2009 Feel Good Film Festival Announces Winners

THE 2009 FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

“DANCE OF THE DRAGON” RECEIVES THE JURY PRIZE

FOR BEST FEEL GOOD FEATURE

“LUCY: A PERIOD PIECE” IS NAMED

BEST FEEL GOOD SHORT FILM

AND

AUDIENCE AWARDS GO TO

“ROCK SLYDE” FOR FEEL GOOD FEATURE

AND “GRANDE DRIP” FOR FEEL GOOD SHORT

LOS ANGELES, CA August 10, 2009 – The Feel Good Film Festival (FGFF) announces the award winners for its sophomore outing with Max Mannix’s and John Radel’s DANCE OF THE DRAGON taking home the Panavision Grand Jury Prize for Best Feel Good Feature Film and Julie Sagalowsky’s LUCY: A PERIOD PIECE named as the winner of the SLX Rentals & Sales Grand Jury Prize for Best Feel Good Short Film.

Hollywood Rentals Audience Awards went to Chris Dowling’s ROCK SLYDE for Feel Good Feature and Angelo Salvatore Restaino’s GRANDE DRIP for Feel Good Short. The Feel Good Award for Best Student Film was presented to Kunal Savkur for HAPPY MAN’S PANTS and Best Feel Good Webisode went to Brinton Bryan’s PINK EYE. Cass Warner’s documentary THE BROTHERS WARNER received a Special Mention in the Feel Good Feature category.

UNIVERSAL SIGNS took the two acting categories with Anthony Natale and Sabrina Lloyd named as Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, and SUMMERHOOD also snagged two honors, with Jacob Medjuck named Best Director and Ewan Dickson cited for Best Production Design. The Panther Award for Best Cinematography went to John Radel for his work on DANCE OF THE DRAGON.

Travis Mann’s and Michael Toay’s (with story by David White) “Godspeed” won the Feel Good Screenplay Competition and Skyebat (Stephanie Batailler) won the Feel Good Original Song Competition for the song, “Step on the Moon.”

Graphic Designer June Tan, who was representing DANCE OF THE DRAGON at the film festival was presented with a prize package of more than $70,000 ($60,000 in-kind & 4 week camera rental from Panavision, $3000 in-kind from Hollywood Rentals, $3000 in-kind from SLX Rentals & Sales, $2000 in-kind from ISS Props, $1500 in-kind from Fujifilm, $500 in-kind from IndieRentals, 1 copy of Final Draft Version 8 and 1 copy of Showbiz Budgeting as the winner of the Best Feel Good Feature Length Film.

Sagalowsky received a prize package of more than $4500 ($1500 in-kind from SLX Rentals & Sales, $1000 in-kind from Hollywood Rentals, ISS Props and Fujifilm, 1 copy of Final Draft version 8 and 1 copy of Showbiz Budgeting for winning the Best Feel Good Short Film.

Dowling received $1000 in-kind from Hollywood Rentals, as well as 1 copy each of Final Draft Version 8 and Showbiz Budgeting for the Feature Film Audience Award and Restaino took home Final Draft Version 8 and Showbiz Budgeting as well.

For his Best Feel Good Student Film honor, Savkur received a one week scholarship at the New York Film Academy, $800 in-kind from SLX Rentals and Sales and 1 copy of Final Draft Version 8. Bryan also received copies of Final Draft version 8 and Showbiz Budgeting for his Best Webisode award.

$3000 in-kind from SLX Rentals & Sales was given to Radal along with his Panther Award for Best Feel Good Cinematography; the Best Actor and Best Actress nods came with a 1 year membership to Film Independent to go along with the Final Draft version 8 and Showbiz Producer and Showbiz Film and TV Contracts software, along with a demo reel shot by FINT Films; and Medjuck’s Best Directing nod included Showbiz Budgeting and Showbiz Scheduling, as well as a 1 week scholarship to New York Film Academy. The Best Production Design award included $500 in-kind for ISS Studio props, a 3- hour design consultation by MEHRNOOSH, and a 1-year membership to Film Independent.

