Fest Update - LOVE IS DEAF Wins Student Showcase Grand Prize At Palm Beach Film Fest

LOVE IS DEAF, Directing 3 short of Andrew Gay ('06) won 2nd Place in the University category, as well as the Student Showcase Grand Prize at the recent Palm Beach Film Festival Student Showcase.

Andrew points out, "If, like me you're wondering how my film won the Grand Prize but not 1st Place in the University category, it is because the Grand Prize had the special judging criteria that they were looking for the film they felt had the greatest potential for success as an expanded feature film. We beat out two FSU Graduate Shorts for this prize."

In addition to a lovely trophy and check for winning 2nd Place, the Grand Prize includes an all-expenses paid trip for Andrew and his producer (Ryan Pomeranz) to Los Angeles where they will pitch a feature based on "Love is Deaf" to executives at Mandalay Pictures. The trip also includes a pitching workshop, a studio backlot tour and more. In true LA tradition, we expect Andrew and Ryan to spend plenty of time poolside, enjoying the view as imagined above.

"Keep in mind, I'd never thought of turning Love is Deaf into a feature before," says Andrew. "So John (Wright) and I spent the entire drive home brainstorming script ideas. Should be interesting. I'm hoping they'll allow me to pitch my other feature ideas as well."

Big props to Andrew for representing UCF FILM so well at Palm Beach. We look forward to adding his trophy to the big cabinet in Comm 121.

NATPE 2007 Student Production Contest Deadline

The postmark deadline for entries in the Student Video & Film Production Award is May 1!

Open to any full-time, matriculated undergraduate students, the contest rewards the best student productions with cash and prizes. First Place: $3,000 for the student producer, one complimentary registration to NATPE 2007 AND $3,000 for the student's academic department Second Place: $1,000 for the student producer AND $1,000 for the student's academic department

Additionally, the sponsoring faculty member of the first place entry will be invited to attend NATPE 2007 as a Faculty Fellow, which includes free registration to the conference, hotel accommodations, most meals and a series of special workshops designed for instructors.

Full details about the contest are available here
<http://www.natpe.org/educationalactivities/studentprogram/>;,

a printable PDF entry form is downloadable here
<http://www.natpe.org/forms/pdf/2006_SVFPA_EntryForm.pdf>.

Any questions can be sent to edfound@natpe.org.

Best regards,
Chris Blackledge, NATPE

Kodak Offers Grants To Student & Faculty Filmmakers

KODAK 2006 STUDENT SCHLORSHIP PROGRAM
Students submit your film for an opportunity to win up to $12,000!

Eastman Kodak Company and the University Film and Video Foundation announce the EASTMAN Scholarship Program 2006. These highly competitive awards are given to students demonstrating superior professional filmmaking potential. The scholarship amounts are $12,000 for first place and $6,000 for second. The deadline to receive nominations is June 1, 2006.

Download the Eastman Scholarship application form. Visit www.kodak.com/go/student for more information.

KODAK 2006 FACULTY SCHLORS PROGRAM
Faculty members enter your film proposal for an opportunity to win up to $6,000.

Eastman Kodak Company and the University Film and Video Foundation announce the KODAK Faculty Scholars Program 2006. These highly competitive awards are given to qualifying faculty demonstrating superior production skills and creativity. The deadline to receive nominations is June 1, 2006.

Download the KODAK Faculty Scholars application form. Visit www.kodak.com/go/student for more information.

Fest Update - Detachment Wins BEST DRAMATIC SHORT At Cosmos

DETACHMENT, the Capstone short of Djordje Simic ('05) won "Best Short Film (Drama)" at the Cosmos Int'l Film Festival! Djordie reports "There were some great films screened, including one called "Missing Pages" by Jerome Olivier. I'll try and find a link to it 'cause you have to check it out. Really inventive."

DETACHMENT is scheduled to screen next at the Sunscreen Festival May 5th thru 7th.

