Arts & Entertainment
'Alleged,' 'Nain Rouge' Win Big at Michigan Film Awards
The third annual ceremony wrapped up the three-day Uptown Film Festival at the Palladium 12.
Alleged and Nain Rouge were the big winners at the third annual on Saturday night, the culminating event of the second annual .
The three-day festival celebrated Michigan-made films at the and . Winners were named in 29 categories for short and feature-length films, as well as in domestic and international categories.
Six films made their premiere at the festival, ranging from world premieres to Detroit premieres. More than 50 films were screened at the festival, including the critically acclaimed Machine Gun Preacher, Brothers on the Line and the bullying documentary Bully.
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In total, the festival received applications from 120 independent films from 12 countries; 60 of those films were produced in Michigan.
"I really think (the Uptown Film Festival) could become the Sundance of the Midwest," said filmmaker Peter Nelson, recipient of the festival's Michigan Filmmaker of the Year award.
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Judging the awards were Charles Cirgenski, an Emmy award-winning producer, director and screenwriter; filmmaker Christopher Nickin; Fox 2 News' Roop Raj; Michigan producer, writer and actor Joel Paul Reisig; Fox 2 News' Lee Thomas; and WDIV's Hank Winchester.
The big winners of the evening were the short film Nain Rouge, written and directed by Jasmine Rivera, and the feature-length film Alleged, directed by Tom Hines and produced by Fred Foote. Nain Rouge took home three awards in the short film category while Alleged won five awards.
At the end of the night, Alleged took home the award for the Best Michigan Feature Film, Brothers on the Line won Best Documentary, Nain Rouge won Best Michigan Short Film and New York Accent won Best Documentary — Short Subject.
In addition, Slow Burn director Michael McCallum won the Michigan Independent Filmmaker of the Year award.
Festival organizers also spotlighted the achievements of two of what festival organizers called the Michigan film industry's biggest advocates, Nelson and state Sen. Randy Richardville (R-Monroe).
Nelson, a filmmaker as well as senior vice president of production for Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Worldwide Acquisitions, was named the 2012 Michigan Filmmaker of the Year for his efforts promoting the film industry in Michigan.
"Peter Nelson's highly acclaimed and most recent film project Sparkle is an example of the creative talent that drives the momentum of Michigan's film industry and creates a compelling case for its continued support," said Jeffrey Spilman, co-executive producer of the Uptown Film Festival.
Richardville, also the Senate Majority Leader, received the first Michigan Film Advocacy Award for his support of the industry and efforts to expand its cultural and economic benefits.
"Working with fellow lawmakers and key stakeholders, Sen. Richardville worked tirelessly to pass a bypartisan plan that keeps Michigan's film incentive competitive and sustainable," Spilman said.
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Michigan Film Award winners
For more information on individual films, check out the Uptown Film Festival website.
Short Films
- Best Michigan Short Film: Nain Rouge
- Best Director: Jasmine Rivera, Nain Rouge
- Best Actor: Rico Bruce Wade, American Terrorist
- Best Actress: Charly Bivona, Down to Sleep
- Best Support Actor: Robert Wisdom, Bright
- Best Supporting Actress: Lauren Mae Shafer, Lifeless
- Best Screenplay: Jasmine Rivera, Nain Rouge
- Best Cinematography: Armando Bellesteros, Bright
- Best Editing Short: Sophie Kruz, Time Dances On
- Best Original Score: Yehuda Yanney, Patient Spider
- Best Student Film: American Terrorist
- Best Documentary: New York Accent
- Best Animated Film: Heart Shaped Man
- Best Experimental Film: Patient Spider
Feature Films
- Best Documentary: Brothers on the Line
- Best Michigan Feature Film: Alleged
- Best Director: Todd Hines, Alleged
- Best Actor: Nathan West, Alleged
- Best Actress: Nia Long, Mooz-lum
- Best Supporting Actor: Roger Guenveur Smith, Mooz-lum
- Best Supporting Actress: Ashley Johnson, Alleged
- Best Screenplay: Qasim Basir, Mooz-lum
- Best Cinematography: Adam Benn, Somewhere West
- Best Editing: Nick Ferguson and Bryan D. Hopkins, Dirty Energy
- Best Original Score: John R. Graham, Alleged
Domestic and International
- Best Experimental: Mirages
- Best Domestic Short: Time Freak
- Best Documentary:On the Bridge
- Best Feature: Blood on Canvas
Correction: Alleged took home five awards at the award show.
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