The 15th annual Slamdance Film Festival has announced 16 film and screenplay prize winners in four categories who will share more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. The just-concluded Festival in Park City, Utah, received over 3,000 submissions from 25 countries for 120 programming slots. 2009 marked the 15th anniversary of the Slamdance Film Festival, one of the few remaining movie showcases whose sole mission is to nurture, support and introduce truly independent works from first-time filmmakers.
There are three competitive divisions at Slamdance: Grand Jury, Audience and Writer Awards, in addition to Special Awards given by Kodak, Dos Equis and IndieRoad.net. Selections from the Grand Jury and Audience Award winning films will be screened at the IFC Center in New York City and the DGA in Los Angeles. Feature competition is limited to first-time filmmakers working with production budgets of $1 million or less.

Thus far, the Slamdance film "The Ante" has been acquired for U.S. distribution by Panorama Entertainment from Peter Proffit Pictures, and separately, Revolver Entertainment has snapped up UK rights from Facefilms and Scanner Rhodes Productions to “City Rats.” Both features appeared in the Slamdance Narrative Competition. It is expected that at least four other 2009 Slamdance films will also be acquired soon.

“As ever, if you wanted to see the best in truly independent film and emerging talent,” noted Peter Baxter, Co-Founder/President of Slamdance, “Slamdance No. 15 was the place to be. Congratulations to all of our winners and especially to all of our filmmakers who continue to strengthen our community...our family.”

Another great success this year was Slamdance’s recently formed online venture with IndieRoad.net, a website created by a team of veteran entertainment and business executives to address the lack of robust distribution options available to promising new talent in the independent film field. Through a combined Slamdance/IndieRoad.net site (www.indieRoad.net/slamdance), Slamdance films streamed during the Festival period. Bringing the Festival to a worldwide audience for the first time, this groundbreaking partnership allowed audiences, press and buyers the opportunity to see the Festival films from a location of their choosing.

"I feel like this year was a true turning point for us, and it's incredibly satisfying,” commented Slamdance Executive Director Drea Clark. “Not only did we receive a new level of support and attention from industry reps and media outlets, our filmmakers and audience participants all seemed to really respond to the energy and sense of community that we strive so hard to create. I can't think of any other year where I got more constant and positive feedback from every level, and I'm so appreciative that what we're trying to do really came across."

The winners of the 15th Slamdance Film Festival and their prize packages are as follows:


GRAND JURY AWARDS
Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature
Winner: A QUIET LITTLE MARRIAGE, directed by Mo Perkins
Special Jury Mention for Best Performance: Larry Fessenden in I SELL THE DEAD
WINNER RECEIVES:
Filmworksfx credit ($15,000 value)
$3,500 credit on legal services from Pierce Law Group, LLP
FilmTracker System
Showbiz Software Package
Jungle Software Package

Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature
Winner: STRONGMAN, directed by Zachary Levy
Special Jury Mention: SECOND SIGHT, directed by Alison McAlpine
WINNER RECEIVES:
Filmworksfx credit ($10,000)
Panasonic HVX200 Camera
$3,500 credit on legal services from Pierce Law Group, LLP
FilmTracker System
Showbiz Software Package
Jungle Software Package

Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short
Winner: UNDONE, directed by Hayley Morris
WINNER RECEIVES:
Filmworksfx credit ($2,500 value)
FilmTracker System
Showbiz Software Package
Jungle Software Package

Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short
Winner: RARE CHICKEN RESCUE, directed by Randall Wood
WINNER RECEIVES:
Filmworksfx credit ($2,500 value)
FilmTracker System
Showbiz Software Package
Jungle Software Package

Grand Jury Award for Best Experimental Short
Winner: FUNNY GUY, directed by Frank R. Rinaldi
WINNER RECEIVES:
Filmworksfx credit ($2,500 value)
FilmTracker System

Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Short
Winner: PRINCESS MARGARET BLVD, directed by Kazik Radwanski
Special Jury Mention: TONY ZOREIL, directed by Valentin Potier
WINNER RECEIVES:
Filmworksfx credit ($2,500 value)
FilmTracker System
Showbiz Software Package
Jungle Software Package

Grand Jury Award for Best Music Video
Winner: DON McCLOSKEY “MISTER NOVOCAINE”, directed by Peter Rhoads?
WINNER RECEIVES:
Gibson SG Special Guitar presented by Gibson Guitar


AUDIENCE AWARDS

Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
Winner: PUNCHING THE CLOWN, directed by Gregory Viens
WINNER RECEIVES:
$2,000 credit from Alpha Cine
FilmTracker System
Post Factory NY editing credit
Showbiz Software Package
Jungle Software Package

Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
Winner: HEART OF STONE (formerly IT’S HARD TO BE AN INDIAN), directed by Beth Toni Kruvant
WINNER RECEIVES:
$2,000 credit from Alpha Cine
$4,000 credit from Filmworks
FilmTracker System
Post Factory NY editing credit
Showbiz Software Package
Jungle Software Package

Audience Award for Best Anarchy Film
Winner: THE TIDES, directed by Eva Flodstrom
WINNER RECEIVES:
$2,500 credit from Filmworks
FilmTracker System
Showbiz Software Package
Jungle Software Package

Spirit of Slamdance Award
Winners (tie): ZOMBIE GIRL, directed by Aaron Marshall, Erik Mauck, Justin Johnson; and VAPID LOVELIES, directed by Frank Feldman
Awarded by the Class of 2009 filmmakers to the film teams that best exhibit passion and talent, commitment to the independent community, and enthusiastically embrace all Slamdance has to offer.
WINNERS RECEIVE:
Michael Collins Gift Basket


SPECIAL AWARDS

Kodak Vision Award for Best Cinematography
Winner: I SELL THE DEAD, cinematographer Richard Lopez
WINNER RECEIVES:
$10,000 worth of Kodak Film (35mm or 16mm film stock)

Dos Equis "Most Interesting Film" Award
Winner: YOU MIGHT AS WELL LIVE, directed by Simon Ellis?
WINNER RECEIVES: Special Prize Package from Dos Equis

IndieRoad Award
Winner: PUNCHING THE CLOWN, directed by Gregory Viens
The online audience award voted on by IndieRoad.net viewers.
WINNER RECEIVES: $5,000 credit from Lightning Media



WRITER AWARDS

Award for Best Screenplay
Winner: NUMBERED (Comedy/Thriller) by Neil McGowan
WINNER RECEIVES: $7,000 Cash Prize

Award for Best Short Screenplay
Winner: CRYBABY (Thriller) by Mark Seidel
WINNER RECEIVES: $500 Cash Prize


Slamdance 2009 Awards are sponsored by Kodak, Panasonic, Gibson, Post Factory NY, Dos Equis, IndieRoad.net, InBaseline/Studio Systems, Filmworksfx, Pierce Law Group, LLP, Alpha Cine, Showbiz Software and Jungle Software.

Celebrating its 15th year, Slamdance continues to be the preeminent film festival whose sole mission is to nurture, support and showcase truly independent works, having established a unique reputation for premiering new films by first-time writers and directors working within the creative confines of limited budgets.

The 2009 Slamdance Film Festival is honored to be presented by Kodak. Major and Official Festival Sponsors include IndieRoad.net, host of the Slamdance/IndieRoad.net online streaming festival, the Directors Guild of America, Dos Equis, All Seasons Resorts, Colourmovie, CurrentTV, Discmakers, Dr. Martens, Jagermeister, Hint Water, Media Distributors, Michael Collins Whiskey, Monster Energy, OurStage, Panasonic, POM Wonderful, Real Ideas Studio, Spout.com and Technicolor.

All Slamdance Film Festival sponsors and partners help sustain and expand our festival event and provide essential support for our filmmakers and the independent mission of Slamdance.

For more information, behind-the scenes footage and/or a complete listing of winners, log on to www.slamdance.com.