deadCenter Film Festival 2021

deadCenter Film Festival

Award winners for the 21st annual deadCenter Film Festival were announced during a live celebration highlighting 16 categories filtered from the record-breaking slate of 180 films screening from June 10-20.

After this opening weekend with select in-theater and outdoor venues, the duration of the festival will be available online, with passes still available at www.deadcenterfilm.org.

The winners were selected by an independent panel of film industry professionals, including respected directors, writers, producers, and actors from around the country. New this year is an award for Best Indigenous Short Film, sponsored by the Cherokee Nation Film Office with the largest, to-date, cash prize of $1,000.

Winners include filmmakers from around the world and, of course, a highlight of Oklahoma-based writers and directors.

2021 deadCenter Film Festival Award Winners

Best Narrative Feature: Inbetween Girl, Dir. Mei Makino Best Documentary Feature: Holy Frit, Dir. Justin Monroe Best Live Action Short: Play It Safe, Dir. Mitch Kalisa Best Short Documentary: The Box, Dirs. James Burns, Shal Ngo

Inbetween Girl

Holy Frit

Play It Safe Play It Safe

Totsu

Best Animation: The Chimney Swift, Dir. Frédéric Schuld Best Music Video: Ekaterina Yashnikova - Recover, Dir.

Adelina Nigmatova Best Screenplay: Too Many Wades, Written by Stirling J

McLaughlin & Wilder Konschak Best Episodic: Blackwater, Dir. Boise Esquerra Virtual Cinema Visions Award: The Eye Doctor of Death,

Dirs. B Rich, Brian Schrank, Brian Andrews Special Jury Narrative Feature: Moving in 2008, Dir. Calogero

Carucci Special Jury Documentary: Summer of Soul (...Or, When the

Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Special Jury Short: Touch, Dir. Nir Berger Best Okie Short: Totsu (Redbird), Dir. Jeremy Charles Best Okie Feature: Sakthi Vibrations, Dir. Zoe Sherinian Best Oklahoma Screenplay: 4.15.95, Written by Matt Skuta

deadCenter Film Festival is Oklahoma’s largest film festival, recognized as one of the “Top 20 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker magazine. More than 40,000 people attended deadCenter Film Festival virtually in 2020, representing audiences in 42 states and 24 countries.

The 21st annual edition is made possible through presenting sponsors Allied Arts, The Chickasaw Nation, Citizens Bank of Edmond, Kirkpatrick Foundation, and Inasmuch Foundation. n

Moving in 2008

Summer of Soul

The Eye Doctor of Death

Touch