Congratulations to the award winners of the 2017 Reel Shorts Film Festival! These films were showcased in the Best of the Fest package presented by Big Country and Hansen Ford Lincoln. For a pdf of the 56-page program, click here.
Jury members (left to right) Dylan Pearce from Edmonton, Gordie Haakstad from Edmonton, and Scott Belyea from Vancouver selected the following winners from the 90 films that were eligible for juried awards:
- Best Animated Short – Borrowed Time, a 7-minute film from the United States written and directed by Lou Hamou-Lhadj and Andrew Coats
- Best Documentary Short – 12 Days in Idomeni, a 20-minute film from Germany written and directed by Javier Sobremazas – see photo at right
- Best Live Action Short Under 15 Minutes – Camping with Ada (Campingliv), a 15-minute film from Norway directed by Ina Lerner Grevstad
- Best Live Action Short 15+ Minutes – La Femme et le TGV, a 30-minute film from Switzerland written and directed by Timo von Gunten
Audience votes determined the winners of the following awards:
- Youth Audience Choice Award – Get Up Kinshasa! from France written and directed by Sébastien Maitre – see photo at left
- Audience Choice Award – The Babysitter Murders, a 22-minute film from the United States written and directed by Ryan Spindell
Frantic48 Winners
Frantic48 jury members Mike Bourree (left), Scott Belyea (third from left), and Gordie Haakstad (second from right) selected two juried award winners from 17 eligible films – see top photo
- Frantic48 Best Film – Still Got It by the Hen House team led by Laura Beauchamp (centre) with Patrick O’Connor (second from left) and Richard Podsada (right) – $250 prize
- Frantic48 Audience Choice – Still Got It by the Hen House team led by Laura Beauchamp (centre) with Patrick O’Connor (second from left) and Richard Podsada (right) – $250 prize –
- Frantic48 Best Youth Film – Ravenous Love by the Young Life team led by Dylan Bressey – $250 prize – see photo at right
Our Awards
Grande Prairie sculptor Grant Berg (left) designed the award that winners receive. On the right is Mack McDonald of Decca Industries in Clairmont who turned Grant’s vision into reality. The base was made by D.R. Sales Woodworking in Grande Prairie, so in every respect it’s a creation of the Peace Region like the film festival itself. The design reflects the fact that the festival takes place in Grande Prairie which is known as the Swan City because trumpeter swans return to the city and surrounding area every spring to nest, and its flame shape symbolizes the passion of the people who put on the festival every year and the filmmakers whose work we celebrate.
Thanks!
Thanks to all of the funders and sponsors who made the fest possible, and thanks to everyone who came out and made our 11th festival the best one yet! Chris Beauchamp holds the poster he designed. Thanks to Chris and Laura of Beauchamp Photography for the photos!
