A total of seventeen awards were handed out at this year’s American Film Festival’s U.S. in Progress industry showcase, an event focused on connecting American independent film projects with Polish post-production resources. The two standout winners were first-time feature filmmakers Miles Levin and Katarina Zhu. Their debut films, Under the Lights and Bunnylovr, respectively, took home the top honors – Levin’s tale about a late teen with epilepsy wanting to hit the prom despite the likelihood of having a seizure stars Pearce Joza, Tanzyn Crawford, Lake Bell, Randall Park and Nick Offerman is produced by Vanishing Angle’s Natalie Metzger. Bunnylovr – a NYC set drama about online personas, strained relationships dealing with both isolation and connection stars Zhu in the lead with an ensemble that includes Austin Amelio, Perry Yung, Jack Kilmer, Clara Wong and Rachel Sennott (who also produces). We were part of the networking event the day and will publish some exclusive interviews with the selected project folks shortly. Here are all of yesterday’s winners:
Under the Lights – Miles Levin
Produced by Natalie Metzger
$50,000 cash prize for post-production in Poland, awarded by the director of the Polish Film Institute
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Di Factory
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Fixafilm
DCF – Lower Silesia Film Centre award, location scouting tour in Lower Silesia for the next project for the producer
Bunnylovr – Katarina Zhu
Produced by Tristan Scott-Behrends, Rhianon Jones, Roger Mancusi, Ani Schroeder and Rachel Sennott
$10,000 for sound design from EarWorks
$10,000 Post-Production Award from XANF
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Fixafilm
Travel grant to Poland from New Europe Film Sales
Erupcja – Pete Ohs
Produced by Luke Arreguin, Josh Godfrey, Jeremy O. Harris, Pete Ohs, Charli XCX
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Platige Image
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Black Photon
By Design – Amanda Kramer,
Produced by Miranda Bailey, Sarah Winshall, Jacob Agger and Natalie Whalen
$10,000 Post-Production Award from ORKA
$10,000 Sound Post-Production Award from Soundflower
Figments of Freedom – Mark Webber
Produced by Mark Webber, Sia Furler and Dustin Hughes
ATM Virtual Award for next feature film valued at $25,000
Lockjaw – Sabrina Greco,
Produced by Abbie Jones, Josh Jason and Molly Gilula
$10,000 Post-Production Award from Wrocław Feature Film Studio
The Scout – Paula González-Nasser
Produced by Ryan Martin Brown, Matthew Romanski, Paula González-Nasser
Sales consultation from New Europe Film Sales, and script consultation on next project
$5,000 Special Mention Award from Di Factory
Baby Love – Joseph Marconi
Produced by Lysette Urus, Maury Sterling
$5,000 Special Mention Award from Di Factory
Lucas and Iris – Keith Miller
Produced by Matt Grady, Keith Miller, Joyce Mishaan
Travel grant to Poland from the New Horizons Association
