PHOENIX, March 29, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Breaking last years attendance record, movie enthusiasts have been flocking to the week long Phoenix Film Festival presented by the Sundance Channel and Cox Communications March 23rd -- 30th, culminating with the presentation of the coveted Copper Wing Awards, honoring the finest films and performances.
This was the sixth year for the Phoenix Film Festival and the Copper Wing Awards. More than 150 films from around the globe were screened along with seminars, celebrity interviews, tributes and parties.
The 2006 Copper Wing Awards were presented in the Arizona Republic Festival pavilion at the Harkins Scottsdale 101. Winners were:
COPPER WING TRIBUTE AWARDS Actors Laurence Fishburne and Robert Wagner were honored for their achievements in television and film as well as their substantial impact on the growth of independent film. FEATURE LENGTH FILM COPPER WING WINNERS Picture: Andrew Jenks, Room 335, Directed by Andrew Jenks. Sundance Channel Audience Award: Self Medicated, Directed by Monty Lapica. Director: Gil Cates Jr. and Julie Stevens for Life After Tomorrow. Screenplay: Ten 'til Noon, Screenplay by Paul Osborne. Ensemble Acting: The cast of Self Medicated. SPECIAL JURY PRIZE COPPER WING WINNERS Acting Achievement: Christian Kane in Her Minor Thing. Breakthrough performance: Greg Joelson in Dark Heart. WORLD CINEMA COPPER WING WINNERS Picture: On the Other Side (Al otro lado) (Mexico), directed by Gustavo Loza. Director: Ricardo Mendez Matta and Poli Marichal for Thieves and Liars. Audience Award: Gaz Bar Blues (Canada), directed by Louis Belanger. World Cinema short: God Sleeps in Rwanda (Rwanda/USA), directed by Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman. DOCUMENTARY COPPER WING WINNER Documentary: Life After Tomorrow, directed by Gil Cates Jr. and Julie Stevens. SHORT FILM COMPETITION COPPER WING WINNERS Live Action: The One O'clock, directed by Kelsey Kleiman. Animated: Noggin, directed by R. Brent Adams. Art Institute short: "Quack Quack," directed by Victoria Brooks, Rachel Lindley and Nathan Drake. Arizona short: Little Victim, directed by Dean Ronalds. College short: Wentworth, directed by Steve Suettinger. Grade School/High School short: Porcelain, directed by David Libertella. PHOENIX FILM FOUNDATION AWARDS Arizona Screenplay: Randal Kobler for Gabriel's Horn. Outside Arizona Screenplay: Amy Taylor for The Surrogate. Arizona Filmmaker of the Year: Bruce Dellis. Volunteer of the Year: Dana Lane.
Press materials available at www.phoenixfilmfestival.com