LDS Film Festival award ceremony

Nearly $3,000 was awarded in prize money Saturday night at the conclusion of the 8th annual LDS Film Festival.

Three of the festival's five categories were judged by members of the local film community, and cash prizes were announced in an awards ceremony at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem.

Director Kristal Williams-Rowley came in first in the short films category, receiving a trophy and a $2,000 cash prize for her film "Mind the Gap." The 16-minute drama features a teenage girl who has to cope with the grief that both she and her father encounter as a result of his job.

Director Alla Volkova took second place in the short films category with was awarded $300 for "La Chevelure," a 17-minute film about an antique collector who finds a lock of golden hair in the panel of a dresser.

Out of 41 entries in the 24-hour film festival, only three walked away with cash prizes. Contestants had 24 hours beginning Friday the 18th at 10 a.m. to make a three-minute film with a theme of sacrifice, that had to include a specific prop and line of dialogue. This year's prop was a match, and the line of dialogue was "Let me be your ..."

"The Infinipied in Outer Space" took first in the 24-hour filmmaking contest, with a prize of $500. The film was a black and white spoof of Star Trek and featured a creature with legs "numbering in the infinities," as one of the characters states.

"Matchless," about an Eagle Scout who fails to build a fire, took second place and $200.

Three screenplay writers were also awarded $200 in the 7-page script competition, and included "Spanky Ward for his script "Battle of the Buldge," Georgia Buchert for "Seeing Stars," and Sally Meyer for "I Love You Bernie Summersby."

A number of honorable mentions and audience choice awards were also announced for each category.
The Film Festival is held in the Scera Center for the Arts in Orem, Utah. Movies will be played up until Saturday evening. More information is available at the Web site, www.ldsfilmfestival.org.

E-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com