WINNERS @ COSMOS Included:

Final Draft- Best Feature Film Award-Monty Lapica- Self Medicated

Best Short Film Drama-Djordje Simic- Detachment

Best Cultural Film-Jerome Olivier-Missing Pages

Best Action Short-Haim Silberstein-Kings Echo

Best BYOC-Ryan Allen-The Cost of Apathy

Best Documentary-Christoph Bove-Deep Springs-A Desert Education

Best Comedy Feature-Colin Hebert-Slapdash

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN Producer Michael Hausman To Speak @ UCF FILM

MICHAEL HAUSMAN, executive producer & assistant director of "Brokeback Mountain" will be speaking at UCF in an open forum opn to everyone in the UCF community. Hausman, one of the most successful excecutive producers in Hollywood, has been instrumental in films such as "Gangs of New York", "Amadeus", "Places in the Heart", and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." A presentation by Hausman will be followed by an open Q&A.

WHAT: MICHAEL HAUSMAN Speaks At UCF
WHEN: THURSDAY, APRIL 20
WHERE: COMM 101 (Communications Building)
TIME: 8:00 pm
ALL UCF WELCOME

Fest Update - MALIKAI, TEARS & LOVE IS DEAF Accepted At Moviesauce Film Festival

UCF FILM scored three acceptances at the upcoming Moviesauce Film Festival, including LOVE IS DEAF (Andrew Gay, '06), TEARS IN THE RAIN (David Estrada, '05) and MR MALIKAI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE (Drew Blatman, '05). Moviesauce,based in Shreveport, Louisiana and now in it's second year, happens June 2 - 4.

Also in the festival news, the Tartan Road Film Festival cryptically mailed awards to two UCF filmmakers based on their recent screening at the event. NOVEMBER GUEST, directed by Danny daneau ('05) received an award for Best Cinmatography. The film was shot on 35mm by Alex Eastwood ('05). In addition, MR MALIKAI BATTLE THE AEROPLANE earned an award for Most Original Film.

And if I haven't metioned it before, it appears MR. MALIKI won a REMI Award for Experimental Film at Worldfest Houston. We haven't really gotten a confirmation about that yet, so we'll let you know more later.

Fest Update - LOSING TOBY Invited to Eugene Film Fest, Plus More!

LOSING TOBY, the Directing 3 project of Drew Lindo ('06) has been selected screen at the Eugene Film Festival, May 12-14, 2006. This marks the 12th screening for Drew's cross-gender/species tale of obsession.

Also on the news front for UCF FILM students...

>> Ben Piety ('06) appears to have too much free time on his hands as he's directed a music video for local alt country band THE HEATHENS called STICKIN' AROUND. The video - a long oner completed with the mirror effect Ben used in his Capstone short, has been accepted for screening at the very prestigious Los Angeles Film Festival. Way cool.

>> ALL THAT REMAINS, Directing 2 short of Aaron Brownlee ('06) has been acquired for limited distribution by Cafe Shorts, an Orlando company that's compiling short films and sending them on tour in restaurants. It's an interesting idea and Aaron's right there on the ground floor. Congrats!

Fest Update - DETACHMENT To Play SunScreen Film Fest

Djordje Simic ('06) wrote in from St Pete to inform us that his Capstone short, Detachment has been selected to play the Sunscreen Film Festival the weekend of May 5th in St. Pete!

"It's the first year for the festival, but I'm sure we're going to have a blast!" promises Djordie. Knowing Djordje, I have absolute faith in his prediction.

