And The Winners Are…

If you couldn’t make it to the fest or the awards ceremony, (shame on you…and me) here are the winners and nominees.

Snake Alley Festival of Film Awards

 

Best Music Video

Nominees:

J.K. The Reaper – Exodia – Director: Josh Yates

Run – Director: David Kroll

Walk Away – Director: Landon Brands

Winner: Walk Away – Director: Landon Brands

 

Best Dramedy

Nominees:

Cowboys – Bernabé Rico

Falling to Pieces – Director: Chris Connolly

The Memory of Martin Fugue – Director: Eric Lang

Winner: Falling to Pieces – Director: Chris Connolly

 

Best Horror

Nominees:

Scared to Death – Director: Drew Marvick

Special – Director: Mikeal Burgin

Tickle – Director: Corey Norman

Winner: Tickle – Director: Corey Norman

 

Best Comedy

Nominees:

Dare Side of the Moon – Director: Alex Constantin

Death to Cupid – Director: Joe Gonzales

Damn It, Mamet! – Director: Michael Lang

Winner: Death to Cupid – Director: Joe Gonzales

 

Best Animation

Nominees:

Junk Girl – Director: Mohammad Zare

The Sound of the Road – Director: Barzan Rostami

Tick Tock – Director: Zeynep Kocak

Winner: Tick Tock – Director: Zeynep Kocak

 

Best Student Film

Nominees:

The Lost Mariner – Director: Tess Martin

The Woods – Director: Remington Smith

Safe Space – Director: Zora Rux

Winner: The Lost Mariner – Director: Tess Martin

 

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Nominees:

The Pen – Director: Derek Nelson

The Future Perfect – Director: Nicolas Citton

Winner: The Future Perfect – Director: Nicolas Citton

 

Best Action

Nominees:

Hyena’s Blood – Director: Nicolas Caicoya

Bandito – Director: Evan Kelman

Silenced – Director: Alaa “Zak” Noweihed

Winner: Bandito – Director: Evan Kelman

 

Best Drama

Nominees:

A New Man – Director: Hughes William Thompson

Tom in America – Director: Flavio Alves

Charlie – Director: Shawn Ryan

Winner: A New Man – Director: Hughes William Thompson

 

Best Documentary

Nominees:

Invisible Sister – Director: Jamie Rogers

Man in the Can – Director: Noessa Higa

Hollywood Gals – Director: Jack Truman

Winner: Man in the Can – Director: Noessa Higa

 

Best Foreign Film

Nominees:

Awakenings – Director: Bhargav Saikia

Innocent – Director: Àlvaro Pastor

Beneath Water – Director: Charlie Manton

Winner: Beneath Water – Director: Charlie Manton

 

Writer’s Block for Best Screenplay

Winner: My Friend Max – written by Chuck Mittan & Mikeal Burgin

 

The Director’s Award for Outstanding Performance

Nominees:

Beneath Water – Director: Charlie Manton

Une Liberation – Director: Brian Crewe

The Future Perfect – Director: Nicolas Citton

Winner: Une Liberation – Director: Brian Crewe

 

Audience Choice

Nominees:

Lennis Moore: Woodcut Print Artist – Director: Derek Nelson

Special – Director: Mikeal Burgin

That Night – Director: Phillip Mayall

Winner: That Night – Director: Phillip Mayall

 

Best Iowa Film

Nominees:

The Simple Gift of Walnut Grove – Director: John Richard

Lennis Moore: Woodcut Print Artist – Director: Derek Nelson

Special – Director: Mikeal Burgin

That Night – Director: Phil Mayall

Winner: The Simple Gift of Walnut Grove – Director: John Richard

 

Best of the Fest

Nominees:

The Simple Gift of Walnut Grove – Director: John Richard

The Future Perfect – Director: Nicolas Citton

Lapsus – Director: Karim Ouaret

Tick Tock – Director: Zeynep Kocak

Winner: Lapsus – Director: Karim Ouaret

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Right Around The Corner

Congratulations to all filmmakers and screenwriters whose work has been selected for the Fourth Annual Snake Alley Festival of Film. We received so many great entries, and we couldn’t be more excited to let the world see the fruits of your labor.

 

For those planning to attend we have some info that will make your visit a little easier.

