The film festival gathering drew an eclectic mix of young and veteran filmmakers.
By Kim Devore/Staff Writer
After showcasing dozens of features, shorts and documentaries, the 3rd Annual Malibu Film Festival wrapped up its week-long run with a Greek feast and awards ceremony at Taverna Tony on Thursday night.
The event drew many of the festival’s young filmmakers as well as a handful of celebrities like Martin Landau and Tony Danza who served as the evening’s emcee.
“The King,” “Reversal” and “A Bittersweet Tale of Hollywood Failure” walked away with audience choice awards, while “Empty,” “Squint,” “R.S.V.P” and “The Magic of Frederico Fellini” took the top jury awards.
For honored filmmaker Carmen Puccini, who won the Women in Film Best Documentary Award, receiving the celluloid-shaped trophy was a dream come true.
When she came to Los Angeles from her native Italy eight years ago, Puccini had only a passing interest in the famed Italian director Frederico Fellini. It was only in Hollywood that she began to appreciate the legendary director’s genius and was inspired to make a film about his life. She never imagined that her small production would create such a buzz.
In addition to winning the festival prize, her film has been selected by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences as one of the outstanding documentaries of 2001.
With a budget of less than $500,000, Puccini labored more than two years on the project.
“It’s been a long journey,” she said, “but it’s been worth it.”
As Women in Film’s Hollace Davids sees it, Puccini is an exception. “I’ve been involved with independent film for years so I know how hard it is. There are challenges across the board, especially for women.”
According to Davids, acquiring financing and gaining attention are the biggest hurdles.
“It costs so much money to make a movie today,” she explains. “You really have to have the marketing dollars behind it and the star power to open a picture.”
For blockbusters like “Spiderman,” millions are spent in advance advertising and promotion.
“Independents can’t compete with that,” said Davids. “A small film with a quarter page ad is not going to cut it.”
Still, Davids is encouraged. “It’s so exciting to see women like Carmen going out there and weathering all the obstacles. Just to get into a film festival takes passion and perseverance.”
“Empty,” a short drama about two boys and their perilous journey home in the aftermath of the Second World War, directed by Micah Herman, won Best Cinematography for cinematographer Andrij Parekh’s work.
Director Tony Griffin won the Best Short Film award for his comedy, “Squint,” a tale of a shortsighted, obituary columnist who is pushed around by everyone in the office, and then transforms into his hero, “Dirty Harry” (Clint Eastwood).
The Best of Festival award went to the feature film “R.S.V.P,” directed by Mark Anthony Galluzzo. The film, billed as a dark comedy, follows a group of 20-somethings on their last night of collegiate bliss.
Galluzzo, eating chicken with his brother outdoors, was about to leave the awards dinner when he heard his name called.
“I didn’t think I’d win anything, I’m so surprised,” Galluzzo said, as he received his award.
Bara Byrnes, whose film was showcased in last year’s festival, received an audience choice award for her documentary, “A Bittersweet Tale of Hollywood Failure.” The story features the rapid rise and then downward spiral and subsequent recovery of a Hollywood actress’ career.
“King,” a story about a black boy adopted by an Elvis freak who receives a special calling, won the audience choice for Short Film. Russell B. McKenzie directed the comedy.
The feature “Reversal,” directed by Alan Vint Writer and produced by Jimi Petulla, won an audience choice award for feature film.
The filmmakers describe the story as a “very sad love story between father and son.”
After the awards dinner, a surprise screening took place across the street at the New Malibu Theatre of a trailer from “Project Street,” directed by Cesaro Montano. Montano received $200,000 from Rhino Films to complete his feature about the hip-hop scene in New York and Los Angeles. Montano, who is a freelance photographer, plans to enter the 2003 Malibu Film Festival.
Before the awards were handed out, festival founder David Katz had words of praise for the community and the event sponsors.
For her support, founding sponsor Lilly Lawrence was presented with a plaque, a large bouquet of flowers and a kiss. Amid cheers and applause, the evening ended on a hopeful high note and many of these artists seemed convinced that the best is yet to come.
In the words of short film honoree Russell B. McKenzie: “Thank you Malibu. We’ll be back with the feature. Thanks … till we meet again.”
Reporter Cathy Neiman contributed to this story.