Memberships to Film Independent and InkTip.com as well as the Final Draft and Showbiz Software were part of the package presented for the Best Feel Good Screenplay and 1 day of studio recording with an engineer at Tuff Cut Sound was awarded for the Best Feel Good Original Song.

Kristen Ridgway Flores, FGFF Founder and Co-Director, said, “The second year of the Feel Good Film Festival was a huge and happy leap forward. Our Opening Night Gala presentation of ROCK SLYDE was sold out with a standing-room-only crowd and each screening block, panel, and musical performance throughout the weekend had a solid attendance. I was thrilled to celebrate Ed Asner and our jury and audience award-winning projects this year. They are an inspiration! The positive feedback we have received again this year makes me confident there is a need for the festival’s counter-programming and I could not feel more thrilled at what we’ve accomplished in just our second year.”

The festival featured 60 films, including 16 features, 34 shorts, and 10 student films, as well as 2 webisodes. Along with the films offered throughout the festival, highlights included Carlos Mencia serving as host for the Opening Night Gala; a filmmaker panel exploring the limits of language and content in feel good entertainment and films featuring Emmy winning writer Rick Overton, Frank Conniff (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Lisa Ann Walter (DRILLBIT TAYLOR), Jacob Medjuck (SUMMERHOOD) and David Sleven (Manager, Comedy Development, FOX Broadcasting); musical performances in the Egyptian Theater Courtyard; and an outdoor bazaar highlighted by “green” and health-oriented vendors.

The weekend concluded Sunday evening with a Closing Night Awards Gala hosted by Brian Krause (“Charmed”) featuring a Tribute to film and television legend, Ed Asner. Asner could not attend, but sent an acceptance video. The ceremony also included the screening of a music video of the song “Til My Voice is Gone” by The Old Ceremony that starred Asner and Eileen Ryan. The award winners all received the distinctive Feel Good Film Can w Sunflower awards designed by Lauren Bicknell and Scott Thewes with bases by Corkologie.

One of the highlights of the award ceremony occurred when Anthony Natale, who is deaf, accepted his Best Feel Good Actor award for UNIVERSAL SIGNS. As part of his acceptance speech, which he signed and was translated for the audience, Natale “taught” everyone how to say “feel good” in sign language.

JURY AWARDS:

BEST FEEL GOOD FEATURE FILM: DANCE OF THE DRAGON
Dir:        Max Mannix and John Radel
Exec. Prod:    Pierre Andurand, Gary Hamilton, Max Mannix, John Radel, Ying Ye
Prod:         Robin Leong
Cast:        Hyuk Jang, Fann Wong, Jason Scott Lee

SPECIAL MENTION: THE BROTHERS WARNER
Dir:        Cass Warner

BEST FEEL GOOD SHORT FILM: LUCY: A PERIOD PIECE
Dir:        Julie Sagalowsky
Prod:        Josh Feldman, Julie Sagalowsky

BEST FEEL GOOD STUDENT FILM: HAPPY MAN’S PANTS
Dir:        Kunal Savkur
Prod:        Zach Guglin, Kunal Savkur, Stephanie Sorenson

BEST FEEL GOOD WEBISODE: PINK EYE
Dir:        Brinton Bryan
Prod:        Ryan Alosio, Brinton Bryan, Julie Gonzalo

BEST FEEL GOOD DIRECTOR: Jacob Medjuck (for SUMMERHOOD)

BEST FEEL GOOD ACTOR: Anthony Natale (for UNIVERSAL SIGNS)

BEST FEEL GOOD ACTRESS: Sabrina Lloyd (for UNIVERSAL SIGNS)

BEST FEEL GOOD CINEMATOGRAPHY (PANTHER AWARD): John Radel (for DANCE OF THE DRAGON)

BEST FEEL GOOD PRODUCTION DESIGN: Ewan Dickson (for SUMMERHOOD)

FEEL GOOD ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY AWARD: “Godspeed”
Writer:        Travis Mann, Michael Toay (Story by David White)

FEEL GOOD ORIGINAL SONG AWARD: “Step on the Moon”
Music & Lyrics:    Skyebat (Stephanie Batailler)