Fest Update - UCF Students Nab Seven Entries at 8th Cinerama Film fest in Gainsville

Students at the University of Florida got a taste of UCF FILM as UCF boasted seven shorts at the 8th Annual Cinerama Film Festival, a UF-sponsored event held last Sat. April 8th at the Reitz Union Auditorium in Gainsville, FL. The UCF Films presented were:

• Losing Toby (Drew Lindo, '06)
  
• November Guest (Danny Daneau, '05)
  
• All That Remains (Aaron Brownlee, '06)
  
• Mr. Malikai Battles the Airplane (Drew Blatman, '05)
  
• Tears in the Rain (David Estrada, '05)
  
• Goodnight Charlie (Danny Daneau, '05)
  
• Love is Deaf (Andrew Gay, '06)
  

Fest Update - LONELY LIGHTS TO DEBUT AT STARZ! FIRST LOOK

Ben Piety ('06) informs us that his brand spanking new capstone short LONELY LIGHTS - THE COLOR OF LEMONS has been accepted to play the Starz! First Look Student Film Festival. Starz! also played Ben previous short, THE DOMESTICATION OF THE LMNO ROBOT. Festivals love follow-up like this - getting your new short first when they played your last one. Keep that in mind.

Fest Update - IVAN GORSKY Also Playing Flint Film Fest

As mentioned in an 11/17 posting and now confirmed by posted web schedule, AN EVENING WITH IVAN GORSKY, directed by Joe Mauceri ('04) has been added to the schedule of the 2006 Flint Film Festival, along with three other UCF shorts. Nice

Cash That

As mentioned earlier, Danny Daneau ('05), a UCF FILM grad student, last weekend received a $500 scholorship from the Sara Fuller Foundation and Film Florida, Presenting the check, to the right is Jennifer Pennypacker, President of Film Florida and daughter of Sara Fuller.

We can't say Danny will be able to cash the check he's holding, but it is impressive huh?

Danny also got his media face some practice as he followed up his check-holding feat of strength with a TV interview on the sidewalk outside the Metro Cafe, where the event was held. Also outside was a large, yummy cake. Those Sarasota Film Fest guys really know how to throw a party.

Fest Update - deadCENTER Film Fest Programs Four UCF FILM Shorts

Four shorts from UCF FILM students have been selected for screening at the excellent deadCENTER Film Festival, which happens June 7 through 11 in downtown Oklahoma City. More selections might come, but for the moment, the films chosen include:

• MR MALIKAI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE, directed by Drew Blatman ('05)
• LOSING TOBY, directed by Drew Lindo ('06)
• GOODNIGHT CHARLIE & NOVMBER GUEST, directed by Danny Daneau ('05)

This a happening regional festival that's bubbling onto the national radar, not unlike the Florida Film Festival circa 1995. I wanna go this year, so I'm thinking road trip.

Fest Update - The Dastoli Brothers Rack Up Another Award

The Brothers Dastoli wrote in recently to inform one and all that their Sci-Fi epic Southwestern Orange County vs. the Flying Saucers just won Best Short at the Foursite Film Festival over the weekend. Once again, I'd like to point out your humble scribe has a bit part in that flick which I'm sure has absolutely nothing to do with it's massive success thus far.

In addition, the Dastoli machine saga Automated Assets is also playing at Tartan Road Film Festival next weekend along with the other six UCF FILMS. To find out more about the two-headed legend we humbly call "Hey You Guys", check out www.dastolidigital.com.

Fest Update - LOVE IS DEAF, LOSING TOBY & MR MALIKAI Accepted At Flint Film Fest

Three UCF FILM projects have been accepted for screening at the 2006 Flint Film Festival - LOVE IS DEAF, directed by Andrew Gay ('06), LOSING TOBY, directd by Drew Lindo ('06) and MR MALIAKI BATTLES THE AEROPLANE, directed by Drew Blatman ('05). The festival kicks of April 27th and runs through April 30th. Flint marks the 12th festival screening for LOVE IS DEAF, the 10th for MR. MALIKAI and the 9th for LOSING TOBY.

BTW - I happened to catch a MR MALIKAI screening at the SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL this past weekend and it was a treat. In an audience packed with friends and families of the other films, MALIKAI completely won over the crowd. It was impressive. Also screening to great response in this Emerging Florida Filmmaker Showcase was NOVEMBER GUEST by Danny Daneau ('05) and TEARS IN THE RAIN by David Estrada ('05). Danny answered questions after the screening and also received a $500 Sara Fuller Scholorship later in the day.