Arizona Filmmakers and Reel Inspiration finalists screen at FUSIONFEST

FUSIONFEST: April 28 & 29, Pima Community College N.W. Campus, 7600 N Shannon Rd.
Featuring culturally diverse independent films and topics centered on global issues.

SATURDAY, APRIL 28
11 a.m. - "Starbuck and the Bandit" by Dick Fisher and Sarah Sher
12:30pm -Film Discussion with Elhad Ndoye
"The Forgotten Children-Focus on West African Culture"
 2pm - "What You Need" - Film by Nickolas Duarte
2:30pm- "Deseo" – film by Richard Wyland (Q&A by Ty Matthews)
3pm - "389 Miles: Living the Border" by Luis Carlos Davis

SUNDAY, APRIL 29
11am - "Vicenta" - Film by Angela Soto
12:30pm - Reel Inspiration Contests Finalists:
"The Mysterious Mystery of Something Important" by Jacqueline Véissid, "Solace" by Bill Kersey, "87 Topaz" by Bill Kersey, "Garpenfargle" by Bill Kersey & Edward Kim, “Somebody Loves Me” by Derek Griffith, "Morning Submission" by Justin Mashouf, "Just Coffee" by Roberto Gudino, "Linear Progression" by Kat Kosmala, "Not to be Toyed With" by Hal Melfi and Steve Bayless, "Have Coffin, Will Travel" by Sarah Sher, "New York City Spirit" by Muriel Stockdale,
2pm - "How like an Angel" - Film by David Sands & Elizabeth DeVries
3pm - What You Need – Film by Nicholas Duarte

Inspiring Films Create Understanding

I remember when 9/11 happened, I sobbed for what I thought would be a loss of what makes us American - our freedom. Fear is such a powerful weapon! But I believe that films of substance have power too. That's why I promote meaningful films that show that we are more alike than different.

"Why can't we just get along." See it can be done. Like this dog and cat.

Inspired by that principle, I organized the Reel Inspiration film contests. There were two shorts that especially made it worth the effort. 2004 finalist Morning Submission by Justin Mashouf creates understanding with his powerful three minute film on why Muslims pray. This little wonder shows that their prayers are much like ours. And 2006 "Best of Tucson" winner, Have Coffin, Will Travel by Sarah Sher shares how Dale Clark, an 83 year old artist and activist from Bisbee, Arizona, hitchhikes with a coffin to bring attention to the approximately eight thousand children of Afghanistan and Iraq who lost their lives as a result of war. This whimsical short is a gentle reminder that we aren't the only ones affected by the war and that these are our children too.

On this anniversary of 9/11, we can honor those who died by choosing not to be defeated by fear, but choose instead understanding over hate and connection over separation.

Movie Blessings!
Jana Segal

REEL INSPIRATION CONTEST FINALISTS UPDATE

Two RI contest finalists' films, "The Runners" and "Not 2B Toyed With," were screened Saturday, February 9 at the TucsonFilm.com Shorts Fest

Justin Mashouf was a 2004 RI Film Contest Finalist for his moving film, "Morning Submission. Morning Submission" is a lovely short film about why Moslems pray. Justin spoke at several Reel Inspiration screenings and on Arizona Illustrated. He expressed how important it was to him to share his film to create greater understanding. It is moments like this that make organizing the RI contests really worth it. Justin is still making films that promote understanding. Justin and JorDan Fuller's film, "The Runners," was screened at the Santa Fe Film Festival, the Lone Star International Film Festival, and the Tucson Film and Music Festival, among others. "The Runners," is the story of a Mexican man who crosses the border illegally, marries an American woman, and finds out that the American dream is harder than it seems. Congrats Justin and JorDan!

Congratulations to Not 2B Toyed With Filmmakers Hal Melfi, Tina Huerta, and Steve Bayless for being included in the FilmTucson.com Shorts Fest!

Since Reel Inspiration's Pura Inspiracion Film Contest, "Not 2B Toyed With," has been screened nationally and abroad including England, France, Canada, Denmark, and our own Arizona International Film Festival and RI's screening at the Oro Valley Arts Fest.

"Not 2B Toyed With," is the story of an obsessive Star Wars toy collector who is about to discover the "power of the dark side" when his nephew invades his perfectly packaged world. 

2006 Pura Inspiración Winners Announced

It was a fantastic screening at the Fox Tucson Theatre. I want to thank all the filmmakers for creating meaningful films! What a inspiring program! The ambiance was enhanced by our soulful singers Eric Hansen and Lupita Duran.

Thanks to Cox Communications for sponsoring the event and our partner Puro Mexicano: Tucson Film Festival and to all our generous prize sponsors. Also, thanks to our judges, hosts, entertainers, and volunteers. We couldn't have done it without you!

Reel Inspiration and the Puro Mexicano: Tucson Film Festival are proud to announce the winners of the 2006 Pura Inspiración Film Contest:

Celebrating Cultural Diversity Award: New York City Spirit by Muriel Stockdale of New York City.

Best of Tucson: Have Coffin, Will Travel by Sarah Sher.

Best Narrative: Linear Progression by Kat Kosmala from La Habra, CA.

Best Narrative, 2nd place: Mariposa Canyon by Ben Lobato

Best Documentary: 87 Topaz by Bill Kersey from Tucson

Best Documentary, 3rd place: Just Coffee by Roberto Gudins & Eli Cordova

*Bill Kersey also won Best Film for Garpenfargle and the Peoples Choice award for Solice in the 2004 competition!

