The 8th Annual Berkeley Video & Film Festival 2001 Awards

FEATURE

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – FEATURE

“SF” – Phil Gorn – 75:00

Based loosely on Romeo and Juliet, this film explores the family conflicts, racial hatreds, and gang loyalties that torment two lovers as they flee from the police and struggle to resolve their plight.

SHORT FEATURE

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – TOTALLY SHORT FEATURE

“Prisoner Junkie” – Gabriel Foley – 3:30

A junkie's paranoid adventures.

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – SHORT FEATURE

“Eye to Eye” – Patrick Moss – 7:30

On a winter night in the urban decay of Montreal, a black rookie cop is faced with a situation he does not know how to handle.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – SHORT FEATURE

“To Hold You Down” – Avery Dial – 6:40

Based on a true story, this film portrays the story of a young woman and the pain she endures from domestic abuse.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE –  SHORT FEATURE

“Infinitely Sad, Unbearably Beautiful” – Mitchum Nathaniel Ray – 5:00

A short film that explores lonliness and the redeeming power of imagination.

DOCUMENTARY

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – DOCUMENTARY

“Lowell Blues: The Words of Jack Kerouac” – Henry Ferrini – 27:14

Kerouac’s words – narrated by Robert Creeley, Johnny Depp, Carolyn Cassady, Gregory Corso and others – intermingle with Ferrini’s lush cinematography and Lee Konitz’s saxophone. Fusing visual history, language and jazz into a film-poem, "Lowell Blues..." remembers the place Jack Kerouac could not forget.

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – ECO-DOCUMENTARY

 “Sweat Equity” – Daniel P. Tripoli – 68:32

An educational documentary about urban communities that are being revitalized

by programs helping neighborhoods create gardens from reclaimed vacant land.

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – POLITICAL ACTION

“Vieques… Un Largomentraje” – Jose Juan Nazario/Coqui Santaliz – 92:00

A William Nemcik documentary depicting the people of Vieques, Puerto Rico, and their struggle to live in peace amidst U.S. Navy presence for over 60 years.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – SHORT DOCUMENTARY

”The Kicker” – Porter Gale – 4:00

Ceci Clark, a female place-kicker on the Berkeley High football team, kicks away gender and racial barriers in this high-energy documentary short.

BEST OF FESTIVAL – "BARD OF BERKELEY" AWARD

“Voices From Dupont Circle” – David Liban – 29:15

A virtual visit to an unusual community in Washington DC. See the people, hear the music, experience the charm… and FEAR the traffic!

BEST OF FESTIVAL – ACTION DOCUMENTARY AWARD

“Tight Squeeze” – Beth Rypins – 27:00

Examines today’s hottest “gin paddlers” on the extreme edge of whitewater Kayaking, the sports’ pioneering female paddlers, and the personalities driven towards the thrill-seeking adventure of the sport.

ARTS

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – CYBERART

“Cin(E)-Poetry 2001” – George Aguilar – 27:00

Aguilar is on a mission to bring poetry to the world. His vehicle is Cin(E)-Poetry, a fusion of text, spoken word, video imagery, photography and sound combined in a variety of inventive ways.

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – DANCE

“In Public Space” – Kia Simon – 14:00

Three dances explore and transform everyday locations, experimenting with human interaction, restricted motion, and aerial movement.

EXPERIMENTAL

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – EXPERIMENTAL

“The Color of Fish” – Jay Trevor Wright

A science fiction musical about fish and superstrings physics.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – EXPERIMENTAL

“John’s Voice” – Bob Kaputof – 4:16

This portrait of a father suggests that special talents get passed around.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – EXPERIMENTAL "BRUJO"

“Havana Witch Club” – Yenifer Pearce – 19:00

An autobiographical story about a black magic spell. A possessed Priest points to possible perpetrators, including an ambitious Cuban boyfriend and a matchmaking spirit entity.

THE "MARCEL DUCHAMP" AWARD – EXPERIMENTAL

“The 4 Noble Truths” – Brian Seiichi Tsukamoto – 5:30

Hip-hop told through a re-interpreted Buddhist doctrine of the same name.

COMMERCIALS/PSA

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – "X" AWARD

“The Simplex Files” – Chris Friden – 11:05

A parody of the X-Files produced for a corporate audience. The short was widely successful as a marketing piece and has won a Joey Award.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – "DR. SCHOLL" AWARD

“Socko Sings” – Ellen Holbrook – 2:30

A spoof on television commercials selling compilations of formerly popular songs

by passé artists. In this case, the ‘artists’ are sock puppets.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – PSA/ YOUNG PRODUCERS

“Can’t Forget” – Shayne C. Fisk – 1:00

Two PSA’s depicting teens staying alcohol-free during graduation and Prom Night.

COMEDY

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – COMEDY

“The Sopranowitzes” – Adam Shapiro – 8:47

A hilarious spoof of HBO’s smash hit, “The Soprano’s.” At home, Sammy Sopranowitz is the typical Jewish-American father. But at the office, Sammy is a Mafia kingpin wacking any schmuck who stands in the way.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – COMEDY

“Falcon Love Story” – Jo Francis – 2:00

Neighbors get involved when a jealous suitor tries to ruin a couple’s wedding plans.

“In The Midst” – Alex Kopel – 6:00

A Chaplinesque character spends a day in Berkeley. After various interactions he comes to realize that he doesn’t fit in.

ANIMATION

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – ANIMATION

“Prime Opus” – Flash Gordon – 5:20

Humanity transcends the Gods and breaks free from ancient chains and modern myths.

