PRESS-RELEASE
4th Annual Laughlin International Film Festival (LIFF)
to Salute New Up-and-Coming Filmmakers
Laughlin NV, August 15,
2015 --- The organizers of the 2015 Laughlin International Film Festival (LIFF),
which is scheduled to be held October 15th – 18th in Laughlin, NV, are excited to announce that once again as
part of the 4 day event, they will be
focusing on, recognizing and encouraging
new up-and-coming filmmakers. The film
festival will once again be screening a diverse line-up of independent films
(feature length and short films) at the state-of-the art Phoenix 9 Cinemas at
the Laughlin Outlet Center beginning with an opening night film (to be
announced) and Red Carpet on Thursday evening, and continuing all day Friday
through Sunday.
As in the past 3 years,
the LIFF program will include a full day program designed for young filmmakers,
this year known as: “Young Filmmaker
Super Saturday”, on October 17th. The program will include a workshop at the
Tropicana casino lead by local independent filmmaker Brian Brown along with LaJaun
Johnson, an independent filmmaker from Moreno Valley, Ca. Both Brown and
Johnson will share their personal stories about how they delved into the world
of filmmaking and followed their dreams, after finding themselves at
cross-roads in their lives. They will
provide a keen insight into how young people can become filmmakers – all they
need is passion and a dream. Following
the morning workshop, the day will include a networking lunch with some additional
talented independent filmmakers, and the program will conclude with an
afternoon immersion into viewing specially selected short films and a feature
film at the Phoenix 9 Cinemas.
“Having a young
filmmaker program as part of LIFF each year is very near and dear to my heart”,
said Dagmar “Mara” Karsen, co-founder and Executive Director of LIFF. “If we can encourage even one young person to
try their hand at filmmaking, we have succeeded. To see the excitement and passion of
filmmaking come alive in a young person makes our work at LIFF a total
success”.
In addition to the Youth
workshop, the glitzy LIFF Awards Ceremony, to be held for the 4th
year in the Tropicana Pavilion Theater on Saturday evening, October 17th,
will include a series of special awards to be presented to new up-and-coming
filmmakers.
The Harry “Bud” Holland award,
in memory of local Bullhead City resident Bud Holland, who was a 2-time Emmy winning cameraman
during his lifetime and who was instrumental in creating the television / media
program at Mohave Accelerated Learning Center (MALC), will be presented for a 3rd
time. This award is presented to honor a
young or new filmmaker who exemplifies Bud’s passion for filmmaking, and who
thereby strives to create something original and compelling. Last year's winner of the Bud Holland award
was local filmmaker, Andrea Zindel
Smith, for her short documentary “Victims”.
LIFF is also happy to again
be able to honor one special University Filmmaker who will be chosen as the
winner of the Tropicana’s Pick - University
Film Award. Selected staff of the
Tropicana casino will, for a 3rd year, be viewing all of the LIFF
film submissions in the University film category, making their final choice and
presenting the award. In addition to the
award, the Tropicana will be giving $250 in cash to the recipient. The winner of last year’s Tropicana award was
the international short film “Into the Silent Sea” (Sweden), which has gone on
to much acclaim on the film festival circuit.
New this year will the LIFF’s Cofounders’ “Big Dreams” award, in
memory of Dave Davidson. Davidson,
one of the original co-founders of LIFF, unexpectedly passed away after LIFF
2014. “He was always considered to be a
man who had “big dreams” and made them come true” said Karsen. “LIFF would most likely not be a reality
today, if it wasn’t for his belief in the project”. The award will be given to
a filmmaker who exhibits this same “never-say-die” attitude, according to Karsen. “Dave would be so proud of this”, she
said. “He was always very big on helping
to encourage people to live their dreams”.
LIFF
is also excited to announce that for LIFF 2015, they have partnered with the
Matthew Martino Benevolent Fund (MMBF), an international charity based in the UK,
to present the MMBF Rising Star Award. MMBF supports filmmakers, actors and
individuals studying or working in performing arts worldwide. The organization provides training grants and
scholarships, funding for first time filmmakers and provides sponsorship for
film related events such as film festivals and film award ceremonies. The MMBF Rising Star award will be given to
an emerging filmmaker to encourage continued success. In addition to the Award,
the recipient will receive $250 in cash from MMB. For more information about MMB, visit their
website at: www.mmbf.co.uk
For more information
about LIFF 2015, visit their website at www.laughlinfilmfestival.com. For a copy of the “Young Filmmaker Super
Saturday” information flyer, contact the LIFF team by e-mail at info@laughlinfilmfestival.com,
or call LIFF at (702) 755 - 8391.
###
For
more information, contact:
Dagmar "Mara"
Karsen
Executive Director /
Co-founder
Laughlin International
Film Festival (LIFF)
LIFF Phone: (702) 755-8391
LIFF Fax: (951) 824-7535
e-mail: mara@laughlinfilmfestival.com
website: www.laughlinfilmfestival.com
Coverage by Eva Louis
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