Film News: Midwest Independent Film Festival’s ‘Best of the Midwest’ on Dec. 1, 2015

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CHICAGO – On Tuesday, December 1st, the Midwest Independent Film Festival will award their 2015 “Best of the Midwest” with a ceremony at Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard, in Chicago. The evening will be hosted by Festival Director Mike McNamara, and nominees include the short film “Baby Mary” (directed by Kris Swanberg), plus feature films “Full Frame” (directed by Christopher Kelley), and “Anguish” 
(directed by Sonny Mallhi).

Best of the Midwest
Presented by the Midwest Independent Film Festival
Photo credit: MidwestFilm.com

A new category is being added this year, “Best Artistic Specialization.” This honors previously unsung production titles that are vital to the look and completion of their particular films. The Midwest Independent Film Festival is a year-round movie event in Chicago that takes place the first Tuesday of every month, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema. The festival has been recognized by Chicago Magazine in their “Best of Chicago” issue, and has become one of the top places for local filmmakers, producers and actors to network in the city. The “Best of the Midwest” Awards has a number of film industry guests scheduled to attend.

The nominees for the 2015 “Best of the Midwest” Awards are as follows….

StarBest Music Video
BRANDENBURG GATE, directed by Thom Glunt for Anti-Flag

LOW KEY, directed by Nick Offerman for Tweedy

IN THE WATER, directed by Preston and Parker Gibson for Beth Bombara

StarBest Short Film
BABY MARY, directed by Kris Swanberg

COUNTY STATE USA: SWEET CORN, directed by Jonathan Nowak

HAPPY HOUR, directed by Martin Rodahl
SERENITY, directed by Jack Dunphy

A MILLION MILES AWAY, directed by Jennifer Reeder

FLAT CHESTED, directed by Kristyn Benedyk
ON BEAUTY, directed by Joanna Rudnick


StarBest Editing
Christopher Kelley, FULL FRAME

Aaron Wickenden, ALMOST THERE
Katie Avery, FLAT CHESTED
Liz Kaar, ON BEAUTY

Brian Sepanik, HAPPY HOUR

StarBest Cinematography

Christopher Kelley, FULL FRAME
Mike Bove, UNCLE JOHN
Danny Valdez, DETROIT LIGHTS
Jason Chiu, HAPPY HOUR

Pete Biagi, FLAT CHESTED

Duncan Wolfe, PONOKOMITA

StarBest Artistic Specialization
Merje Veski, Art Direction, DIG TWO GRAVES
Jeff Baird and Jay Curran, Stunt Coordination, FULL FRAME
Molly McCandless and Shawn Spear, Stop Motion Animation, SLEEPY STEVE
Manuel Perez Pena, Art Direction, REVERSAL
Ross Thomas, Jenna Caravello and Peter Anton, Visual Effects, ALMOST THERE

StarBest Screenplay
Erik Crary and Steven Piet, UNCLE JOHN
Jim Thompson and Martin Rodahl, HAPPY HOUR
Jon Higgins and David Eisenberg, WITNESSES
Kristyn Benedyk, FLAT CHESTED
Sonny Mallhi, ANGUISH
Hunter Adams and Jeremy Phillips, DIG TWO GRAVES

StarBest Female Actor
Carisa Barreca, DOOMSDATE
Donna Steele, REVERSAL

Blair Beeken, SETTLED
Sue Gillan, THE AFTER PARTY

Ann Sonneville, DIG TWO GRAVES

StarBest Male Actor

Alex Beh, WARREN
Danny Goldring, DIG TWO GRAVES

Alex Moffatt, UNCLE JOHN

Charles Whitcomb, FULL FRAME
Marcus Truschinski, WITNESSES
Bill McGough, REVERSAL
Tyler Smith, GOODNIGHT JEFFREY

StarBest Director

Kris Swanberg, BABY MARY
Jennifer Reeder, A MILLION MILES AWAY
Jonathan Nowak, COUNTY STATE USA: SWEET CORN

Stephen Piet, UNCLE JOHN

Sonny Mallhi, ANGUISH
Alex Beh, WARREN

Dan Rybicky and Aaron Wickenden, ALMOST THERE

StarBest Feature
WARREN, directed by Alex Beh

DIG TWO GRAVES, directed by Hunter Adams

ALMOST THERE, directed by Dan Rybicky and Aaron Wickenden
ANGUISH, directed by Sonny Mallhi

FULL FRAME, directed by Christopher Kelley
UNCLE JOHN, directed by Steven Piet

The 2015 “Best of the Midwest” Awards, presented by the Midwest Independent Film Festival, will be Tuesday, December 2nd, 7pm, at Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard Street, Chicago. For more information and to purchase tickets to the event click here.

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Writer, Editorial Coordinator
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2015 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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