Vote for One Filmmaker of the Year
Email your vote to vote@wvfilmmakersfestival.org by September 25, 2009.
Mari-Lynn Evans
Mari-Lynn Evans of Bulltown, Braxton County, WV . During the last decade she has produced two landmark works of film that will forever change the way people view West Virginia and Appalachia. Those two films, "The Appalachians,"(2005) a 3-part PBS series along with a CD and book, and "Coal Country"(2009), a feature documentary along with a CD and book, are without question the most poignant documents of their kind created to date. It is not without exaggeration one can call "Coal County" the "Harlan County, USA of the 21st century." Like Barbara Kopple, who directed "Harlan County, USA" after years of risking her life, Ms. Evans has faced death threats and more to complete her own work of art. After spending a a life producing numerous films on health and other subjects, Ms. Evans has come home to Appalachia, and given us all her greatest gift.
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Mari-Lynn Evans
"Coal Country"
Mari-Lynn Evans & Phyllis Geller should be considered for a joint nomination due to their committed collaboration on the feature documentary "Coal Country," and the impact it has had since its recent premiere. While several anti-MTR films have been made over the years, this one arrived during a year when MTR-mining practices have taken on a more national significance; and their film helped bolster that ongoing conversation by attempting to understand both sides of the conflict. Their contribution to WV film in 2009 actually made a cultural impact thanks to the notoriety of its premiere screening, which is significant, considering how difficult it is to actually break through to more than just our peers. Quite simply, that premiere screening will likely be remembered as one of the touchstone cultural events of our state for 2009, and not just our industry. By honoring Evans & Geller with a nomination, you honor not only their past work together ("The Appalachians"), but also the culmination of every documentary filmmaker from WV and beyond who have tackled the same subject matter, and opened the door for an accomplished work like "Coal County" to become, arguably, the most talked about WV film of the year.
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Phyllis Geller
"Coal Country"
Mari-Lynn Evans & Phyllis Geller should be considered for a joint nomination due to their committed collaboration on the feature documentary "Coal Country," and the impact it has had since its recent premiere. While several anti-MTR films have been made over the years, this one arrived during a year when MTR-mining practices have taken on a more national significance; and their film helped bolster that ongoing conversation by attempting to understand both sides of the conflict. Their contribution to WV film in 2009 actually made a cultural impact thanks to the notoriety of its premiere screening, which is significant, considering how difficult it is to actually break through to more than just our peers. Quite simply, that premiere screening will likely be remembered as one of the touchstone cultural events of our state for 2009, and not just our industry. By honoring Evans & Geller with a nomination, you honor not only their past work together ("The Appalachians"), but also the culmination of every documentary filmmaker from WV and beyond who have tackled the same subject matter, and opened the door for an accomplished work like "Coal County" to become, arguably, the most talked about WV film of the year.
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Russ Barbour
Russ Barbour has directed two masterpieces, Ken Hechler: In the Pursuit of Justice (2008) and Reconstruction Bill: The Story of Governor William C. Marland (2009, in the past two years. Russ has had a long career working hand and hand with other world class WVPBS filmmakers to tell WV’s story through film. Barbour has written, produced and directed many world class documentaries about West Virginia that help preserver what is it means to be a WVian for our generation and for generations to come. There is no better way to recognize his contributions to WV film than recognizing him as Filmmaker of Year 2009.
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Terry Lively
Few people have touched the lives of more WV filmmakers over the last five years than Terry Lively. Along with producing a handful of great films over the years, BRIDGES and her work in support of animals, Terry has helped guide the West Virginia Filmmakers Guild.
Terry spearheaded an effort to make more education available to state filmmakers by connecting with the state film office and Humanities Guild with independent filmmakers. She went far out of her way to unite the original filmmakers of the Guild for its 20th anniversary. She has made strides to organizing a library of state filmmakers' work and continues to support and encourage filmmakers of all kinds. Her efforts have allowed filmmakers the ability to receive grants through the Guild's fiscal sponsorship program. She increased the Guild's membership allowing filmmakers from across the state to network and grow.
She deserves the recognition for doing the dirty work in the trenches that has helped support the growth of film making in West Virginia of the last five years.
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Sun Jae Smith
Cashing Out (2009) Winner: WVIFF Student Competition 2009
Soul Search (2008) Winner: WVIFF Student Competition 2008
ExtrOrdinary, The Flying Man,Wavelengths,Karma in Short
Sun Jae and Mie’s uplifting modern parables exemplify a new generation of WV filmmakers. For the second year in a row the duo’s Lightsmith Productions has produced the winning film at the West Virginia International Festival's student competition.
In their timely and topical feature film "Cashing Out," the filmmakers juxtapose the real challenges of the current financial crisis against the overwhelming triumph of the human spirit. Their focus on moral, ethical, and spiritual issues explores new religious subject matters not usually dealt with in mainstream cinema. Their work with relief organizations such as WAIT, Hope Garden Childrens Ballet Theatre, and Tour de Revs shows a focus on using film to impact lives. Their conscious effort to create culturally diverse casts, crews, and characters highlights the changing face of WV's Eastern Gateway Region. Most importantly, their films are true breakthroughs for WV filmmakers, illustrating a changing philosophy in WV filmmaking. As their website states, "Video and audio media is such a powerful tool to make an influence and change in the world today. We are dedicated to creating positive and uplifting media."
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Mie Smith
Cashing Out (2009) Winner: WVIFF Student Competition 2009
Soul Search (2008) Winner: WVIFF Student Competition 2008
ExtrOrdinary, The Flying Man,Wavelengths,Karma in Short
Sun Jae and Mie’s uplifting modern parables exemplify a new generation of WV filmmakers. For the second year in a row the duo’s Lightsmith Productions has produced the winning film at the West Virginia International Festival's student competition.
In their timely and topical feature film "Cashing Out," the filmmakers juxtapose the real challenges of the current financial crisis against the overwhelming triumph of the human spirit. Their focus on moral, ethical, and spiritual issues explores new religious subject matters not usually dealt with in mainstream cinema. Their work with relief organizations such as WAIT, Hope Garden Childrens Ballet Theatre, and Tour de Revs shows a focus on using film to impact lives. Their conscious effort to create culturally diverse casts, crews, and characters highlights the changing face of WV's Eastern Gateway Region. Most importantly, their films are true breakthroughs for WV filmmakers, illustrating a changing philosophy in WV filmmaking. As their website states, "Video and audio media is such a powerful tool to make an influence and change in the world today. We are dedicated to creating positive and uplifting media."
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All votes must include credentials (ie Filmmakers Guild, WVFF committee, etc) and be emailed to vote@wvfilmmakersfestival.org or sent to WVFF Kevin Carpenter 92 South Stonewall St. Sutton WV 26601 his or her choice of the nominees for filmmaker of the year by September 25, 2009.
Special Note: Duel nominations have been listed separately. The festival recognizes that collaboration is a vital part of filmmaking. However, the Festival recognizes the Filmmaker of the Year.