Memphis Film Prize

Mindy Bledsoe’s THE IN-BETWEEN Opens Oxford Film Festival’s 10th Weekly Virtual Fest ; OFF to the DRIVE IN delivers the scares with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

By John Wildman 6 years ago

Executive Director Melanie Addington said. “ARMY OF LOVERS IN THE HOLY LAND and ELLA FITZGERALD: JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS are inspiring documentaries that are a vivid reminder of why art can change the world. Between that and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, which is one of the all-time drive-in classics, to the weekly virtual festival continuing with award winning films such as THE IN-BETWEEN, last year’s winners and top finishers from the Memphis and Louisiana Film Prize competitions, and THE EVENING HOUR, which played at Sundance, this is an action-packed week.”

Abby Meyers and Kevin Brooks’ A NIGHT OUT Big Winner! The 2019 Memphis Film Prize announces this year’s winners

By John Wildman 7 years ago

“The Memphis Film Prize took a massive leap this year towards our goal of being one of the most important film competitions and essential catalysts for independent film production in the nation,” said Gregory Kallenberg, founder and executive director of the Film Prize Foundation. “We are so proud of our talented filmmakers and of the spirited attendees from this year’s Film Prize, and we are looking forward to coming back next year and being bigger, better, and burning brighter than ever!”

Founder Gregory Kallenberg Anncs 2019 Memphis Film Prize 10 Finalists who will compete for this year’s $10,000 Grand Prize

By John Wildman 7 years ago

“There are a number of amazing stories behind the scenes that go along with these projects – all shot in Memphis and Shelby County,” said David Merrill, the Memphis Prize Filmmaker Liaison. “That said, with the passion and power of these amazing films, we know this is going to be the best Memphis Film Prize Festival we’ve ever had.”

FILMS GONE WILD: 10 Film Festival Programmers to Watch

By John Wildman 7 years ago

In the meantime, now that I have probably exhausted everyone’s patience by blathering on and ranting like an old man carrying a crumpled paper bag and out of date newspaper outside a deli, here is a quick list of ten people that I work with and for that I would suggest filmmakers, film industry types, and people reading the movie industry tea leaves SHOULD be paying attention to:

FILMS GONE WILD: WAYWARD SON, JACK SQUAT, PATRICK, The 2018 Memphis Film Prize teaches the rest of the film fest world how to do it right

By John Wildman 8 years ago

Gregory Kallenberg kicks off the Film Prize. This is the way you “baptize” your filmmakers and give them a kick in the pants to start off a fest. He sets the tone of “We’re all in it together, filmmakers, jurors, staff, and film fans – all of us.” If you’re not onboard after Gregory’s opening remarks, the filmmakers first “pitches”, and the legendary Film Prize tequila toast, then it’s possible someone should check your pulse.

SHORTS AND TO THE POINT: Will Robbins’s stark short MINORITY delivers a nightmare scenario for white racists that is all too familiar to black people

By John Wildman 8 years ago

MINORITY lands us in a “reverse world” scenario where a white man in a hoodie falls under suspicion of a black convenience store clerk because he is “shopping while being white.” Countless Facebook political debates have posed this scenario to racists and racist-apologists since Trump’s political ascension in 2016 (and, frankly, long before), but Robbins astutely keeps his film as basic and direct as it gets.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: Kevin Brooks LAST DAY Celebrates The 2018 Memphis Film Prize announces the winner of its $10,000 Prize

By John Wildman 8 years ago

The winner of the 3rd annual Memphis Film Prize (www.memphisfilmprize.com) was announced at the event’s traditional celebratory brunch at The Arcade (540 S. Main Street) held on Sunday, August 5th. The Film Prize’s coveted top award of $10,000 cash – judged by a mixture of audience and film industry judges from all over the country – went to LAST DAY directed by Kevin Brooks.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: DEAN’S LIST; HYPNOTIC INDUCTION; LAST NIGHT and more! The Memphis Film Prize selects the 10 finalists that have a shot at taking home $10,000 on August 5th

By John Wildman 8 years ago

The 10 film finalists for the 3rd annual Memphis Film Prize (August 3-5) have been announced. The Film Prize’s top award of $10,000 cash – judged by both audience members and a group of judges comprised of filmmakers, film critics and journalists, will be awarded to a filmmaker following 3 days of screenings, filmmaker panels, and events in Memphis.

FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: Rainn Wilson with THOM PAIN Opens 2017 Indie Memphis Red Carpet shots – indie and local filmmakers hit the carpet in Bluff City

By admin 8 years ago

This year’s 20th Anniversary Indie Memphis film festival featured a street closure for the first time in their storied history, adding a big festival tent to expand the fest’s presence and footprint on the city. After the Opening Night red carpet featuring THOM PAIN and Rainn Wilson, and Thursday’s photo call with Mark Webber – two of indie films’s best examples of the actor’s actor, the red carpet under the tent on Friday night encouraged the attending filmmakers, as well as the notoriously photo and press-shy Memphis filmmaking regulars to allow themselves to be corralled for their moment in the fake-sun, while others still managed to dodge it (we’re looking right at you, Morgan Jon Fox).