| MIAMI |
| Florida Statewide Feature Film Competition 2003 |
| Mark Woods, IFP/Miami, Director of Marketing |
| Mark Woods, Director of Marketing for the Independent Feature Project/Miami, said, “Everybody who’s anybody in Florida film production was there.” |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 05.20.03 Florida Film Producers’ Gala Dazzles CrowdsMiami Beach Film Producer Takes Trophy and $150,000 Prize at IFP/Miami’s Glamorous Sunlight Production Award Gala Miami, Florida. Finally, Miami boasts its first, very own version of the Oscars! A packed-house of Hollywood celebrities, and local film and television talent danced, and dined, and applauded the winners, with IFP/Miami for the First Annual Sunlight Awards Gala, on Saturday night, May 17, 2003, at the recently completed Treetop Ballroom in the New Parrot Jungle, on Watson Island, Miami.The First Annual Sunlight Production Fund Award went to Johnathan Wyche with his project, Planet Ibsen. Johnathan receives a $25,000 cash prize donated in memory of Cinematographer Egon Stephan, by Cinevideotech. Egon Stephan, Jr., CEO of Cinevideotech appeared in person to present the award. The entire Florida film production community donated another $125,000 in goods and services.Actor Natasha Lyonne (Slums of Beverly Hills, Everyone Says I Love You, Die Mommie Die, Scary Movie II, and American Pie I & II), received the first award of the evening: The Doris Wishman Memorial Award. Natasha had to catch a flight out to Romania where she shoots a new motion picture on Sunday.Next, Director and Producer, Katherine Kean, also known as KK (Haiti: Killing the Dream) received the Independent Voice Award for her outstanding films, which “tell the truth about the world we live in.” The favorite honor went to local-boy-made-good, Ronald Lang, writer and producer, and Competition Juror, of All About the Benjamins. He received the Florida Film & TV Award.Another Florida native, writer/director, Julie Davis (I Love you don’t Touch Me, Amy’s Orgasm) received the Breakthrough Artist Award, for an “artist who is reaching great heights.” Extraordinary actor, Sam Bottoms, (The Last Picture Show, Apocalypse Now, The Outlaw Josey Wales, SeaBiscuit) received an Award for Independent Actor, handed to him by local drama teacher and philanthropist, Jay Jensen.The evening was filled with celebrities, entertainment, dinner, dancing and cocktails. The party began to the smooth sound of renowned jazz musician Ed Calle, known for his work with Gloria Estafan’s band, the Miami Sound Machine. Beautiful female and male fashion models greeted the cars and limousines. Guests is designer gowns and suits were dazzling against the shimmering and colorful electric, panoramic view of the Miami skyline at night. Mark Woods, Director of Marketing for the Independent Feature Project/Miami, said, “Everybody who’s anybody in Florida film production was there.” The evening was a glamorous black tie affair, made all the more special by the film and celebrity panache. “We gave away the biggest prize to an aspiring film producer ever in this state, ” says Joanne Butcher, Executive Director. This year’s talented filmmaker walked away from the spotlight with cash and in-kind services to produce a feature film. Film producer Jonathan Wyche of Miami Beach was the winner with his ambitious and visionary script for Planet Ibsen. He received a standing ovation after his acceptance speech, and representatives of the entire film community pledged to support his work. The runners-up were a production team from Tallahassee, headed by producer, Michael Seminerio, with an outstanding project called Eidolon Son. The other finalist producers were Jamin O’Brien, South of Heaven; Elizabeth Withstandley, Hello Earthlings!; James Valentine, Exposed; and George Williams, The Pool Man. Two Special Awards for Excellence in Screenwriting went to Duba Leibell, with her script Johnny Girl and David Munro, who flew several of his team members in from San Francisco, with his project, Full Grown Men. Various judges are considering several of the projects for future development and production potential.Forty Florida filmmakers submitted scripts, business plans, and applications to this competition. Hundreds of local film producers and film industry business representatives, along with the “final six” waited in suspense to see whose name would be called. The judges struggled to choose a winner, because of the high quality of the projects. The judges were Sam Bottoms, Actor; Ron Lang, writer; Cindy Banach, distributor with Palm Pictures; Piedad Palacios, Producer and currently with MPAA Latin America; Robert Whitmore, Producer; and Tag Purvis, writer/director. They completed the work of 25 first round judges throughout the State of Florida who had selected the 6 finalists.Many industry-related professionals were in the crowd. IFP/Miami Chair, Jerry Bell said, “This crowd is a virtual Who’s Who of film making and television in South Florida.”The First Annual Sunlight Award Competition was co-sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Film and Entertainment. Many major corporations were present at the elegant black tie event, including sponsors who will be contributing to the award-winning film: Cinevideotech, Cineworks, Kodak, IFC Channel, Lumina Productions, Film Florida, Florida Production Guide, CSC East Coast, Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment, Bacardi, Martin & Donald’s of Hollywood, Ed Arenas/Unique Casting, Barry Oliver Chase, P.A., Unique Producers, and many others.FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS, PLEASE CALL IFP/MIAMI AT (305)751-8118. Joanne Butcher, Executive Director or Mark Woods, Director of Marketing. Or email us at miami@ifp.org — IFP/Miami Film Competition: Sunlight Production Fund – AWARDS GALA – MAY 17, 2003IFP/Miami 210 2nd Street Miami Beach, FL 33139 Tel: (305)538-8242 miami@ifp.org Check out the fantastic new IFP website at www.ifp.org! THINK INDEPENDENT. THINK FILM. The Independent Feature Project/Miami is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to foster a vibrant independent filmmaking community, by teaching, assisting and facilitating filmmakers to make great work. |
Dottore Mark 