WV FILMmakers Festival

SUTTON, WV – After a full weekend of 30 films, a live performance by the Carpenter Ants, a separate and well-attended screening at Glenville State College, a couple filmmaker receptions, a meeting of the WV Filmmakers Guild, and more, the results of the 10th Annual West Virginia Filmmakers Festival were announced during an Awards Dinner at La Dolce Vita on Sunday afternoon.  Winners were announced in several categories from a lineup overflowing with the type of diverse and engaging works for which this Sutton-based festival has become known.

 

This years winners of the WV Filmmakers Festival included the controversial new documentary “Coal Country” by Mari-Lynn Evans and Phylis Geller, which was awarded “Best Film” of the festival and accepted in person by Evans.

Other winners included the psychological western/thriller “Blood River”, which was named Best Narrative Feature and accepted by Line Producer and WV native Jesse H. Rivard; and “Captain,” a short comedy which won the Audience Choice Award as well as an Award of Excellence from the jury, accepted by producer and WV native Caitlyn Renee Campbell.

The 2009 award for “West Virginia Filmmaker of the Year” was bestowed to Russ Barbour, who also won the award for Best Documentary Feature for his accomplished “Reconstructing Bill: The Story of Governor William C. Marland.”  The Filmmaker of the Year award, bestowed annually since 2003, is the most prestigious honor given to a West Virginia filmmaker and serves as an annual highlight of the festival.  

 

Sponsored by the West Virginia Film Office – Barbour received a trophy sculpted by Sutton artist Bill Hopen.  Also nominated for this years award were Mari-Lynn Evans, Phylis Geller, Terry Lively, Mai Smith, and Sun Jae Smith.  This years films were juried by festival director Kevin Carpenter, WV Film blogger Steve Fesenmaier, and award-winning filmmaker Sam Holdren.  

 

A full list of the winners follows: