And the Winners Are...

This year was one of the hardest for our judges! NEVER have they had such a difficult time with their decisions. This was evidenced by that fact that all of the judges had their own "top films."All of this years selections are winners in our book, but here are the judge and audience picks:

WINNERS

GRAND JURY AWARD for FEATURES

FORGOTTEN PILLS, written & directed by David Hefner, produced by David Hefner & Fiona Walsh

Honorable Mentions for Features: (It was a tie!)

LAST BREATH, written & directed by Ty Jones, produced by Aaron Laue

THE MAN THAT I WAS, written & directed by Dave Cole, produced by Cisco Ruiz & Jeremy Lawson executive produced by Norman Siderow and Cisco Ruiz

GRAND JURY AWARD for SHORTS

WAKING SONYA, written by Eddie Marill, directed by Jonathan Dillon, produced by Guy Birtwhistle & Eddie Marill

Honorable Mention for Shorts:

THE TEDIOUS EXISTENCE OF TERRELL B. HOWELL, written by Kelly Young-Silverman & Michael H. Harper, directed by David Marshall Silverman, produced by Kelly Young-Silverman & David Marshall Silverman

AUDIENCE AWARD for COMPETITION FEATURES

GO FOR IT!, written, directed & produced by Carmen Marron

AUDIENCE AWARD for COMPETITION SHORTS

PIANO FINGERS, written by Nicholas Carmen & Ava Bogle, directed by Nicholas Carmen

AUDIENCE AWARD for DOCUMENTARIES

HONOR IN THE VALLEY OF TEARS, written by Eric S. Dow & John A. Ponsoll, directed by Eric S. Dow, produced by John A Ponsoll

AUDIENCE AWARD for MUSIC VIDEOS

HORROR OF OUR LOVE: A SHORT FILM, written & directed by Dave Reda, produced by Dave Reda & Alon Karpovsky

AUDIENCE AWARD for FUSION FEATURES

GAIA, written & directed by Jason Lehel, produced by John Gordon

AUDIENCE AWARD for FUSION SHORTS

KOREATOWN, written, directed & produced by Joshua Feldman

JURY PRIZE for 2 MININUTE, 2 STEP

I MET A GIRL, ASK ME HOW, written by Mikael Kreuzriegler & Vanessa Newell, directed by Vanessa Newell

DAY EIGHT: June 10, 2010

Well, it's hard to believe it's the last day of the festival. What an amazing time it's been for everyone. We've enjoyed fantastic films, making new friends and lots of delicious food from our sponsors during the daily happy hour at the filmmaker lounge. Not only did we screen almost 100 films this week, but we made 8 short films as well! Tonight is time for even more fun and new memories at the CLOSING NIGHT AWARDS PARTY! Here we'll honor movies screened at the festival and you'll get to see the movies that were made during the festival! Come celebrate another successful year with us at Level Three at Hollywood & Highland. In the meantime, be sure to check out our last day of amazing movies from emerging filmmakers.

Screening:

2:45pm EXXXIT: LIFE AFTER PORN

Life After Porn examines what happened to some of the biggest names in the adult entertainment industry when they tried to leave the porn business. They were artists, baseball players, child prodigies, and even Ivy Leaguers who became TV stars, bounty hunters, writers, and social activists. Can they really live a normal life after porn?

5:00pm SILVER LAKE VIDEO: THE MOVIE

Based on true events. A regular guy on the verge of losing his video store has one day to get a business partner before his lease expires. His day takes a turn for the worse, when his girlfriend proclaims, “we need to talk.” With no where else to turn for moral support, he opens up a Pandora’s Box when he seeks advice from the local flavor of the neighborhood, Silverlake.

7:15pm THE EVOLUTION OF ANDREW ANDREWS (with 2-step)

30-year-old Andrew Andrews’ only friend is 3 foot rubber alien doll. When his studio mogul father exiles him, Andrew must fend for himself for the first time in his life. Is it too late for Andrew to learn how to make friends, make money and even make love? This heartwarming, odd- ball comedy takes you through the pains of “growing up” one laugh at a time.

