We just finished covering
Phoenix Fashion Week and now the
time for film has begun.
The following
includes coverage of one of the international festivals residing in the western
US.
The
Laughlin
International Film Festival 2013 in its second year definitely out did
itself based on how good I heard it was last year.
The Festival system that was created by Dave
Davidson, Mara Karsen, and Eric Karsen Puhm is focused on the presentation and
recognition of filmmakers from around the world.
They drew over 160+ entries to the festival
that came from all over the United States and the world including countries
Ireland, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Russia, Bolivia, Mexico, India,
Austria, New Zealand, Belarus, Scotland, and Antarctica.
 |
| L to R - Erik Karsen Puhm, Mara Karsen, Dave Davidson |
|
The atmosphere of the host city of Laughlin, NV was the most
welcoming to the out of town visitors for the festival.
The
Tropicana Express (main Host
location),
Riverside
Casino, the
Acquarius
and the
Laughlin
Outlets Mall –
Stadium 9 Cinemas
(viewing home of the films that made it into the festival) were the perfect
locations coordinated together to celebrate filmmaking at its best.
The red carpet was presented by
Joseph James Artography (of
Tempe, AZ) one of the sponsors of the festivals which brought the glitz and
glamour to the event every night.
Friday
night included a Halloween Party after the movies and an evening of
bowling.
This was just one example of
the activities and parties that were provided to help provide an inviting
environment to all who participated in the festival for introduction,
networking, and fun.
The
festival
had four days of films that represented the following thirteen (13)
categories:
US Narrative Feature Films,
US Documentary Feature Films, US Short Films, International Narrative Feature
Films, International Documentary Feature Films, International Short Films,
University Film Competition, Experimental Cinema, Music Videos, Extreme Sports,
Animation, Youth Film, and Liff Picks Showcase.
The outstanding revelation about the
categories is the Youth Film division.
Laughlin International Film
Festival is enabling future growth of the filmmakers by including this
category which encourages youth and students to participate and be part of a
process where often times young filmmakers don’t always get their time to shine
and be recognized.
The festival wouldn’t be complete without the awards
ceremony. The preceding banquet and the
emcees for the evening were the icing on the cake. The following is the entire listing of the
award winners from the festival:
- LIFF 2013 Grand Jury Prize - Antarctica: A Year on Ice
(92min.) - Closing Night Film - Directed by Anthony Powell - Antarctica, New Zealand
- LIFF 2013 Director Award - Director Cole Mueller
- ‘Magic Hour’ (95min.)
- 2013 U.S. LIFF PICK - Red Wing (108min.) - Opening
Night Film - Directed by Will Wallace - Produced by Integrity Productions
- 2013 International LIFF PICK - Pandemonia (81min.) - Directed
by Daniel Moreno – Brazil
- Best U.S. Narrative Feature Film - California Winter (86min.) -
Directed by Odin Ozdil –
- Best U.S. Documentary Feature Film - Prison Through Tomorrow's Eyes
(57min.) - Directed by Paul Sutton
- Best U.S. Narrative Short Film – Idiot - Directed
by Aaron Harvey
- Best International Narrative Feature Film - Choosing Signs (87min.) - Directed
by Owen Dara – Ireland
- Best International Feature Documentary - Ladder in the Lions’ Den
(39min.) - Directed by Bernhard Rammerstorfer & A. Ferenc Gutai – Austria
- Best International Narrative Short Film - Der Räuber - Directed
by Felix Schaffert – Switzerland
- Best University Film - Tropicana PICK – Homemade
- Directed by Lior Sagi
- Best University Film – LIFF PICK - La Familia de
Sofia - Directed by Alexandra Parral
- LIFF Best Drama - Blood Brothers - Directed by
Jason Miller & Seth Savo
- LIFF Best Comedy - Blackhearts (90min.) - Directed
by Malani Coomes
- LIFF Best Thriller / Horror - The Appearing (90min.) - Directed by Daric Gates
- LIFF Best Lead Actor Performance - Robert Nolan
- “Mourning has broken”
- LIFF Best Lead Actress Performance - Jessica
Lancaster - “Choosing Signs”
- LIFF Storytelling Achievement Award - DAM 999 (108min.) - Directed by
Roy Sohan – India
- LIFF Cinematic Achievement Award - For the Love of Nothing
- Directed by Alissa Davis
- LIFF Outstanding Production Value Award - Paris After The War - Directed
by Mark Lessley & Luis Navarro
- Best Youth Film - The Painted Girl - Directed
by Ben Kadie
- Best Music Video - AZHIA 'Lonely’ - Directed by
Alethea Rooth
- Best Animation Film – Ed - Directed by Gabriel
Garcia – Brazil
- Best Experimental Film - Rubicon or
Let's talk about Hell (103min.) - Directed by Frank Gelmeroda - United
Kingdom
- Best Sound Track / Score - Choosing Signs (87min.) - Directed
by Owen Dara – Ireland
- Best Television Pilot - Wilmer the Immigrant Dog –
Pilot - Directed by Wilman Vergara II
- Best Local Film - Dream Date - Directed by
Brian Brown
- Special LIFF Bud Holland Award (Youth)- The Painted Girl - Directed
by Ben Kadie
If you think that was the end of the festival, you would be
mistaken. The morning after the awards
ceremony, found filmmakers still excited to be part of the festival and joined
together for the final morning breakfast and the filmmaker/director panel. They discussed social media, distribution,
representation, organization, and funding.
The closing finale of the morning gathering included a raffle of $100
Sony gift cards to three lucky winners.
Not sure you could really ask for a better ending.
The organizers were meticulous along with the support of the
Tropicana Express to create
an amazing experience for the attendees.
There is something to be said about an organization that takes the time
to understand the needs and wants of their audience.
This is one thing that the
Laughlin International Film
Festival really knows.
They have an
awesome approach and philosophy that runs through the entire organization and
in turn is demonstrated throughout the
event they have developed and executed
on.
