UFFyc Announces 2019 Awards
From March 27 - 30, the 2019 Underexposed Film Festival yc, presented by Morton & Gettys, welcomed filmmakers and movie lovers to Plowden Auditorium and Dina’s Place on the campus of Winthrop University in Old Town Rock Hill, SC. This year’s festival showcased the best in independent filmmaking from around the world, allowing audiences to take a trip around the world without leaving their seat!
The 2019 UFFyc included films that are eligible to be nominated for Academy Awards in 2019, and films that have been collecting accolades far and wide. Almost Everything won the 2019 Student Academy Awards 2018 (Silver Student Oscar - Narrative - International Film Schools). All These Creatures won the Cannes Film Festival (Palme d'Or – Short Film) in 2018. Thus far, five films that screened at the 2019 UFFyc are Oscar-qualifying films, eligible to be nominated for Academy Awards in 2020: All Inclusive, All These Creatures, Icebergs, Obon, and Souls of Totality.
Thanks to the 2019 jurors for their time and consideration: Rob Adler (iVote, You Too?), Allan Arkush (Rock ‘n Roll High School, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Temptations), Meghann Artes (Sesame Street), Coretta Bedsole, Katherine Dudley (Shorter University, The Perfect Selfie, Scavenger Hunt, The Bet), Laura Rinaldi Dufresne (Winthrop University), Dick Feury (The Family, Satisfaction, Reckless, Ghost Whisperer), John Gallen (Daddy, Maverick, The Crazy Ones), Carol Green [Heathers (TV), American Horror Story, Franklin & Bash, The Tempations], Cashell Horgan (Ancient Lights, The Clockmaker’s Dream, Paddy), Daniella Koffler (Compartments), John LeBlanc [Madonna: Truth or Dare, Cocoon, The Parent Trap (1998), Dog Down!], Michael Rivers, Terry Roueche, Karen Stock (Winthrop University), David White (Single. Parents. Collection.), John T. Williams (Jilava, Black Train is Coming).
Reflecting on the films screened at the 2019 festival, Karen Collins, Festival Director, notes that short film keeps the industry humming. Making short films gives new talent a chance to hone their skills and find their style. Short films also allow for experimentation and new and creative storytelling, which then feeds into mainstream filmmaking. Put bluntly, short film is the foundation of the Hollywood empire.
Ten awards were presented to Official Selections in 2019 - the Grand Jury Prize; the best of each category: animation, documentary, experimental, and narrative; Cinema Carolina - awarded to the best independent film made in North or South Carolina regardless of category, content, or subject; Woman to Watch (best female director); Best Student Film | Collegiate; Best Student Film | High School; and the Terry Roueche Audience Choice Award.
Grand Jury Award
Prizes: $750, Final Draft Software courtesy of Final Draft, and Cinematiq DCP Transfer Software courtesy of Cinematiq
Novela Picaresca
Narrative | 2017 | 24 min. 58 sec.
Official Selection
Suggested Rating | G
Country | Japan
Language | Japanese
Producer | Kenji Qurata, Ikami Hanako
Director | Kenji Qurata
Writer | Kenji Qurata
Sound | Mogi Yusuki
Cast | Hirosawa So, Yuki Takashi
[Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia | Asiana International Short Film Festival]
Yoko wishes to become the “bad kid” but she is trapped in her little book store. One day, she falls in love with a phrase written by a novelist, and starts to plan a very innocent and mindless crime, which becomes an everyday prank towards a joyful life. | more info
Best Animated Film
Prizes: $200 and Toon Boom Animation Software courtesy of Toon Boom
The Call
Animation | 2018 | 10 min.
Official Selection
Suggested Rating | PG
Country | Romania
Language | Romanian, English
Producer | Anca Damian
Director | Anca Damian
Writer | Anca Damian
Cast | Vlad Ivanov, Jean Marc Barr
[Annecy Animation Film Festival | World France | Toronto IFFF | Animator Festival - Second Prize ]
A phone call, a bathroom and a woman are at the intersection of the worlds. | more info
Best Documentary Film
Prizes: $200 and Samsung Gear 360 Camera courtesy of Samsung
All Inclusive
Documentary | 2017 | 10 min.
Official Selection
Suggested Rating | G
Country | Switzerland
Language | Silent
Producer | Stella Händler
Director | Corina Schwingruber Ilić
Writer | Corina Schwingruber Ilić
[Venice Film Festival]
Under the spell of mass entertainment on the high seas. | more info
Best Experimental Film
Prizes: $200 and Samsung Gear 360 Camera courtesy of Samsung
Coastland - Litoral
Experimental | 2018 | 12 min. 14 sec.