TEEN COMPETITIONFirst Place: Multiple Choice by Teresa Tuan
Second Place: Atordecer by Oscar Rivera
Third Place: A Long Walk Home by James Curtis
Best of Tucson: Essence of Ironwood by Csenge Molnar
Cultural Diversity Award: Culture by Avijit Halder

CHILDREN'S SHOWCASEFirst Place: The Pen by Lineweaver Elementary Cub Club Advanced Media Arts Class
Second Place: The Amazing Defiant Monkeys by Joshua Segal
Third Place: Wheels by Lineweaver Cub Club
Best Use of Music: The Power of Music by Jeremy Nelson
Budding Writer Award: The Tamale Bully by Jeremy Segal
Most Creative Award: Gender Clash by Lineweaver Cub Club

Congratulations to our filmmakers! You all are winners!

Arrange for these films to be screened at your fest, church or organization, contact:  reelinspiration@hotmail.com

Reel Inspiration Contest Winners Update.

Wonder what became of our Reel Inspiration Contest Winners? Here's what they're up to....

The 2004 Winners Reel has been screened at writers organizations, churches, schools, and the Arts Festivals around Tucson, AZ. All the winners were screened October 27 -28, 2007 to an appreciative audience at the Oro Valley ArtsFest. (See October archives for list of films.) Justin Mashouf (Morning Submission) represented the contest finalists on Arizona Illustrated.
Bill Kersey:
2004 RI Film Contest Winner for Garpenfargle
2004 RI Film Contest, Popular Choice Award for Solace
2006 PI Film Contest, Best Documentary, 87 Topaz
After playing the festival circuit around the world, Bill's award winning shorts are still popping up here and there. Garpenfargle recently played at CineGlobe in Switzerland.
Nicole Koschman's Black, White, and Yellow, (which Bill edited) was screened as part of the Loft's Cinema Lounge in Tucson, AZ. The short film, Life List (16 minutes) directed/produced by Tom Dunlap and edited/produced by Bill Kersey was also featured. Bill is currently editing another film.
For a complete list of Bill's screenings and awards or to watch his short films , go to:
http://www.raintownpictures.com

BLACK, WHITE AND YELLOW (56 minutes)
Directed by Nicole Koschmann, Edited by Bill Kersey
BLACK, WHITE AND YELLOW is a compelling documentary look at racial identity, familial bonds and cultural differences. Growing up in a multi-racial family in three different countries, two sisters (one black, one white) struggle to define their own identities as well as their relationship with each other. Black, White and Yellow won the 'Best of Arizona' award at the 2007 Arizona International Film Festival.LIFE LIST, an insightful and often humorous documentary, explores the world of birding by examining the philosophies and field behaviors of two master birders. It's been in several film festivals, including last year's AZ International Film Festival, and it won Best Documentary Short at the Northern Lights Film Festival in Massachusetts. It's been picked up by a short film distributor.

http://web.cfa.arizona.edu/mediaarts/index.php/story?storyid=1179

Derek Griffith
2004 RI Film Contest, Best of Tucson Award
Somebody Loves Me.

Derek writes,

"Somebody Loves Me," but not as much as Garpenfargle! Man, that was a classic film! Since that cool September night when that little white dog warmed the audience's heart, I have been working on several films that vary in an array of genres. From horror to comedy and from drama to musicals, I've dabbled in it all. Most recently, I'm working on a feature script entitled "Visors Down" that is a political-thriller depicting slanted political views. As I circulate my filmmaking-dabbling, I will once again cycle into a light-hearted comedy/drama in the vein of "Somebody Loves Me" but for now, I must plug away, plug away at my baby, "Visors Down".

For more on Derek, visit: www.DirectorsSeat.com
Muriel Stockdale,
2006 PI Film Contest, Cultural Diversity Award
New York City Spirit
Muriel Stockdale is an accomplished artist, writer, filmmaker, costume designer, and was a valued member of the teaching faculty at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Graduate Design Department for 14 years. She is completing a final draft of her second screenplay, Gabriel’s Flight, and she has won a commission to write the book for the musical version of the Indian epic myth, Ramayana. She is in pre-production on the feature length version of New York City Spirit.

New York City Spirit depicts a composite day in New York through rich and colorful images of New Yorkers practicing the diverse ways that they choose to connect to God or Spirit. The film travels through all five boroughs of New York City and presents an unbiased display of multiple cultural, religious and spiritual disciplines. It is about how individual New Yorkers choose to connect to a higher truth and meaning in everyday life.

http://www.nycspirit.com/about.htm

Sarah Sher
2006 PI Film Contest, Best of Tucson
Have Coffin, Will Travel

Sarah Sher's film about Bisbee-based artist/activist Dale Clark, Traveling Coffin, has been picked up by Al Gore's TV Network, Current TV. Traveling Coffin -- originally titled Have Coffin, Will Travel -- follows Clark as he hitchhikes around the country with a coffin to draw attention to the deaths of children in Iraq, Afghanistan and other current war zones. Sher is the owner of Red Eagle Post (a post-production studio.) Visit the Current TV web site to see film:http://current.com/pods/protests/PD05308

Kat Kosmala
2006 PI Film Contest, Best Narrative
Linear ProgressionStrange creatures! Beautiful animation! Grass! What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? Such conundrums abound in this charming traditionally drawn and digitally painted short. Simple but rich in its design, and with a dialog track of only grunts and sighs, animation proves itself once again to be the universal story-telling language.

Linear Progression has won several awards since Pura Inspiracion including Best Animation at Hollyshorts, Veneration, Pencilheads Dusk 'til Dawn Animation Festival, and Woods Hole Film Festival, as well as winning the Ai Showcase at Dam Short Film Festival. It has screened at over 50 film festivals. Currently, Kat is working
as Supervising Animator at Animax, an LA based Flash Animation studio. A new film is in the works, but won't be finished until next year. For a list of screenings, visit:http://audience.withoutabox.com/festivals/event_item.php?id=3916&fetch=details

Check back for more winners' updates as they come in.