DWIFF Press Releases

www.dwiff.

Media Relations Contact:

        Suzette Dexter: 248.613.6280

        This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 2010 Detroit Windsor International Film Festival Presented by Wayne County

Announces Award Winners, Open Submission Date for 2011

• Filmmakers can send in their submissions for the 2011 Detroit Windsor International Film Festival starting on January 1, 2011.
• For more information go to www.dwiff.org

DETROIT, June 28, 2010_ The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival presented by Wayne County has wrapped up its third and most successful year ever at Wayne State University’s Detroit campus with Dutch filmmakers Mascha and Manfred Poppenk taking two top honors for Grown in Detroit, a documentary focusing on the Catherine Ferguson Academy, a school in Detroit that teaches parenting and pregnant teens to become independent and knowledgeable about urban farming and the principles of business. Director Amy S. Weber took the top prize for Annabelle & Bear, a heartwarming movie about a man suddenly thrust into fatherhood and forced to rethink his priorities. The 100 percent Michigan-made film won the Best Detroit Windsor Feature category.

The entire list of the 2010 DWIFF winners is as follows:

Best Feature: Bilal's Stand – Directed by Sultan Sharrief

Best Detroit Windsor Feature: Annabelle and Bear - Directed by Amy S. Weber

Best Documentary: Grown in Detroit - Directed by Mascha and Manfred Poppenk

Best International Film: Grown in Detroit - Directed by Mascha and Manfred Poppenk

Best Detroit Windsor Documentary: Regional Roots - Directed by Carrie LeZotte

Best (Detroit-Windsor) Children's Film: Eddie and The Alternate Universe - Directed by Samuel Lemberg

Best International Children's Film: The Nickel - Directed by Bill Reilly

Best Comedic Short: Air Knob - Directed by Nathan Fleet

Best Short: Qing Lou Nou  - Directed by Bryan Hopkins

Best Detroit Windsor Short: Bare Witness – Directed by Jeffrey T. Schultz

Also included at the awards ceremony was Wayne State University’s Moving Media Film Festival Awards as well as the awards for The DWIFF Challenge, The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival’s own 48 Hour Film Challenge. Filmmakers can submit their films for the 2011 Detroit Windsor International Film Festival starting on January 1, 2011.

Celebrated as one of America’s leading new film festivals in a state with a booming film industry, the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing the newest and most diverse voices of independent film by featuring works from around the world in a first-class international forum. Wayne County is the proud presenting sponsor of the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival Program.

About DWIFF

The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is a registered Michigan non-profit organization and is funded through the generosity of the community—with sponsorship, gifts and donations. For the second year in a row, The DWIFF is proudly presented by Wayne County Executive, Robert A. Ficano. DWIFF celebrates the talented voices within the independent film industry who create unique, quality cinema that is stimulating and entertaining. The festival also invites prominent film industry members to meet, network and share ideas in an urban, educational setting.  It is our mission that through our sponsors and partners, DWIFF seeks to raise awareness and give back to the local community to promote growth within the creative community.

Media Relations Contact:

        Suzette Dexter: 248.613.6280

        This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 2010 Detroit Windsor International Film Festival Presented by Wayne County

Announces Award Winners, Open Submission Date for 2011

• Filmmakers can send in their submissions for the 2011 Detroit Windsor International Film Festival starting on January 1, 2011.
• For more information go to www.dwiff.org

DETROIT, June 28, 2010_ The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival presented by Wayne County has wrapped up its third and most successful year ever at Wayne State University’s Detroit campus with Dutch filmmakers Mascha and Manfred Poppenk taking two top honors for Grown in Detroit, a documentary focusing on the Catherine Ferguson Academy, a school in Detroit that teaches parenting and pregnant teens to become independent and knowledgeable about urban farming and the principles of business. Director Amy S. Weber took the top prize for Annabelle & Bear, a heartwarming movie about a man suddenly thrust into fatherhood and forced to rethink his priorities. The 100 percent Michigan-made film won the Best Detroit Windsor Feature category.

The entire list of the 2010 DWIFF winners is as follows:

Best Feature: Bilal's Stand – Directed by Sultan Sharrief

Best Detroit Windsor Feature: Annabelle and Bear - Directed by Amy S. Weber

Best Documentary: Grown in Detroit - Directed by Mascha and Manfred Poppenk

Best International Film: Grown in Detroit - Directed by Mascha and Manfred Poppenk

Best Detroit Windsor Documentary: Regional Roots - Directed by Carrie LeZotte

Best (Detroit-Windsor) Children's Film: Eddie and The Alternate Universe - Directed by Samuel Lemberg

Best International Children's Film: The Nickel - Directed by Bill Reilly

Best Comedic Short: Air Knob - Directed by Nathan Fleet

Best Short: Qing Lou Nou  - Directed by Bryan Hopkins

Best Detroit Windsor Short: Bare Witness – Directed by Jeffrey T. Schultz

Also included at the awards ceremony was Wayne State University’s Moving Media Film Festival Awards as well as the awards for The DWIFF Challenge, The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival’s own 48 Hour Film Challenge. Filmmakers can submit their films for the 2011 Detroit Windsor International Film Festival starting on January 1, 2011.

