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Great Wonders Productions was excited to be able to present our inaugural Uplift Film Festival on January 11-13 at the Webb City Route 66 Theater. On Saturday night, we held our awards program at Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex in Joplin where we were thrilled to present the following awards:
The award for Most Inspirational Short went to the documentary or narrative short film judged to be of excellent quality and selected as the most uplifting by the jury.
Nominees in alphabetical order were Blue Skies Over Donetsk, I Broke Out of Prison, and The Lesson.
The award for Best Mini-Film went to the documentary or narrative short film running under two minutes, judged to be of the highest overall quality by the jury. This year’s submissions included ads, animations, experimental films, idle screens, and narrative shorts.
Nominees in alphabetical order were Bunny, Checked Bags, and Hello.
The award for Best Documentary Short went to the documentary short film of the highest overall quality as selected by the jury.
Nominees in alphabetical order were In the Mourning, Raising Spirits | The Big Muddy Dance Company, and Top Hand.
The award for Best College Production went to the short film of the highest overall quality produced by college students as selected by the jury.
Nominees in alphabetical order were The Ballad of Rich and Champ, CUBICLE, and Old Times Not Forgotten.
The award for Best Narrative Short went to the narrative short film of the highest overall quality as selected by the jury.
Nominees in alphabetical order were The Copy Box, Paradiso, and Where the River Divides.
The GWP Board of Directors also wanted to give an Award of Distinction to one filmmaker from each of the Four States represented in our Festival this year.
For a moving memorial of great meaning to the city of Joplin, the Great Wonders Uplift Film Festival gives an Award of Distinction to In the Mourning - directed and written by Sam Reed, brother of fallen police officer Jake Reed.
For artful and creative storytelling that crafts a distinct mood through moving images without the use of dialogue, the Great Wonders Uplift Film Festival gives an Award of Distinction to The Illumination Game - directed by Devin Frederking, and produced by Gustaf Applequist.
For a story recognizing value in the inner artist and the soul’s search for significance, an Award of Distinction is given to a film closely exemplifying the heart of the Great Wonders Uplift Film Festival: Birdie - directed by Shana Gagnon; produced by Michelle Cox, Thomas Cox, Aerial Robinson, and Sabrina West; written by Shana Gagnon and Aerial Robinson.
For a film of unique vision portraying culture, perspective, and emotion through the arts of cinematography, performance, and dance, the Great Wonders Uplift Film Festival gives an Award of Distinction to Assaman - directed by Katrina Brook Flores; produced by Mamadou Lamine "Tukkiman" Diao, Katrina Brook Flores, Macca Malik, and Michael P. Manuel; written by Mamadou Lamine "Tukkiman" Diao and Katrina Brook Flores.
The People’s Choice Award is given to the short film having the highest average rating from audience members in attendance of the Great Wonders Uplift Film Festival.
Runner-ups included Blue Skies Over Donetsk at #3 and On Angels’ Wings at #2.
The award for Best Documentary Feature went to the documentary feature film of the highest overall quality as selected by the jury.
Nominees in alphabetical order were Digging In, Kenny’s Journal -- A Wartime Log, and Revenge of the Drive-in Movie Theater.
The award for Best Feature Film went to the narrative feature film of the highest overall quality as selected by the jury.
Nominees in alphabetical order were The Center, State of Grace, and Wisher Maddox.
The award for Most Inspirational Feature went to the documentary or narrative feature film judged to be of excellent quality and selected as the most uplifting by the jury.
Nominees in alphabetical order were The Center, State of Grace, and Wisher Maddox.