“The Daydreamer” – John Atkinson – 5:12

Roger’s job is hell. So his mind has a tendency to wander… with a vengeance!

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – ANIMATION

“Thou Shall Not Kill” – Yuk Ting Chan – 3:34

Who has the right to judge others? Who has the right to kill? A neo-Expressionist morality tale on capital punishment.

ETHNOGRAPHIC

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD –  NEO-ETHNO AWARD

“Some They Win” – Jessie Deeter/Sara E. Maamouri – 25:30

The story of three men, Mexico, and the horses that link them together.

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – TRADITIONAL ETHNO AWARD

“Marriages In Heaven” – Cara Currie – 26:30

The visual and cultural beauty of India is revealed in this personal tale of a traditional wedding.

EDUCATIONAL

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – EDUCATIONAL SHORT

 “Just Listen” – Kenya E. Davis – 5:05

Traces the daily life of an adolescent, her nightmare and its consequence. Experience the fear, trauma, and emotion.

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – EDUCATIONAL

“Alaska’s Inside Passage” – Fred Heiman – 23:42

Alaska’s “Inside Passage” is a very special place, not only for the glorious spectacle put on by the Humpback whales, but for all the other animals that co-exist there.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – EDUCATIONAL

“Voices of the GTU” – Kevin C. Koczela/Greg Tarin – 6:00

Celebrating academics, service, and diversity within the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.

MUSIC VIDEO

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – THE "SLIM HARPO" AWARD

“Hopping the Davenport” – Karen Villeneuve – 5:03

Took a film camera and went trainhopping with the Trainmaster. Set the images to Paul Sprawl’s slide guitar and vocals. A taste of Outlaw Americana.

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD – "BOY-TOY" AWARD

“The Sway” – Kia Simon – 4:00

Girl meets boy on the subway and stalks him. Girl loses boy. Girl gets boy in a Chinese doughnut shop.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD

“Fee Fi Fo Fum” – Christopher Studley – 5:00

The story of a dying boy’s ninth birthday and the phatasmagoria of his psyche.

YOUNG PRODUCERS

GRAND FESTIVAL AWARD

“Children of the Dustbowl” – Max Strebel –  15:00

Eleven year old Max’s claymation movie about a family escaping the Dust Bowl and their trials as they drive from Oklahoma to California on Route 66.

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD

“Healthy Snacks” – Briana Taylor – 15:00

Eighth grade Girl Scouts of Troop 3846 demonstrate how to prepare and discuss the advantages of  eating healthy food.

“Faces of Oregon” –  John Thomas Rabalais –  4:48

Shot while on vacation in Oregon, this video shows Oregon’s natural beauty in its landscapes and wildlife.

 

The following works will not be screened due to time restraints:

BEST OF FESTIVAL: FEATURE

 “The Shelter” – Scott Birmingham/Ron Walker

“Coffee and Language” – J.P. Allen

“Resin” – Steve Sobel

BEST OF FESTIVAL: SHORT FEATURE

“Grounded” – Drew Flores

BEST OF FESTIVAL: DOCUMENTARY

 “De Colores” – Peter Barbosa

 “Jim Thompson, Silk King” – Hope Anderson

 “Character Study” – Edward Engel

 “Changing Habits” – Sara Needham

 “Something Wonderful Has Happened...”– Ian Christopher

BEST OF FESTIVAL: ARTS

 “Interview with Anna Halperin” – Finis Edge

BEST OF FESTIVAL: EXPERIMENTAL

 “Journey, Swiftly Passing” – Barbara Klutinis

BEST OF FESTIVAL: COMEDY

 “The Joke’s On Thee” – R.J.Johnson

“Go Back Home” – Gabriel Foley

 “The Three Humors” – Finis Edge

BEST OF FESTIVAL: EDUCATIONAL

 “High Street Intersection” – Joanne E. Nerenberg

HONOURABLE MENTION: FEATURE

 “Sea” - Andrew Williamson

HONOURABLE MENTION: SHORT FEATURE

 “Generation Lost” – Dan Sardy/George Maskrey

 “Mooney’s Manifesto” – Mike Lennon

HONOURABLE MENTION: DOCUMENTARY

 “Room 408 at Logan High” – Terri DeBono

 “Train” – Thomas Burns / Eriko Yamato

HONOURABLE MENTION: ARTS

 “Yellow Fridays” – Porter Gale

HONOURABLE MENTION: COMEDY

 “The Chumley Factor” – Mike Lennon

HONOURABLE MENTION: EDUCATIONAL

 “Chi Running” – Finis Edge

HONOURABLE MENTION: YOUNG PRODUCERS

 “Pink Slip” – Daniel Steiner

 

SPONSORS

EAST BAY MEDIA CENTER

CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL

PAUL KEALOHA BLAKE

JIM DELCOURT

VERNA LIM

SIMONE VILLENEUVE

BERKELEY DAILY PLANET

DAILY STAPLE

POSTSCRIPT PRESS

FINE ARTS CINEMA

HOWARD QUINN PRINTERS

OAKLAND AUDIO & VISUAL

BOB KLEIN - OLIVETTO

DOWNTOWN

BV&FF 2001 VOLUNTEERS

ALLEN WILLIS (Dean of African American Bay Area Filmmakers)

MEL VAPOUR (Director/Founder)

 

In Memory of:

Michael Tostado – 1950-2001

Terrence A. Brulc - 1944-1993

WTC Victims & Families - 9/11/2001