Celebrated as one of America’s leading new film festivals in a state with a booming film industry, the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing the newest and most diverse voices of independent film by featuring works from around the world in a first-class international forum. Wayne County is the proud presenting sponsor of the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival Program.

About DWIFF

The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is a registered Michigan non-profit organization and is funded through the generosity of the community—with sponsorship, gifts and donations. For the second year in a row, The DWIFF is proudly presented by Wayne County Executive, Robert A. Ficano. DWIFF celebrates the talented voices within the independent film industry who create unique, quality cinema that is stimulating and entertaining. The festival also invites prominent film industry members to meet, network and share ideas in an urban, educational setting.  It is our mission that through our sponsors and partners, DWIFF seeks to raise awareness and give back to the local community to promote growth within the creative community.

www.dwiff.org
          Media Relations Contact:

        Suzette Dexter: 248.613.6280

        This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival Presented by Wayne County Announces

Wayne State University to Host Its 1^st Tech Fair, Free to the Public at WSU’s Detroit Campus

• DWIFF Tech Fair is free to the public and will take place on Saturday, June 26 from noon until 5 pm in WSU’s State Hall on 5143 Cass Avenue in Detroit. 
• Parking is available for special festival hours at structure #1 all weekend. Other areas will be open for normal hours and can be found at www.parking.wayne.edu.
• The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival runs June 24-27 at WSU’s Detroit Campus.
• For full schedule of the DWIFF Tech Fair, go to http://www.dwiff.org/images/stories/techfair/TechFair_Schedule2010.pdf
• For more information, go to www.dwiff.org

DETROIT, June 18, 2010 – For the first time, Wayne State University is teaming up with The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival presented by Wayne County to host the DWIFF annual Tech Fair on June 26 from noon until 5 pm at WSU’s State Hall. The annual free event will give the public access to filmmaking and TV broadcast professionals, vendors and educators to enhance the overall filmmaking experience and create a rich learning environment.

Demonstrations include directing and producing films to using special effects makeup, painting artificial skies— and even how to open your own indie theatre. The university will also give presentations from several of its departments ranging from shooting with the RED camera to editing with Final Cut Pro to video gaming.

Also in the Tech Fair’s lineup are panel discussions on guerilla filmmaking, film financing and post production. Among the many panelists in attendance will be the producers of the upcoming film Machine Gun Preacher, which is set to film in Detroit this summer and stars Gerard Butler.

DWIFF Tech Fair manager and WSU animation instructor Frank Collins worked on the film Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp. He said one presenter he is personally looking forward to seeing is Michele Yamazaki, who works for Toolfarm, a company that sells plug-ins for most of the visual effects and animation software that he uses every day. “I can't wait to get all of Michele's insight on plug-ins available for my favorite software,” said Collins. “They really help extend the usability and versatility of everything. I'm also hoping to see a lot of students who are looking at animation as a future possibility. And with all of the filming and work being done in town, animation is a growing field. From gaming and broadcast video to internet and feature or indie film, animation is a great field to be in.”

WSU’s MovingMedia Festival Coordinator Kelly Gottesman also works behind the scenes as one of the Tech Fair organizers, and said he is excited about the Tech Fair for a number of reasons. “This event will put a spotlight on WSU’s Media Arts and Studies program, and  the buzz surrounding the Tech Fair helps give momentum to WSU as a ‘regional hub’ for student filmmakers to showcase their creative work,” said Gottesman. “The opportunity to have industry professionals giving workshops to student filmmakers is immeasurable. And this Tech Fair puts the ‘festival’ vibe in the DWIFF/Moving Media Film Festival.”

Also on-site will be vendors including Microsoft and Bunkspeed, among various companies along with members of local production and animation user groups to showcase their services and products.  

For full schedule of the DWIFF Tech Fair, go to http://www.dwiff.org/images/stories/techfair/TechFair_Schedule2010.pdf

Celebrated as one of America’s leading new film festivals in a state with a booming film industry, the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing the newest and most diverse voices of independent film by featuring works from around the world in a first-class international forum. Wayne County is the proud presenting sponsor of the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival Program.

About DWIFF

The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is a registered Michigan non-profit organization and is funded through the generosity of the community—with sponsorship, gifts and donations. For the second year in a row, The DWIFF is proudly presented by Wayne County Executive, Robert A. Ficano. DWIFF celebrates the talented voices within the independent film industry who create unique, quality cinema that is stimulating and entertaining. The festival also invites prominent film industry members to meet, network and share ideas in an urban, educational setting.  It is our mission that through our sponsors and partners, DWIFF seeks to raise awareness and give back to the local community to promote growth within the creative community.