2010 Winners

Features

First place: The Crimson Mask: Two desperate men, from different worlds, find themselves unwitting pawns in an ancient ritual. Greed, Lust, Pride, Anger, and Envy have consumed the lives of Thomas Caine, a seemingly wealthy businessman, and Parker, a down on his luck pro wrestler. Both are overwhelmed with insurmountable debts and struggling to break free by any means. As their lives quickly unravel, so does an age-old secret conspiracy that leads the two men down a deadly path of redemption.
Web : http://www.thecrimsonmask.com/
Director : Elias Plagianos
State : New York

Second place: Passenger Pigeons: Set among the coalfields of Eastern Kentucky, 'Passenger Pigeons' is a story about finding hope and beauty in the dark hills of Appalachia. The film quietly interweaves four separate story lines over the course of a weekend as the town copes with the death of a local miner.
Web : http://www.passengerpigeonsthemovie.com/
Director : Martha Stephens
State : North Carolina

Third place: Maxwell Stein: A Washed up Filmmaker from the Silent Era needs a new camera for his final project, his first talkie that he wants to leave behind as his greatest work, his legacy. The camera is found at a strange second hand shop off the beaten path . Maxwell Stein decides this is the camera for him,however the camera has different plans for Mr Stein and the cast as this haunted film camera begins to take over.
Web : http://www.nvdaily.com/lifestyle/2010/03/local-film-to-premiere-at-alamo-drafthouse.php
Director : Jeff Jones
State: West Virginia

Documentary

First place: Dirty Business: 'Clean Coal' and the Battle for Our Energy Future is a documentary about the myth of clean coal. The film reveals the true, hidden environmental and social costs of the 'cheap' nineteenth century technology that still provides more than half the electricity powering today's digital age. DIRTY BUSINESS exposes Big Coal's propaganda campaign to convince the public that renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, are not ready for prime time - and that clean coal already exists.
Web : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dirty-Business-Clean-Coal-and-the-Battle-for-Our-Energy-Future/339184089349?v=info&ref=ts
Director : Peter Bull
State : New York

Second place: The Mountain Music Project: A Musical Odyssey from Appalachia to Himalaya (documentary): Two Virginia musicians, travel to Nepal to explore the extraordinary connections between Appalachian and Himalayan folk music.
Web : http://mountainmusicproject.blogspot.com/
Director : Mountain Music Project
State : Virginia

Screenplay

First place: "The Swamp Dragon" by Nick Korolev

Second place: "The Honeymoon" by George Snider III

Short

First place: Fire in the Mountains: Fire in the Mountains documents a independent wrestling organization in Appalachian Kentucky. Showing the hardships of life in both being a wrestler and promoter in Eastern KY in 2009. What was once a dream is now limited to very small armories and school lunchrooms across the mountains. Showcasing the hardships of life of a by gone industry.
Web : none available
Director : Steve Middleton
State : Kentucky

People's Choice Short

First place: Down in Number 5: Rooted in the Southern Gothic storytelling tradition, 'Down in Number 5' follows a terminally ill coal miner as he struggles to find refuge for his developmentally disabled son. Based on a true story.
Web : http://www.downinnumber5.com/
Director : Kim Spurlock
State : New York

Micro-Film

First place: Appalachian Dreams: An old clog dancer retires for the night, but his shoes are just getting started. Based on the traditional arts and crafts of southern Appalachia, Appalachian Dreams celebrates the high energy of clog dancing along with carved wooden toys, corn husk dolls, ceramic jugs and weaved baskets joining in on the fun. The film combines the traditional hand made crafts with the latest state of the art computer animation techniques to produce a film that will hopefully inspire future generations and keep alive the southern Appalachian tradition
Web : http://donarfilms.wordpress.com/
Director : David Donar
State : South Carolina

Young Filmmaker

First place: September: Set in rural North Carolina, tells the story of sixty-one year old, Jonathan Granger. When the furniture factory he's worked at for over thirty years closes, he's left uncertain about his future. The world is slowly passing him by, but he's not ready to step aside just yet. He does his best to roll with the punches and push on as he tries to keep everything from unravelling.
Web : none available
Director : Tim Hall
State : North Carolina

Past Winners

Click below to see:

• 2009 winners

• 2008 winners

• 2007 winners

• 2006 winners

• 2005 winners

• 2004 winners