2009 DAMAH FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FINALISTS; COMMENCES ONLINE VOTING
Los Angeles, CA September 7th, 2009 — The Damah Film Festival, known for its tagline “Story Matters,” has announced its line-up of festival finalists for the 2009 Festival to be held in Seattle, Washington on October 2nd-3rd. For the first time this year, Damah accepted submissions exclusively online and of these 12 have made the final cut. The finalists are now available to be viewed online at Damah.com where viewers are encouraged to view all of the films and vote. The films will then be judged by Damah’s distinguished jurors and the winners will be selected by a combination of online voters and the votes of the veteran jurors which include Howard Kazanjian (Star Wars, Raiders of the Los Ark) and Ralph Winter (X-Men).
“Since 2001 Damah has led the way in highlighing short films that focus on the importance of story and spirituality in filmmaking,” noted Damah’s Executive Director Jimmy Duke. “But last year we decided to take one year off and regroup and were able to reinvent the festival this year in a way that allowed our films to be both submitted and judged online. We’ve also opened up the process to allow the voting public to weigh in online.”
This year’s finalists include a selection of works that touch on different facets of spirituality, capturing the heart of the matter with a spectrum of different genres, including narrative, documentary, drama and animation. These twelve finalist works are eligible to compete for cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Winners will also have the opportunity to be a part of a special compilation DVD at the end of the festival.
The 2009 Damah Film Festival will take place in Seattle on October 2nd and 3rd. Advanced Ticket sales are available on http://www.damah.com/tickets . Tickets for the festival will be $25 for weekend passes, $15 for Saturday tickets, and $10 for individual screening session tickets.
“Although we have moved much of the submission and judging process to online, a strong sense of community still remains central to Damah,” said the President of the board of directors, Mark Joseph. “We look forward to meeting and interacting with filmmakers and filmlovers alike in Seattle.”
Visit the Damah Film Festival website at http://www.damah.com to vote for your favorite finalist film. Also be sure to check out Damah’s Facebook and Twitter page to stay updated on the latest Damah Film Festival news or contacting info@damah.com for more information.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Damah-Film-Festival/57485899940 http://twitter.com/DamahFilmFest .
To schedule an interview with Damah President Jimmy Duke, please contact Toni Burge at: Toni@mjmgroup.com
The 2009 Damah Film Festival finalists are:
Saving Levi, Drama, written and directed by Randy Argue
Set in rural China, Saving Levi is the story of a severely burned infant left to die in the fields, but rescued by a farmer who dares to get involved – a great risk under communist rule. After doing all that he and his protesting wife are able to keep the child alive, the farmer – haunted by his compassion for the horribly injured baby while pondering about the circumstances of his abandonment – reluctantly embarks on a journey to save Levi’s life and give him a better home.
Deidox – Lindsay, Documentary, directed by Brent Gudgel
A young teacher discovers how her past experiences have prepared her for a unique ministry.
Still Born, Drama, written and directed by Andrew Librizzi
The reading of the last will and testament of a despot father sends his son on a spiritual journey.
Weathered, Drama, directed by Matt Webb and Matt Barber
Weathered is the intimate portrait of Weather Wellington, who is caged in time by the loss of her fiancé. Retreating inside herself, Weather longs for human connection and reaches out the only way she knows how…by making doctors’ appointments.
A Mysterious Way, Drama, directed by Philip Warner
Two men: a youth minister and a drifter. Two trains: both departing from the same place, for the same place, at the exact same time. The seemingly benign conversation that ensues between these strangers becomes increasingly more dubious as the true intentions of the wayward vagabond are revealed. This dark poignant drama takes a hard look at faith, evil, and the classic conflict of Man versus God.
Pink Shorts, Dramedy, written and directed by Jeffrey Huston
This is the story of a little girl, her favorite pair of pink shorts, and the judgment of Almighty GOD.
And What Remains, Documentary, directed by Marc Havener
What defines a father is what he leaves behind. A universal story of regret, of reconciliation, and of hope, And What Remains explores the complexity of a father’s relationship with his son within the simplicity and beauty of Eastern Kansas. Combining panoramic cinematography with a picture-in-picture visual composition, it pushes the edge of traditional filmmaking while blending documentary and narrative techniques to present what is best described as a cinematic personal essay.
Time & Chance, Comedy, written and directed by Tim Hodge
Two flies discuss the meaning of life while sitting on a pile of poop. One wants to make a difference in the world. Does he?
Kensho, Animation/Experimental, directed by Daniel Kang
A visual poem of what begins as a normal day in the life of a young woman but ends in spiritual catharsis. Literally translating to ‘trueself’ or ‘true mind,’ Kensho describes sudden or brief enlightenment experiences in Zen Buddhism.
The Old Man and the Ceiling, Drama, directed by Taylor Rae
A man wakes up for the first time after his wife of 50 years has passed away.
A Touch of Kindness, Drama, written and directed by Brent Armfield
A young girl named Helen collects feathers to make a pillow. In order to complete the pillow, she wishes for hundreds and hundreds feathers. Helen’s wish is granted but at what cost.
Worth the Fall, Drama, directed by Bill Price, Justin Garza, and Matt Coleman
Worth the Fall is a story about a janitor who witnesses a school principal sexually assaulting a young girl.
DAMAH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL RELAUNCHES IN THE HEART OF SEATTLE; FILMMAKERS TO COMPETE FOR CASH PRIZES
Los Angeles, CA August 7th, 2009 — After a one-year hiatus, The Damah Film Festival will relaunch this fall at The Experience Music Project (EMP) in Seattle, Washington on October 2nd and 3rd 2009. As with previous festivals, Damah will be offering cash prizes to top winners in the festival’s competition.
“We are thrilled that EMP has welcomed Damah and its filmmakers,” says Damah’s new Executive Director James Duke. “The venue really adds to the whole festival experience as it is a place that really values artists and their work. It also has the potential for being a source of inspiration for the hundreds of filmmakers traveling from all over the country to attend the festival.”
EMP has welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors through its doors since it opened in 2000 and is dedicated to thought-provoking film, literature, and art. EMP is also known for its Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, which provides recognition to many respectable filmmakers, writers and publishers who have created a piece for science fiction.
In addition to the new location, the festival will also provide opportunities for emerging filmmakers to expand their knowledge through workshops, question and answer, and other special speaking engagements provided by fellow filmmakers.
“Damah at EMP is an unique opportunity for upcoming filmmakers of all faith backgrounds to showcase their work and inner thoughts,” says Ralph Winter, producer of films such as X-Men and The Fantastic Four. “It is a great challenge for a filmmaker to explore the larger questions of life, let alone in a short film. It requires a unique skill that only a few can creatively master.”
Submission dates to Damah Film Festival are currently open and end on August 26, 2009. With every submission there is a chance to win one of several cash prizes. 1st place will receive $5,000, 2nd place will receive $2,500 and 3rd place will receive $1,000. Winners will also have the opportunity to be a part of a special compilation DVD at the end of the festival.
“We’re so fortunate to have such a great team this year,” noted Damah’s board president Mark Joseph. “Jimmy Duke has been doing an excellent job and we look forward to seeing some amazing films.”