For those of you have been reading the magazine over the past year, you know we’ve critiqued some pretty impressive work. As such, at our anniversary issue, it seemed appropriate that we should list the top films of the year and a little new information, if we could track it down. You will notice a few of the films don’t have additional information, but most do. So with, no further ado, I invite you to read through the top feature films of Year One of Microfilmmaker Magazine.
#1.
9.1 – Livelihood – In addition to playing in a number of comicons,festivals, and being the only film to beshown twice at two different Microfilmmaker Magazine Ultra Indie Film Weekends, Livelihood has recently been accepted to the highly acclaimed Atlanta Horror Festival. Due to the popularity of the film and it’s cult-like following, Visionary Comics is creating a comic book series based on the colorful characters in the film. At the same time, the actors and musicians that made up the Billy Jump Band (one of the main groups of characters in the film) are touring the central eastern seaboard under the official, The Dirty Marmaduke Flute Squad. Additional short films by Livelihood director, Scott Graham, featuring both these musicians and their music, are expected in the near future—possibly as a boxed collection of work.
#2.
9.0 – Limbo – After cutting a final DVD of this great suspense film (which is chock full of professional interviews and behind-the-scenes info), director Thomas Ikimi has signed a sales deal with Amazon.com and a rental deal with NetFlix. This noir classic is a definite inspiration, showcasing how much like film digital can look with a little help in post-production.
#3.
8.9 – Pantomime – In addition to it’s great review here, it won the best comedy feature at The Fairport Film Festival in 2005. Recently, director Graham Ball just completed his dramatic film, East Midlands Babylon.
8.8 – Proper Care & Feeding of an American Messiah – In addition to being accepted to the FAIF International Film Festival in Hollywood later this month, PCFAM just won Best Feature at the South Padre Island Film Festival and Best Mockumentary Feature at the Atlanta Underground Film Festival. Additionally, the film has been accepted to Tennessee’s Secret City Film Festival and Indie Memphis.
8.8 – Under Surveillance – In addition to it’s high score in our magazine and high awards at other festivals, this suspense thriller will be the opening night feature at the first annual Terror Film Festival in Philadelphia on October 17th.
#5.
8.7 – Drop Box – The official release date of this clever comedy about a video store is still to be announced.
#6.
8.6 – Film 101 – Kevin Desmond is currently working on creating a director’s cut of this film and it is slated to show in a future edition of the Ultra-Indie Film Weekend. The exact date on that will be announced here.
8.6 – Purple Pastures – Jacob Waxler, the director of Purple Pastures, has gone on to start IndieFlavor.com, a website aimed at connecting actors, directors, and production people in the low budget filmmaking community, and has just finished the short, Following Abraham (which we critiqued in this issue).
#7.
8.4 – Ascension – Since being critiqued here, Ascension has been playing in a few festivals and has recently been reviewed by Micro Cinema Scene. Meanwhile, the director, Maria Petros, has been directing music videos and is about to start work on a short film that she’s written.
8.4 – Waiting on Alphie – In June, Waiting on Alphie was shown at our June Ultra-Indie Film Weekend. The film is now being distributed on Amazon.com. Meanwhile, director Kevin Hicks is now helming his next film, Among the Shadows.
8.2 – Bleeding Rose – Still officially unreleased, it has had its trailer featured on IFC’s Media Lab and has also received a favorable review from Beyond Hollywood.
8.2 – Suddha – Director Ramchandra PN just received the Best Indian Film Award for this filmat this summer’s Osian Cinefan Festival of Asian film – one of Asia's premier film festivals.
#10.
8.0 – The Coat Room – Jason Gilbert’s quirky comedy about slackers working in the Philadelphia Museum of art has played in festivals across the nation, from 2005’s FAIF International Film Festival in Hollywood to, more recently, winning the Best in Fest Award at the Portland Underground Film Festival. More recently still, it was part of our July Ultra-Indie Film Weekend. Jason is now putting finishing touches on his new film, Identity Burglars.
8.0 – The Haunted Heart – After our review of this suspenseful romantic drama, director Nick Moretti was able to get an improved Director’s Cut of the film put together. Because of the quality of the film, Nick got signed to make a six figure martial arts film.
Honorable Mention 9.0 – Searching for Angela Shelton –
While its budget prevents it from competing in our normal rankings system, Searching for Angela Shelton shows the heart and drive we love to see in ultra-independent filmmaking. This film champions the cause of women hurt by physical and sexual abuse, causing the world to look at this subject with a whole new set of eyes. Since we reviewed it, a special version of this film has gone on to be shown on the Lifetime channel. Meanwhile, director Angela Shelton has gone on to become an author of two books, an international speaker on surviving childhood abuse, and is finishing up touches on a new film script.
Well, that wraps up our recap of the best features of Year One! I look forward to seeing what films end up in next year's recap of Year Two!
God bless!
The
director of two feature length films and half a dozen short films,
Jeremy Hanke
founded Microfilmmaker Magazine to help all no-budget filmmakers make
better films. His first book on low-budget special effects techniques, GreenScreen Made Easy, (which he co-wrote with Michele Yamazaki) was released by MWP to very favorable reviews. He's curently working on the sci-fi film franchise, World of Depleted through Depleted: Day 419 and the feature film, Depleted.
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