The IndieFEST is proud to announce the latest winners. Congratulations to all the filmmakers who participated in the current season!The awards go to those filmmakers who produce fresh, standout entertainment and compelling documentaries. The IndieFEST is a top-tier international awards competition. It honors professionals, established and emerging, who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity. The goal of The IndieFEST is to help the winners of this coveted award achieve the recognition they deserve. Additionally, each year IndieFEST also bestows a special award to productions that make significant contributions to social change or a humanitarian effort. Please visit www.TheIndieFEST.com to learn more about the IndieFEST Humanitarian Award.
Best of Show
Dear President Obama, The Clean Energy Revolution Is Now – Jon Bowermaster
Jon Bowermaster (USA), Documentary Feature. Oscar-nominated Mark Ruffalo is an advocate of addressing climate change and renewable energy and serves as executive producer of this revealing documentary about the full cost of fracking – and the corporate and political determination to do it anyway. The film takes a cross-country look at drilling, highlighting its variety of toxic contaminants, the stories of its victims and the false promises of an economic boom. It highlights clean energy solutions that allows Americans a future that does not rely on dirty fossil fuel extraction processes. With compelling interviews, a powerful and cogent narrative and alluring cinematography this formidable documentary leaves an impact on the viewer.
Award of Excellence Special Mention
Guy-Roger Duvert (USA), Virtual Revolution, Film Feature – In 2047, most of the population spends their time in virtual worlds where they fulfill their fantasies. An Agent is tracking terrorists who want to destroy them. Starring Mike Dopud (Stargate, Atlantis, Continuum) and Jane Badler (V, Mission Impossible). A thrilling ride with spectacular sets and dazzling lighting that raises some thought-provoking moral questions.
Rain Li (Canada), Beijing New York, Film Feature, Cinematography – A touching and complex love story that bridges time, distance and culture, intertwining the lives of two Chinese childhood friends and an American artist. Driven by stunning cinematography and relatable dilemmas it is a journey to find true happiness. Stars Richard de Klerk (Stargate), Liu Ye (The Last Supper) and Lin Chi-ling (Red Cliff).
Cobbstar Productions (Australia), The Horizon, Webisode -Directed by Boaz Stark (Neighbors, Home & Away) Horizon is an explosion of color, fun and drama. The most watched gay web series in the world, this high quality production tackles topics like safe sex and tricky relationships in an amusing, campy and thoroughly engaging way. Stars Francis Mossman, Indigo Felton and Patrick James as drag queen Wilma Bumhurt.
Vishal Jadhav (India), Flying Rainbow, Nature / Environment / Wildlife –Flying Rainbow is a Documentary about Oriental Dwarf kingfishers and their survival in the Western Ghats of India before and during the relentless monsoon season. With sweeping, gorgeous cinematography and engaging commentary, it portrays the relationship that the weather has with these birds. A labor of love filmed over a period of 7 years.
Matthew. K Firpo (USA / GREECE), REFUGE, Documentary Short – Refuge is a chronicle of human stories from the European Refugee Crisis, focused on the simple, important fact that every refugee is a human being, with hopes and losses and families just like each of us. Filmed on location in Greece the filmmaker creates artfully told stories with authenticity, rawness and genuine heart.
Ben Proudfoot (USA), Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano, Doc Short – Chronicles celebrated pianist Gloria Cheng’s challenge to the world’s greatest film composers – write original pieces for solo piano. Exceptional, touching and absolutely engaging. Stars Oscar winnersJohn Williams, Randy Newman, Alexandre Desplat, Michael Giacchino and Emmy winners Bruce Broughton and Don Davis.
Melissa Kent (USA), Bernie and Rebecca, Film Short – Bernie and Rebecca’s first date is about imagining a life of marriage, children, infidelity and divorce. A surprising and surprisingly real script that is skillfully executed by director Kent with nuanced, emotive, amusing and touching performances by Kyle Davis (American Horror Story, Dexter) and Brianna Barnes (Host of Globe Trekker).
Award of Excellence
André Wallström (Sweden), The Pearl Of Africa, Documentary Feature
Boaz Dvir (USA), A Wing And A Prayer, Documentary Feature
Brandon Young (USA), The Liberation of Kuwait, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest
Cary Anderson (USA), Extra School, Film Short
Conor Armstrong Sanfey (Ireland), LIFT, Film Feature
Dave Lugo and Matt Schwartz (USA), Hometown Hero, Film Feature
Emily Abt (USA), Daddy Don’t Go, Documentary Feature
Ian Cooke (Australia), Humble Hope, Christian, Religion / Ethics, Direction
Jenn Page, Heart on Fire Productions (USA), One More Dance, Music Video
Kemmy and Julie Moran (USA), Miss Beverly Hills Ghost, Webisode
Lars Pape and Holger Schuermann (Germany), All Love Schmidt, Documentary Feature
Lisa Edwards, Dangerous Curves Productions (USA), ALFIE BOE: On The Wheels of a Dream, Documentary Short
Marcus Jones (USA), Katerina Ganchak Creation Story, Experimental
Mary-Pat Green (USA), WALK, Film Short
Matt Starr (USA), The JJ Project, Disability Issues
Maurice Joyce (Ireland), Violet, Animation, Script / Writer, Direction
Rain Li (Canada), Beijing New York, Actor: Leading (Richard de Klerk as Joe), Actress: Leading (Lin Chiling as Jasmine)
Richard Hughes (Australia), FOUND, Film Short
Tim Nackashi (USA), THROUGH THE WALL, Documentary Short
Award of Merit Special Mention
Bastien Bron (Switzerland), Stories Upon Your Lips, Music Video
Ella Lentini (USA), Piece Of Cake, LGBT
Freddie Connor and Sheraiah Larcher, Finelight Films Ltd (USA), Heather’s Painting, Film Short, Children / Family Programming, Direction
Katie Locke O’Brien, Claire Gerety-Mott and M. Keegan Uhl (USA), The Hub, Web / Internet Programming
Katie Ross (United Kingdom), Collaborator, Film Short
Kenneth Mader (USA), A.L.L.I.A.N.C.E (Episode 1 and 2), Television – Program / Series
Matthew Kaundart (USA), Till Death Do Us Part, Film Short
Molly Ratermann (USA), SUICIDE, Actress: Leading (Molly Ratermann as Carson)
Naomi Sophia Call and Loghan Call (USA), Called To Rescue Redefining Our Barnyard Story, Documentary Feature
Noel Douglas Orput (USA), First Comes Like, Film Feature
Oli Bauer (United Kingdom), A Particular Arrangement, Film Short
Paul Andrew Kimball (Canada), Exit Thread, Film Feature
Ryan Conley and Mike Raine (USA), Who is Estaban, Documentary Feature
Tibo Pinsard (France), Gorilla, Film Short
Award of Merit
Abbas Rafei and Masoud Farjam (Iran), Oblivion Season, Film Feature (Abbas Rafei), Movie Trailer (Masoud Farjam)
Amy Russo (USA), Racing the Sunrise, Women Filmmakers, Script / Writer, Actress: Leading (Josephine Cooper as Shrader)
Anthony Gibson (USA), Guardian, Film Short (Student)
Aref Mahabadi, FYI Productions (Canada), Day Players, Actor: Leading (Farid Yazdani as Naveen Ghezzi)
Arlyn Dela Cruz (Philippines), MARATABAT, Film Feature
Art Box Collective (USA), Heydays Vintage TV, Television – Program / Series
Benjamin and Bruce McAllister (USA), MOVING ON, Film Short
Bob Akins (USA), Mythos, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest
Cathy Irving, Jenny Cockin, Pinny Grylls, Jess Ludgrove, Susannah Price, Anna Snowball and Emiliano Battista (United Kingdom), Pills, Documentary Short
Christopher Pinero (USA), The Galam, Film Short
Daniel Ruczko (USA), Solitary, Film Short, Original Score (Composed by Daniel Ruczko)
David Khaziri (USA), Locked in Stone, Film Short
Derek Frey (USA), Green Lake, Film Short, Original Score (Green Lake composed by Matthew Reid), Sound: Overall Impact, Editing
Eduard Hovakimyan (Armenia), One bullet, Film Short
Edward Reid (USA), 64/8, Television – Pilot Program
Fahad Kahut (Pakistan), Faryad (A wail from Kashmir), Film Short
Frederick Kelly (United Kingdom), Blighters, Film Short
Gregory Kaplan (USA), Through Broken Glass, Film Short
Greyson Horst, Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts (USA), This Moment, Film Short (Student)
Guadalupe Yepes (Argentina), ID, Actress: Leading (Guadalupe Yepes as Mery)
Ian Neisser (USA), The Offensive, Television – Pilot Program (Student)
Ice Neal, The Soob productions (United Kingdom), Eva’s Diamond, Actress: Leading (Ice Neal as Eva Marlin and Miss Phillips), Women Filmmakers (Ice Neal), Christian
Jada Sirkin (Argentina), SCENES FROM A BROKEN PARTY, Film Feature
James Carroll (USA), Resurrection Time Conspiracy, Christian
Jason Baumgardner, Ten Four Films (USA), Me3, Actress: Leading (Amber Higgins as Megan), Film Short
Jayesh Sheth (India), ROLL SOUND CAMERA ACTION, Ensemble Cast
Jim Harris (USA), Poor George, Film Short
John Holowach (USA), Unbeaten Path, Film Short
JohnMark Triplett (USA), SHE, Film Short
Jon Mackey (USA), Ella In Hollywood, Television – Pilot Program
Jonatán Vila Gómez and Hadzael Gómez (Dominican Republic), 7 Grams, Documentary Short
Kate Loughran (United Kingdom), FALLEN ANGEL, Film Short
Kevin Preece (Canada), Good Night, Film Short
Kim Huynh (Australia), Bite Club, Movie Trailer
Kodi Zene (USA), MONOCHROME, Movie Trailer
Lana Marconi (Canada), New Human, New Earth, New Humanity, Documentary Feature
Lance Larson (USA), Cuckold Picasso, Film Short, Experimental, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising, Creativity / Originality, Dramatic Impact, Concept
Madison Durand (USA), Only One You, Music Video (Student)
Marga Melià (Spain), Bittersweet days, Women Filmmakers
Mari Walker (USA), Ra, Experimental and The Soul of a Tree, Documentary Short
Michael Mantas (Greece), Receta, Experimental
Mike Hermosa (USA), The Head Thieves, Film Feature
Mike Wargo (USA), Road to Hope, Documentary Feature
Monnie Aleahmad (USA), Lifelines (Pilot), Television – Pilot Program
Nancy Gifford (USA), IMAGINARY NOVELS Volume 1, Special Purpose Productions
Natalie Camou (USA), tereza, Women Filmmakers (Student)
Nolan Hicks, Constituting America (USA), Put America Back on Track, Public Service Programming / PSA (Student)
Patrick Coker (USA), Shankmans, Film Feature
Paul Sanchez (USA), Mysterious Ways, Film Short
Peter Levermann (USA), CATRACHOLANDIA: THE MOVIE, Documentary Feature
Rob McCallum and Jordan C. Morris (USA), Missing Mom, Documentary Feature
Roberta Cantow (USA), Accordions Rising, Documentary Feature
Sara Eustaquio (Portugal), 4242, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Scott Reynolds (Canada), Garage Sale Diaries, Reality Programming
Shawn-Noel Semana (USA), Got it Maid, Asian American (Student)
Sonja Tsypin (USA), Powder Room, Women Filmmakers (Student)
Spencer Curry (USA), Orion, Film Short
Terry Thomas (USA), Dragon & Racoon’s Spare the Air Caper, Viewer Impact: Content / Message Delivery
Thiago Rodrigues (Brazil), Motel, Film Short
Tom Kingdon (USA), 1954, Film Short
Tyler Johnson, Hannah and Emily Puder (USA), Perpetual, Music Video (Student)
Yufei Qiao (USA), Plaything, Direction, Film Short, Women Filmmakers (Student)
Award of Recognition
Abby Shaffer and Paul Spaulding (USA), Water Street Market, Documentary Short (Student)
Alberto Diamante (Canada), The Bookstore, Film Feature
Amanda McKeehan (USA), Autoimmune, Experimental (Student)
Andre Costa (Namibia), A COLD NIGHT, Film Feature
Andrew Tigani (USA), Masks, Film Short (Student)
Ankit Kadam (India), Roaches, Experimental
Anugat Raj (India), PAGES 321 PART-1, Experimental
Avril Furness (United Kingdom), Last Moments, Experimental
Barry Worthington (USA), The Infinitely Generous Francis Victus, Film Short
Bless Williams (USA), Rainbow Girl, Film Short
Brandon Ruzovich (USA), I’m The Bad Guy, Film Short
Catherine Schetina (USA), Welcome Home, Film Short
Cheryl Green and Cynthia Lopez (USA), Who Am I To Stop It, Disability Issues