 

1. Each filmmaker or screenwriter will get two all access badges. This badge gets you into all SNAFF events and parties.

 

2. In addition to a t-shirt, every filmmaker and screenwriter will receive a swag bag full of local gifts.

 

3. Registration is Thursday, August 6 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, right next to the Capitol Theater (also known as the Annex). It connects to the theater, but provides a sound barrier as to not disturb the screenings and readings. If you cannot make it to Thursday’s registration, someone will always be there to assist you.

 

4. The filmmaker and screenwriter’s brunch takes place on Friday, August 7 at 10am at The Drake. Space is limited so please let me know in advance if you would like to participate. It’s a great time to get to know each other, learn about each other’s projects, and support one another’s films.

 

5. After parties are all within two blocks of the theater. Music will be provided, but we need you to bring the fun!

 

6. Travel — We have two nearby airports, each about an hour and half away. One is in Iowa (Cedar Rapids) and the other in Illinois (Moline). Flying into either airport is a lot easier, as far as scheduling, then flying directly into Burlington.

 

7. A Screenwriters Panel will take place at the theater on Thursday at 5pm to 6pm, and a Midwest Filmmakers Panel will be held on Friday from 5pm to 6pm. If you are able to participate, please let me know and make sure to be at the theater at the specified time.

 

8. Lastly, if you have artwork (preprinted posters, cards, swag, etc.) and would like to send them for display, please send to:

 

Snake Alley Festival of Film

1301 S. 3^rd St.

Burlington Iowa 52601.

This will be very helpful in promoting your film.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at taddgood@gmail.com

 

We can’t wait to see you all for SNAFF 2015!

 

Tadd Good

Event Director

Snake Alley Festival of Film

 

A New Day At The Snake Alley Festival of Film!

If you read the announcement on Facebook, this will come as no surprise…but Lonnie Schuyler has named Tadd good to be the new Festival director. Tadd is a real go-getter and very talented and creative.

(I have to say these things in case he’s reading this…if you know what I mean. C’mon! The guy collects these little dolls.)

I guess that means he’ll fit right in. Lonnie will still be around—just not involved in the day-to-day activities. Tadd will be handling all of that. He’s excited now, but wait until he finds out what’s in store for him. (Actually, I think he’ll do fine. (I just don’t want him to get a swelled head.)

In other news, there will be a new Schuyler-type at this year’s Snake Alley Festival of Film. I can’t say more than that. You’ll just have to show up to find out.

Start getting those entries ready. It’ll be here before you know it. And have a warm and wonderful holiday season.

One more thing. If Tadd wants to show you his doll collection…run!

Burning Leaves And Football!

Labor Day is right around the corner, and you know what that means. It means it’s football season. The nights will get longer, the air cooler and leaves will be burning. Soon fireplaces will be lit.

There’s something about staring into a roaring fire that triggers the imagination. The warmth and crackle of the flames seem to transport you to a dimension of magic and wonder.

While you’re staring into the flames and letting your imagination run wild, think about what you will enter in the 2015 Snake Alley Festival of Film. A new screenplay, a short comedy, a serious drama, or maybe you want to do a documentary. There are a variety of categories where you can display your creative dream. But now’s the time to start planning…and working. You can edit when you’re snowed in.

Just remember, this year’s Snake Alley Festival of Film is only 10 months away.

And another big event that happens this year on the day after Labor Day is…(they’ve tried to keep this under wraps) our illustrious founder’s birthday. We aren’t permitted to tell you how old Lonnie Schuyler will be on September 5th, but only the giant sequoia trees in California have been around longer.

And while we’re on the subject of football, what well-known actor starred in the original version of “The Longest Yard?”

Let’s “Forge” Ahead!

Pictures in decending order order are: The “Alley,” Bill and Betty Printy, and Mark Heisdorffer.

Have you checked out our new poster? It’s pure creative genius.

And speaking of creative genius, you may not be aware that the awards given out at The Snake Alley Festival of Film are one-off, hand-made, custom-designed, pieces of sculpture! But they are! Raw iron is forged into beautiful works of art not found anywhere else on the planet. Then each piece is mounted on a wooden base and inscribed with the name of the award and the date.