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

FEEL GOOD FEATURE: ROCK SLYDE
Dir:        Chris Dowling
Exec Prod:    Ed Ojdana, JB Orecchia, Dolores Robinson, Patrick Warburton
Prod:        Milan Chakraborty, Chris Dowling, Jason Manns, Will Wallace,  Josh Young
Cast:        Patrick Warburton, Andy Dick, Elaine Hendrix, Rena Sofer

FEEL GOOD SHORT: GRANDE DRIP
Dir:        Angelo Salvatore Restaino
Exec. Prod:    Hugo Perez, Jeff Silverman
Prod:        Ryan Cheevers, Emily Moss, Greg Wilson

2009 FGFF JURY MEMBERS

FEATURE FILM JURY includes:

Julia Benaroya
Julia Benaroya is currently in International Publicity at Paramount Vantage where she has worked on such titles as REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, AMERICAN TEEN and LAST CHANCE HARVEY. She joined Paramount in 2008 after having worked in feature production at both Twentieth Century Fox and Fox Atomic. Julia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Film from Emerson College, Boston, MA.

Orian Williams
In 2004 Producer Orian Williams secured the rights to a biography based on the life of Ian Curtis, lead singer of the band Joy Division.  CONTROL had its world premiere in Cannes 2007 opening the Director’s Fortnight and came away with 3 awards including Best European Film and received 4 BAFTA nominations including one win for writer.   Orian recently completed a documentary based on Jack Kerouac’s novel The Big Sur, called  ONE FAST MOVE OR I’M GONE: Kerouac’s Big Sur, featuring Tom Waits, S. E. Hinton, Patti Smith, Sam Shepard and Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie).  Next year Orian will work with famed director Wim Wenders and will also begin production on a film about JEFF BUCKLEY.  Orian was honored as one of Variety’s Top Ten Producers of the Year in 2007.

Robert Yu
Robert Yu is currently a film consultant specializing in distribution.  Most recently, Mr. Yu was the Vice President of Acquisitions for PorchLight Entertainment overseeing all aspects of acquisitions and development.  Prior, Mr. Yu was the Head of West Coast Operations for CinemaVault Releasing International, supervising the Los Angeles office.  Previously Mr. Yu was the Vice President of the entertainment law firm / producer’s representative, Harris Tulchin & Associates / Tulchin Entertainment. Robert Yu started his career at Paramount Classics and Alliance Atlantis in Marketing and International Sales respectively.

SHORT FILM JURY includes:

Danielle Reardon
Danielle Reardon recently joined 100% Womon (a partner of Overbrook Entertainment) which produced HUMAN CONTRACT and HAWTHORNE, currently airing on TNT. Prior to 100% Womon she worked at the US branch of the Japanese company, Kadokawa Pictures which produced such titles as ONE MISSED CALL and the Showtime television series, MASTERS OF HORROR. Danielle graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Tuft University, Boston, MA.

Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly moved out to Los Angeles shortly after graduating from the
University of Texas at Austin, and has worked for Disney, Sony Pictures, The Jim Henson Company. After working in development as a story editor and director of development, he entered the wide world of blogging where he currently writes for sites like Cinematical, io9, Joystiq, /Film, Film School Rejects, Los Anjealous, LAist, and others. There’s a constant supply of pop culture being dripped into his veins these days, and he’s always looking for a new fix.

Bill Chott
Bill Chott is a Feel-Good Guy. He’ll be appearing soon in THE RUM DIARY with Johnny Depp.  He is one of the stars of DISNEY’S WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE, and he was Thomas in the feel-good hit THE RINGER.  Bill teaches and coaches improv in LA and his home town of St. Louis, where he teaches improv to at-risk kids and adults.  He brings a fun atmosphere to events, teaches improv to Global Messengers of the Special Olympics and performs at dozens of charity events each year.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY JURY includes:

Bradley Bredeweg
Brad Bredeweg and his writing/producing partner Peter Paige are currently writing REPEAT AFTER ME for Single Cell Pictures alongside producers Sandy Stern, Michael Stipe (BEING JOHN MALCOVICH, SAVED) and Gina Resnick(RESERVATION ROAD).  Bredeweg and Paige are also the Creators and Co-Executive Producers of FLY GIRLS, a new docu-reality series for The CW. Brad is the co-writer of LOVE SHACK for ABC Family as well as THE KATIE MAY SHOW, a ` driven scripted drama pilot for E!.  Bredeweg is a producer of the film SEX CRIME PANIC, based on the award-winning book by Neil Miller, directed by Peter Paige. Finally, Bredeweg is the Writer and Producer of ALYX, a pilot for ABC Studios, alongside Executive Producers Madonna, Guy Oseary, and Melissa Rosenberg.  Bredeweg (and Paige) are repped by CAA, Anonymous Content, and lawyer Karl Austen.

Robert Knott
Robert is a third generation actor.  His grandparents had a traveling tent show theater that followed the wheat harvest.  When the show closed his family made camp in Oklahoma where Robert was born and raised by actors, musicians and storytellers.  Prior to acting and writing, Robert spent his early years working across the globe on oil rigs.  As an actor Robert most recently starred as the troubled waterman in SWIMMERS with two time Tony Winner, Cherry Jones.  SWIMMERS premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won the Seattle International Film Festival.  Robert also starred along with APPALOOSA’S Tom Bower in Robert M. Young’s HUMAN ERROR, a comedy based on Richard Dresser’s play that also premiered at Sundance.  Robert’s been working in theater, film and television for over 30 years.  His film credits include: POLLOCK, directed by Ed Harris, Stephen Frears’ HIGH LOW COUNTRY with Billy Crudup, STORM with Martin Sheen, BUFFALO SOLDIERS with Danny Glover and Walter Hill’s, WILD BILL with Diane Lane and Jeff Bridges just to name a few.  Robert had the pleasure of working on stage ‘also’ with Tom Bower in Harold Pinter’s THE CARTACKER.  As a writer Robert has written a diversity of scripts, depicting the stories of his family’s wayfaring past to stage plays about oil riggers. Robert wrote and produced APPALOOSA with Ed Harris.  Harris directed, Knott directed second unit.

Sarah Mohazzebi
Sara Mohazzebi is an international journalist and screenwriter based in Los Angeles.  A graduate of the American Film Institute, Sara is a frequent contributing writer for Emirates Woman Magazine, the largest monthly magazine in the Middle East, and covers entertainment and human interest subjects.  Prior to her career in writing, Sara worked in development for Director Penny Marshall and as consultant for the Dubai International Film Festival.
ORIGINAL SONG JURY includes:

Richard Kraft
Richard Kraft is the founder of Kraft-Engel Management, one of the world’s leading agencies specializing in representing film and theatre composers. Together with his partner, Laura Engel, they represent such clients as John Barry, Christophe Beck, Andrew Bird, Terence Blanchard, Jon Brion,  Alexandre Desplat, Danny Elfman, Marvin Hamlisch,  Alan Menken, David Newman, John Ottman, John Powell, Trevor Rabin, Graeme Revell, Marc Shaiman, Gabriel Yared and Aaron Zigman.

Fay Aiyana
Raised in South Carolina, Fay gave her first vocal performance at the young age of three. Having a voice described as sultry, depth-full and packed with heart, it is no surprise that Fay has accomplished a great deal since her move to LA in 2002.  In no time, she was the assistant music editor for LAS VEGAS and NUMBERS.  Her songs have been featured on hit films and television shows such as 7TH HEAVEN, WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB and TRULE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET.  Currently, Fay spends most of her time song-writing and working as a full-time music editor on the hit show THE CLEANER starring Benjamin Bratt and Whoopi Goldberg.

Ludek Drizhal
Ludek is currently completing the score for the film ALABAMA MOON directed by Tim McCanlies. He has worked on a number of Starz Productions as well as independent films, such as BADLAND directed by Francesco Lucente and SIMON SAYS directed by Bill Dear.   He recently finished work on the European production U PANA BOGA ZA MIEDZA (God’s Little Village) with acclaimed Polish director Jacek Bromski. Ludek graduated with a Masters of Music from the USC Thornton School of Music where he also taught for six years.

