political leaders, Booth uncovers the lies and conspiracy theories of the drug trade.

BEST WORLD CINEMA - "JAB" (Trinidad)
A famous "Jab" dancer passes along his secrets to dancing, life, love and native cooking to a protege.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT – "MARKETING THE MESSAGE"
An insightful and funny look at the new Christian evangelical movement through the eyes of Stephen Baldwin, punk rockers and skateboarders.
.
BEST COMEDY SHORT - "SPLITTSVILLE."
A guy loses his girlfriend and goes through an unusual fantasy of what happened – a dream where all the characters are played by her.

BEST DRAMATIC SHORT – "THOMAS IN BLOOM."
Touching story of a young boy whose attempts at communication with his grandmother are stifled until he realizes she's hard of hearing.

BEST ANIMATED FILM – "TENGERS."
This clay-mation animated feature from South Africa takes a look at life and love in Johannesburg.

BEST STUDENT FILM – "PERSPECTIVES"
A fresh and unusual look at a relationship told in split screen, and sometimes in triptych, where our hero's running monologue with himself is played in variations until he gets it right.