The “Alley’s” are the brain-child of blacksmith, artist, and creative genius, Bill Printy who is ably assisted by Mark Heisdorffer.

So, if you do win an “Alley,” not only do you have bragging rights, you now have a true collector’s item.

Also, Bill Printy’s wife is a renowned potter who created and copyrighted Queen Anne’s Lace Pottery (named after the flower) and each unique piece has a flower fired right into it. She also has a pottery piece in every Governor’s Mansion in the U.S.

Bill and Betty, own the Iron and Lace Shop in Bentonsport, Iowa. Their web site is http://www.ironandlace.com

While you’re here for The Snake Alley Festival of Film, and you have energy left after Cyn-A-Palooza, be sure and visit their studio, gallery, and shop. They will teach you how to do (blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, and forge-welding) if you’re interested.

And…if you missed the late deadline of April 1st, you’ve still got a chance. Just click on the “withoutabox” box to enter.

If you want to subscribe to this blog, pay attention to Laura Woodard of Grassroots Marketing when she says, “Click on the teeny-weeny little box in the lower right corner of the page.”

What is Cyn-A-Palooza? Stay tuned and find out! Ciao, baby!

An Oscar Is So Passé! You Really Want An Alley!

Capitol Theater, Lonnie Schuyler, and the coveted Alley Award

This beats an Oscar!

Think about it. If you watched the Oscar’s, it seems like every Tom, Dick, (there were a few of those) and Harry gets one for something. Best director, Best Toenail Collector, Best Butt-Kisser…you name it, there’s an award for it.
So which one has more value? If you drive around Hollywood, there are so many Oscar’s that people are using them for door stops. You can buy Oscar key chains, little plastic dashboard Oscars, and even Oscar toilet paper holders. BUT…the one thing you don’t see in Hollywood is an Alley. Alleys are so rare, that very few people have ever seen one, much less won one.
Last year at The Snake Alley Festival of Film a handful of dedicated film makers walked away with an Alley. This is a unique award that will inspire admiration from all who see it. You could read the covetous looks in the eyes of the few Hollywood types that were there. On the last day of the fest, as they gazed with envy on the winners of the Alleys, they knew they had to settle for watching Lonnie Schuyler man-handle his wiener.
If you want a chance to be one of the few people in the world who has an Alley sitting in your trophy case, you need to get your entry in. The final deadline is April 1st and we’re not fooling. (If you enter using the “Without a box” link, you can get a little extra time to polish your work of sheer genius.)

And, The Wiener Is…

Lonnie launches Henry

Lonnie and his second wiener, Chloe

Lonnie explains why his wiener isn’t a winner!

In our last blog post, we told you that we would have pictures of Lonnie Schuyler (organizer of The Snake Alley Festival of Film) doing strange things with his wiener. We also said that it would be family friendly and would make your kids bug you to take them to the film fest. As promised, here it is.
The first picture is Lonnie trying to launch Henry (his wiener) at the starting line of Burlington’s Annual Wiener Dog Races. As you can tell by his expression, (Lonnie’s expression, not the dog’s) this is a big deal to him. Henry, on the other hand, is looking to his right and thinking, “How can I get away from this lunatic?”

In the second picture, Lonnie is launching Chloe, his other wiener. (Yes, Lonnie has two wieners. I told you he was weird.) He handles her a bit more delicately because she’s a girl, after all. And she leaks on occasion, hence the stiff-arm launch technique.

The third photo is Lonnie explaining to Brian Hopkins that they could have been a contender “if the damn dog would’ve run straight.”

What, you ask, does this have to do with The Snake Alley festival of Film? The Wiener Races are held on the last day of the fest right around the corner from the theater. This is part of Cynapalooza, a family-themed street carnival near the theater. Your whole family will love it, and you get to kill two birds with one trip.
And, yes the models will be helping out at the wiener races, too. Also, Lonnie has added a third wiener, making him even weirder.

Holy Pulchritude, Batman! Movies and Models and Munchies and More!

Models and more!

The Mighty Munchie Brigade

Oh those O’Cyn girls!