Feel Good Film Festival Announces Host, Panel, Music

THE FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES
CARLOS MENCIA AS OPENING NIGHT GALA HOST

FESTIVAL ALSO ANNOUNCES AWARD NOMINATIONS

FILMMAKER PANEL PARTICIPANTS

MUSICAL PERFORMERS

LOS ANGELES, CA August 4, 2009 – The 2009 Feel Good Film Festival (FGFF) announces that Carlos Mencia will serve as the host for the Opening Night Gala festivities at the Egyptian Theatre on Friday, August 7 prior to the presentation of Chris Dowling’s ROCK SLYDE.

The star of Comedy Central’s “Mind of Mencia” will entertain and start the proceedings by introducing the film and filmmakers at the Gala event.

The Feel Good Film Festival also announces the nominees for the new award categories to be presented at the film festival’s award ceremony on Sunday, August 9. The nominees for those award categories are as follows:

BEST ACTOR
Michael Flynn from FRIENDS FOR LIFE
Barry Hilton from FINDING LENNY
Joel McCary From JESUS PEOPLE
Anthony Natale from UNIVERSAL SIGNS
Dustin Seavey from TRUE BEAUTY THIS NIGHT
Patrick Warburton from ROCK SLYDE

BEST ACTRESS
Elaine Hendrix from ROCK SLYDE
Patrizia Hernandez from LOVE SIMPLE
Sabrina Lloyd from UNIVERSAL SIGNS
Edi Patterson from JESUS PEOPLE
Sarah Paulson from WHOSE DOG IS IT ANYWAY?
Antoinette Valente from KATE WAKES

BEST DIRECTOR
Ann Calamia from UNIVERSAL SIGNS
Cindy Chupack from WHOSE DOG IS IT ANYWAY?
Chris Dowling from ROCK SLYDE
Jeff Hare from BITTER/SWEET
Jacob Medjuck from SUMMERHOOD
Michael Spence from FRIENDS FOR LIFE

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
Cale Finot from HIS GOOD WILL
James Liston from SUMMERHOOD
Sayombhu Mukdeeprom from BITTER/SWEET
John Radel from DANCE OF THE DRAGON
Jake Ures from THAT’S MAGIC!
Daniel Watchulonis from UNIVERSAL SIGNS

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Lacey Anzelc and Amy Maier GRANDE DRIP
Ewen Dickson from SUMMERHOOD
Carlos Espinoza from ROCK SLYDE
Bill Johnson from THAT’S MAGIC!
Meghan Rogers from DANDELION DHARMA
Jenna Sanders from CHARLIE THISTLE

FGFF also announces details for the Feel Good Filmmaker panel on Saturday, August 8 at 10:30AM in the Spielberg Theatre at the Egyptian. The subject of the panel is “Exploring the Limits of Feeling Good at the Movies,” with topics including the issues of current boundaries of language and racy content in comedies, as well as the responsibility of “truth in advertising” for films marketed to age groups the films are arguably inappropriate for.

Panelists will include actor, comedian, and Emmy Award winning comedy writer Rick Overton, Andy Dick (ROCK SLYDE), Frank Conniff (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Jacob Medjuck (director, SUMMERHOOD), and David Sleven, (Manager, Comedy Development, FOX Broadcasting). The panel will be moderated by John Wildman (Director of Press & Public Relations, FGFF and Head of PR, American Film Institute). Admission for the general public, space permitting, is $10.00.

Musical performers on the Audiorents Feel Good stage in the Egyptian Theatre Courtyard will range from rock to pop to bluegrass featuring several performers with songs nominated for Best Feel Good Song honors at the festival this year.

Performers include: Blonde Jersey, Poorgood, Land of Deborah, The Mysterious Ticking Sound, MeryKid, Sons of Jack, Kingsley, Doron Diamond, Ballroom Madness, Babylon Saints, Skyebat, Lee Whittaker, Jason Manns, ModelK, Freddy & Francine, and Sarah Sharp. Also performing will be the Goddess A Go‐Go dance troupe and Improv performers, Woodshop Improv.