VISIONFEST hands out IVAs for 2014!

Photo courtesy of Sergio Maranzino - Telezini.tv

DON PEYOTE high on VF14 Independent Vision Awards with 4 wins!

SAND CASTLES and NEVER land honors for their acting leads

CHASING TASTE cops editing prize for Steven Tyler

FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS triumphs in the doc category; BULLY rules the shorts

BROTHER BILLY tops list for Feature Screenwriting Competition

New York City - May 19, 2014 - VISIONFEST 14: THE OTHER FESTIVAL (VF14), closed its five-day run last night at Tribeca Cinemas, with the 2014 Independent Vision Awards (The IVAs) ceremony, which saw the film festival's opening night feature, DON PEYOTE, bookend its high energy presence, by racking up IVAs in 4 major categories, including the event's top honor, the Domani Vision Filmmaker of the Year award, which went to the film's co-writer/co-director team of Dan Fogler and Michael Canzoniero.  DON PEYOTE, which opened theatrically in New York on May 16, also picked up honors for Production, Directing, and a Jack Nance Breakthrough Performance award for its lead, Dan Fogler.  Thomas Sullivan, one of the film's four producers, was on hand to accept the 4 IVA statuettes, expressing his gratitude with kind words for the film festival, its organizing team, and fellow nominees. He accepted all of the awards on behalf of Dan Fogler and Michael Canzoniero, but when it came to the Production honor, he quipped:  "Now, this is really special because I am Thomas Sullivan, one of the producers on the film."

The dramatic feature SAND CASTLES, by Clenét Verdi-Rose, took home 2 awards, recognizing its Male Lead, Jordon Hodges, and its Cinematography (Chris Faulisi).  The Female Acting Lead prize went to Zelda Williams for her role inNEVER, which also picked up a Writing award for the film's director, Brett Allen Smith.  Rounding out the narrative features list was CHASING TASTE, which was recognized for Editing (Steven Tyler), and was described by the festival's co-director, Bruno Derlin, as the film "with the biggest heart," adding: "As one of two Chief Programmers at VF14, I love all of the films at our festival, of course, but these Chasing Taste guys came in like a raging storm of joy.  They celebrated with us every step of the way, and just as their film does, they brought smiles to everyone with whom they came in contact.  They're going to do really well in the festival circuit and beyond, I truly believe that… and deservedly so."

The Outstanding Achievement in Short Subject Filmmaking award was bestowed upon one of the festival's most talked about shorts, BULLY, by Robert Waiermair.  The film, which was represented at the event by its producer, Brenda Waiermair, and its cinematographer, Vadim Aynbinder, was a topic of conversation among those who attended its Friday night screening. "We were so impressed with all the films that were here," stated Brenda Waiermair accepting the award, "I'm shocked.  I'm sorry, I hadn't even prepared a speech."

Documentary winner, FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS, unfortunately didn't have a rep at the IVA Ceremony, but VF14 organizers accepted the award on behalf of the film's director, Tim O'Donnell.  Special Jury Prizes went to FLAWS, by sixteen year-oldGabrielle Giacomo, and the life-affirming doc, CHANGE: THE LIFEPARTICLE EFFECT, by Edwin Kimand EJ Lim.  The DVFS Visionary award went to Lukas Hassel for his short, INTO THE DARK, and the five-time nominated duo FLESH COMPUTER, by Ethan Shaftel, and THE SOUND, by Sacha Iskra, tied for Sound Design.  Rounding out the complete list are: THE WEST BEGINS AT FIFTH AVENUE (John Morgan awarded for Production Design); DREAMS OF THE LAST BUTTERFLIES (Kai Altair &Michael Pflug - Short Form Musical Score); OPEN SPACES(David Heaton & Nick Rafter - Short Form Screenwriting); and AUTHORIZED DRONE STRIKE ZONE (Chris Wasmer - Social Consciousness).  The Feature Screenwriting Competition, co-sponsored by InkTip.com, saw a triumphant win for BROTHER BILLY, by Jason Freedman & Brian Hightman, with a second place for Carey Dunn's THE MOON, THE STARS AND ALL THE PLANETS, and Murat Izmirli, coming in third with GRIMWOOD.  A complete list of this year's IVA Winners follows.

THE 2014 INDEPENDENT VISION AWARD WINNERS

Domani Vision Award for Emerging Talent

Dan Fogler & Michael Canzoniero DON PEYOTE

Outstanding Achievement in Production 

DON PEYOTE  (Thomas Sullivan, Luke Daniels, Carlos Velazquez, Stuart Braunstein)

Directing

Michael Canzoniero & Dan Fogler DON PEYOTE

Writing

Brett Allen Smith NEVER

Short Subject Narrative 

BULLY

The Jack Nance Breakthrough Performance Award 

Dan Fogler DON PEYOTE

Acting (Male Lead)

Jordon Hodges SAND CASTLES

Acting (Female Lead)

Zelda Williams NEVER

The Abe Schrager Award for Cinematography 

Chris Faulisi SAND CASTLES

Documentary

FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS

Editing

Steven Tyler CHASING TASTE

Production Design

John Morgan THE WEST BEGINS AT FIFTH AVENUE

DVFS Visionary Award

INTO THE DARK (Lukas Hassel)

Special Jury Prizes

Edwin Kim & EJ Lim CHANGE: THE LIFEPARTICLE EXPERIENCE (Technical Excellence Award)

Gabrielle Giacomo FLAWS (Creative/Artistic Achievement)

Short Form Score

Kai Altair & Michael Pflug DREAMS OF THE LAST BUTTERFLIES

Short Form Screenwriting 

David Heaton & Nick Rafter OPEN SPACES

Social Consciousness 

AUTHORIZED DRONE STRIKE ZONE

Sound Design 

Kevin Roache FLESH COMPUTER

Brenton Alexander Henry THE SOUND 

Feature Screenwriting Competition 

1st Place:  BROTHER BILLY by Jason Freedman & Brian Hightman

2nd Place:  THE MOON, THE STARS AND ALL THE PLANETS by Carey Dunn

3rd Place:  GRIMWOOD by Murat Izmirli