9:30pm GAIA

A group of Native Americans rescue a young woman, left for dead, in the Arizona desert. Through this woman’s relationship with American Natives she manages to re-connect with her own innocence, but is forced to make a choice between being reborn out of the chaos of her past and dying in the grips of her darkness.

8pm: The Closing NIght Party!!

DAY SEVEN: June 9, 2010

Happy Wednesday everyone!

What an amazing day yesterday was. Even though the industry reports that the box office has been down for studio and indie films, our attendance has never been better! Our amazing filmmakers continue to screen to full houses, and knock their sox off with their wonderful films! It's truly been a joy to meet everyone and watch you support each other's works.

Yesterday we completed final 2-minute short films and they will be screening tonight in front of the evening features. (Don't worry if you missed any, because will be able to see all 8 at the closing night party!) The happy hour food from The Counter was fantastic, and then Doris Roberts (from "Everybody Loves Raymond") showed up in the audience for SPLATTER. Yes, another great day here at the 13th annual Dances With Films Festival. It's hard to believe it's the second to last day before the festival ends!

TODAY AT A GLANCE:

4-6pm Happy hour in the Filmmaker Lounge

Screenings:

2:45pm A FOUNDLING

After rescuing her sister from a brothel in Virginia - a young Chinese-American woman in the Old West - begins the perilous journey across the desert to her home in San Bernardino. But when the two sisters find the wreckage of an other-worldly craft, their journey becomes more dangerous than they ever could have imagined.

5:00pm Fusion Shorts Group 3: A short Film About Letting Go, Burden, Koreatown, Night Stand, Showboys, Up Under the Roof, Walk

7:15pm PLAY ON (with 2-min 2 step "Ahab's Sushi")

Rugby was the last sport to go professional. When it did, it created a schism between generations. PLAY ON tells the story of Scottish legend Finlay Kilgour and his materialistic son Keir, who find themselves stranded on opposite sides of this divide. When Keir’s drive for fame and money ultimately collides with the way his father played the game, he’s ostracized throughout Scotland and must redeem himself in America.

9:30pm YEREK YEREKO (with 2-min 2 step "A Bump in the Night")

**Filmmaker Arshak Amirbekyan will be in attendance all the way from Armenia!

Caught in boredom of his solitude and everyday life, Simon, an ordinary Soviet scientist, lives quietly and lonely in his cheerless apartment. But one evening he meets a woman with a drama of her own; her husband is having an affair with Simon’s neighbor. Born out of compassion, quite soon but very naturally a new friendship emerges.

DAY SIX: June 8, 2010

Two Minute Two Step:

AHAB'S SUSHI shoots today from 12-4pm and A BUMP IN THE NIGHT from 7-11pm. Both will screen tomorrow night in front of the evening features. Shooting will take place in the Filmmakers Lounge directly across from the theatre (on the 2nd floor inside of 8000 Sunset).

4-6pm Happy hour in the Filmmaker Lounge with food provided by The Counter

Screenings:

2:45pm GOLDEN EARINGS

Ronnie and Sara are best friends, but to Ronnie, Sara is more than just her friend. When Sara disappears, Ronnie’s world becomes unraveled as she copes with Sara’s disappearance and her guilt over her own involvement.

5:00pm Fusion Shorts Group 2: Dumpster Diving, Gabriel & Romy, The Language of Laundry, The Legacy, The Lifter Upper, Room 401, Thirsty Guy

7:15pm SPLATTER: LOVE, HONOR AND PAINTBALL (with 2-min 2 step "I Met a Girl, Ask Me How")

A paintball tournament becomes the unlikely proving ground for a likable small town loser who sets out to win back the love of his ex-wife and the respect of his son. A poignant quirky comedy about relationships - and a man who finally grows up!

9:30pm LAST BREATH

With their marriage on its last breath, a couple finds themselves thrust into the hands of vengeance. Forced to look fear directly in the face, they must make decisions that will ultimately determine their family’s survival or demise.

DAY FIVE: June 7, 2010

CANON Breakfast!