Chris Preyor (USA), The Save, Film Short
Cindy Iodice (USA), The Bridge, Film Short
Daniel Vital, Street Lamp (USA), Thank You Rebbe, Film Short
Derek Frey (USA), Green Lake, Actress: Leading (RaVani Flood as RaVani), Original Song (Come in the Water’s Fine composed by Trever Veilleux), Cinematography, Makeup
Don Sano (USA), The Book of Judith, Film Short, Direction
Donald Watson (USA), Let There Be Peace, Film Short
Eduardo Rufeisen (USA), A Cup Song, Music Video
Eric Ayala (USA), if i should die before i wake [M], Movie Trailer
Hugo J. Matz (USA), When Damon Met Angie…, Humor / Humorist
Hugo Teugels, TVP services Video Art Productions (Belgium), THE QUEEN, Film Short, Direction, Editing, Concept
Ian W Thomson (Australia), Alone, Experimental (Student)
Ileana Andrea Gómez Gavinoser (Argentina), WHEN I SEE YOU AGAIN, Film Short
Jeffrey M. Williams (USA), Griddance, Film Short
Kheyali Das (India), HANDICAPPED SEAT, Disability Issues
Laurier Fourniau (France), Low Notes, Actor: Supporting (Pedro Fontaine as Alexis), Original Score (Composed by Oliver Patrice Weder, Antoine Leroy and Quentin Abadia), Voice-Over Talent (Dashiell Boam as Leon)
Lily Barfield (USA), Labels, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Lisa Mikitarian (USA), Spent, Film Feature, Christian, Women Filmmakers
Lorenzo Lanzillotti (USA), The Nutcracker Princess, Film Short
Lyra Trevino (USA), Suburban Turf, Film Short, Women Filmmakers (Student)
Marielle Heydt, Holly Kaplan and Mariana Empis (USA), The Lesson, Film Short (Student)
Marsha Balaeva (United Kingdom), Risto’s Riff, Music Video
Matthew Kowalski (USA), Train Stop, Actor: Leading (Ken Dusek as Marcus)
Melody AiHsuan Shih (USA), Cacophony, Animation (Student)
Michael Mantas (Greece), Receta, Film Feature
Michael Sneed (USA), Aunt Jean, Television – Pilot Program
Nasya Kastelik (USA), New Generation, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Natalie Camou (USA), Tereza, Latin / Hispanic (Student), Actor: Leading (Bella Bolster as Tereza)
Nathaniel Katzman (USA), Losing It, Film Short (Student)
Nicholas Dostal (USA), There I Go, Film Short
Oz Yilmaz (Canada), COLOR OF SOUND, Documentary Short
Pak Chaisana (Thailand), Shoes, Original Score (Shoes, composed by Marine Caillat)
Paul Zehrer (USA), Being Seen, Disability Issues
Prab Kainth (Canada), Riding on Hope, Documentary Short
Rachel Sennott and Katarina Zhu (USA), Unbalanced, Women Filmmakers (Student)
Robin Bain (USA), NOWHERELAND, Women Filmmakers, Cinematography (Ian Campbell), Script / Writer, Direction
Ron Longo (USA), So What, Music Video
Samim Ansari (India), …but don’t call me a BASTARD, Documentary Feature
Sara Yang (USA), The Book of Living & Dying, LGBT (Student)
Sean Hale (USA), Exodus, Film Short (Student)
Sebastian Jobst (Germany), KOLLOWALLA, LGBT
Shane Alexander (USA), Psychos Therapy, Webisode
Shivin Grover (USA), Echo, Film Short (Student)
Sienna Reid (USA), Sticks and Stones Trilogy: The Words Spoken, The Words on the Body, The Marks on the Wall, Women Filmmakers
Stephanie Palacino (United Kingdom), Drowning in Sunshine, Television – Pilot Program
Sudhanshu Sharma (India), Kalichaat, Film Feature
Tess Bellomo (USA), Liked Web Series, Women Filmmakers
Tiziano Cella (Italy), Red Net, Film Feature
Tony Lawrence (Australia), Hunters in Snow, Experimental
Tyler A Horn (USA), Drowning In My Own Discontent, Christian (Student)
Virginie Balabaud (France), Globuline’s Game, Experimental
Will Agee (USA), Crescite, Documentary Short, Use of Film / Video for Social Change, Direction
Yu-Ting Cheng (USA), Light Drifter, Animation (Student)
Zeynep Kilic (USA), Tables of Istanbul, Documentary Feature
Zeynep Kececiler (TRT-Turkey), What Remain is Mermanat…, Documentary Short
Zizi Rincolisky (Ireland), The Other woman’, Zizi’s dream, Women Filmmakers