So you’ve figured out what pulchritude means and now you want proof! Jeez…as if the pictures we’ve already posted aren’t enough.
Okay! You asked for it…you got it! Many of the ladies you see above are what are known locally as O’Cyn’s Girls. (I didn’t say “go sin girls” so don’t get your shorts in a wad.) In fact, the original O’Cyn is in these photos. And these are just a few of the O’Cyn girls who will be helping out again this year…plus we’ve added a new crop as well. (What? You thought there wouldn’t be any more farm jokes?) This IS Iowa after all Cupcake.

Speaking of Iowa, and specifically, Burlington, Iowa—you do realize that the deadline is fast approaching to get your entries into The Snake Alley Festival of Film. Don’t wait too long. You might get shut out. Just remember, there is more to this film fest than meets the eye.

You will see things here that are never seen anywhere else on Planet Earth! (Or any other planet for that matter.)

For example, in our next post we’ll feature a picture of Lonnie Schuyler (the film fest organizer) doing strange things with his wiener. In the photo we’ll be posting, it looks like he’s abusing his wiener but he’s not. And this picture will be rated PG—and Family Friendly. In fact, you might want to show it to your kids. That way they’ll start bugging you about going to the film fest.

Intrigued? Stay tuned for our next post. Same Bat-Time! Same Bat-Channel!

Don’t Lose Heart!

“Mike Roberson and friend”

“Phil Pool with Camera”

“Brandy Schwartz and friend”

Don’t Lose Heart!
OK! So you blew it on Valentine’s Day and didn’t get her the all-access pass to the Snake Alley Festival of Film. Plus, you dedicated your short film about over indulgence, entitled “The Girl Who Ate Chicago” especially to her. She didn’t appreciate it. And now she says she never wants to see you again.
Before you go all Gloomy Gus and down in the dumps on us…consider this! You’re FREE! Any girl who wouldn’t appreciate a dedication like that is too high-maintenance anyway. As the man said, “There are plenty of fish in the sea!” and there will be plenty of beautiful women at The 2nd Annual Snake Alley Festival of Film.
If you are following this blog and looking at the pictures, you must have noticed that Burlington was inundated with feminine pulchritude! (Look it up, Sunshine.)
Most of the girls in these pictures are corn-fed, home-grown, down-to-earth, Iowa girls. Many of them model for a shop in town called Original Cyn’s. The rest of the time they are students at the University of Iowa, Iowa State, and other schools. Beauty, brains, and the ability to shuck corn. What more could you ask for?
And speaking of pictures, the official photographers for the film fest are Brandi Schwartz at http://www.brandischwartz.com/ , Mike Roberson at http://robyphotography.com/ and Phil Pool’s Omni Photo at https://www.facebook.com/OmniPhotoByPhil
They did a wonderful job of capturing the candid moments last year and we look forward to more such moments this year. (I guess that’s why that show was called “Candid Camera.) If you need a photographer, these are the folks to call.

You Blew It! Now What?

Amy and her Valentine!

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and YOU forgot to order something for that special someone in your life. It’s too late for flowers…they’re all sold out.
You can’t afford jewelry…and every restaurant is booked.
YOU are so dead! Or are you? We here at the Snake Alley Festival of Film, we feel your pain. In fact, we’ve come up with some solutions for you. Try these and you’ll be out of the doghouse and onto a pedestal. (Well, maybe not. But at least you won’t be treated like a pariah.)

If you’re a filmmaker, dedicate your entry to the love of your life. Then get your tickets to come to The 2nd Annual Snake Alley Festival of Film. Imagine the look of pure adoration you’ll get when she’s watching a film made in her honor while on a mini vacation to beautiful Burlington, Iowa in June.

But what if you’re not a filmmaker? Well Sparky, we’ve thought of you, too. Get her (and yourself, of course) an all access pass to all of the events at this guaranteed-good-time film festival. (Original movies, food, fun and parties. What’s not to love?)

See there! Problem solved. And you thought it was hopeless.

Speaking of sweethearts, our press liaison for filmmakers is Amy Walsh. She will handle all media interviews for filmmakers who are entered in the fest. So, if you want to be on the radio, in the papers, and maybe on TV, she’s the lady to call. Her contact info is 319-572-0546 or you can email her acw@fmbanktrust.com

By the way, the guy in the picture with her is her husband. And, yes, he IS that big!