Be sure to bring your cinematographer to this breakfast sponsored by Canon. Meet D.P. Bob Primes who'll talk all about the Canon 5D Mark II (NOTE: RSVP is required)

Two Minute Two Step:

Shooting Today-- I MET A GIRL, ASK ME HOW shoots today from 1-5pm and will screen tomorrow night in front of an evening feature. Shooting will take place in the Filmmakers Lounge directly across from the theatre (on the second floor inside of 8000 Sunset).

4-6pm Happy hour in the Filmmaker Lounge

Screenings:

2:45pm HONOR IN THE VALLEY OF TEARS

Centered on Congressional Medal of Honor recipient 1st Sgt. David H. McNerney and the men of A-Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry of the 4th Infantry Division that he trained and led into a bloody, yet forgotten battle near Polei Doc in the Central Highlands of Vietnam at the height of the Vietnam War, later known as The Valley of Tears. In their own words the film brings insight into their time spent together and the bond they formed that remains unbroken to this day.

5:00pm Fusion Shorts Group 1: Amexica, The Empty Space in Between, Picture Day, Requited, Tick Tock, The Unknown

7:15pm MISSY AND THE MAXINATOR (with 2-min 2 step "Suspect #1)

Strange things are happening to Max at school. He can suddenly see through walls, hear distant voices, and has super-human strength! When students start mysteriously disappearing after school, Max and his friends stumble upon a sinister plot by teachers to take over the world. And when they kidnap Missy, Max must put his new powers to the test to save the girl he loves.

9:30pm CONSENT (with 2-min 2 step Surprise Party")

A wealthy Manhattan family's inability to cope with the suicide of their eldest daughter sends them into a downward spiral of drugs, alcohol and sexual taboos that threatens to destroy them.

Box Office: 'Agora' Leads Weak Weekend; Anchor Bay On a Roll With 2 Films - indieWIRE

Although Box Office says movie tickets sales for studio films & indies have been down for the past 3 weeks, DANCES WITH FILMS has been filling up houses all weekend, with the highest attendances ever!

Box Office: 'Agora' Leads Weak Weekend; Anchor Bay On a Roll With 2 Films - indieWIRE

DAY FOUR: June 6, 2010

Two Minute Two Step:

Shooting Today-- SUSPECT #1 shoots today from 12-4pm and SURPRISE PARTY shoots today from 7-11pm. They will screen tomorrow night in front of the evening features. Shooting will take place in the Filmmakers Lounge directly across from the theatre (on the second floor inside of 8000 Sunset).

4-6pm Happy hour in the Filmmaker Lounge with the South Point Argentine Grill bringing the tastes!

Screenings:

12:30pm Competition Shorts Group 3: Abreojos, Daydreaming, Good Times, March 31, Piano Fingers, Song in a Convenience Store, Summer

2:45pm A FILM ABOUT RACES

Do any of us really know what race is? Writer and entertainment coach Paul Duddridge examines the key role “race” plays in all our lives. With the help of leading scientists, philosophers, authors, and sociologists he explores the subject whilst attempting to organize a “mini race olympics” in LA.

5:00pm Competition Shorts Group 4: The Accident, Anything You Can Do, Death, Inc., The Loneliness of the Long Distance, The Salesman, Stay Awake, Weekend

7:15pm GO FOR IT

Carmen is a good student with a bad attitude who lives for dancing in the underground clubs of Chicago. Her professor catches her performing in the neighborhood and challenges her to audition to a formal dance school in California. Pulled apart in every direction, her dream of dancing fades. Can Carmen over- come her fears and take the biggest chance of her life, or will she succumb to her self-doubt?

9:30pm FUGUE (with 2-min 2 step "Two Minute Warning")

When Charlotte moves into a secluded hillside home with her boyfriend, her happiness is clouded by several strange occurrences -- ghostly footsteps, disembodied voices, and the appearance of an eerie, faceless woman. She learns she's suffering from a Dissociative Fugue, which has caused her to forget everything from the last nine months. As she sets out to uncover what caused her memory loss, the events of the past blend into the present -- threatening not only her life, but that of her unborn baby.