Official Selection
Suggested Rating | PG
Country | Netherlands, Romania
Language | Romanian
Producer | Miruna Dunu
Director | Miruna Dunu
Writer | Miruna Dunu
Sound | Miruna Dunu
Cast | Ariana Radu, Silvia Zieger, Thomas Stratmann, Ștefania Stan, Marius Andrieș, Miruna Dunu
[Artififa 2019]
"Coastland" presents a fictional narrative rooted into architectural research. The story of the Western Black Sea coast begins in a distant future and goes back to its roots, only to reveal cyclical destruction and rebirth. The film is created entirely out of the author’s collection of authentic postcards. | more info
Best Narrative Film
Prizes: $200 and Samsung Gear 360 Camera courtesy of Samsung
All These Creatures
Narrative | 2018 | 13 min.
Official Selection
Suggested Rating | PG
Country | Australia
Language | English
Producers | Charles Williams, Elise Trenorden
Director | Charles Williams
Writer | Charles Williams
Cast | Yared Scott, Mandela Mathia, Helen Hailu, Melody Demessie
[Cannes Film Festival (World Palme D'Or)]
An adolescent boy attempts to untangle his memories of a mysterious infestation, the unravelling of his father, and the little creatures inside us all. | more info
Woman to Watch (Best Female Director)
Prizes: $200 and Cinematiq DCP Transfer Software courtesy of Cinematiq
Corina Schwingruber Ilić
Born in Werthenstein (LU/Switzerland) in 1981, Corina Schwingruber Ilić studied at the University of Design & Art in Basel, majoring in Fine Arts/New Media where she also took part in an exchange program with the fine art academy in Belgrade (Serbia). From 2006 - 2009 she completed her studies at the Lucerne University of Art & Design, majoring in Video. She works as a filmmaker in directing, camera, editing, music videos and teaches filmmaking at colleges and universities. Her last short documentary BAGGERN – Tons of Passion was nominated for the national Swiss Movie Award and won several festival awards all around the world. Since 2012 she is a board member of the Association for Films in Central Switzerland and a member of the Swiss Film Academy.
All Inclusive
Documentary | 2017 | 10 min.
Official Selection
Suggested Rating | G
Country | Switzerland
Language | Silent
Producer | Stella Händler
Director | Corina Schwingruber Ilić
Writer | Corina Schwingruber Ilić
[Venice Film Festival]
Under the spell of mass entertainment on the high seas. | more info
Cinema Carolina
Prizes: $200 and Lightworks Pro courtesy of Lightworks
Murder at the Redlight
Experimental | 2018 | 5 min. 2 sec.
Official Selection
Suggested Rating | PG
Country | United States
Language | English
Director | Hamilton Young Ward
Cast | Anon
[FESTIVAL PREMIERE]
A recollection of murder in a small, southern town. | more info
Best Student Film | Collegiate
Prizes: $100 and Cinematiq DCP Transfer Software
Sono Pippa
Narrative | 2017 | 28 min.
Official Selection
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Country | Switzerland
Language | Italian, Swiss German
Producers | Kaspar Winkler, Sabine Girsberger
Director | Yasmin Joerg
Writer | Yasmin Joerg
Sound | Kevin Sinic
Cast | Linda Cerabolini
[SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen | Fünf Seen Filmfestival | Starnberg Seefeld Herrsching | River Film Festival | Leiden International Short Film Experience | International Studentenfilmtage SEHSÜCHTE | Film Festival Bozen Bolzano | Kurzfilmnacht 2018 - Lokalpremiere | Landshuter Kurzfilmfestival | Solothurner Filmtage | International Kurzfilmtage Winterthur - The Short Film Festival of Switzerland]
Former telenovela star Pippa is in her forties and struggling to reestablish herself as an actress. Chasing after her dreams, she hurries from one audition to another, constantly being confronted with the role of the mother. After an unexpected meeting with her estranged daughter Luna, the role Pippa has been denying suddenly becomes her reality. | more info
Best Student Film | High School
Prizes: $100
Rachel’s Pitch
Narrative | 2018 | 12 min. 33 sec.
Official Selection
Suggested Rating | G
Country | United States
Language | English
Executive Producers | Make-A-Wish South Carolina
Producers | Jennifer Fischer, Ramon Hamilton
Director | Julia Fulmer
Writer | Julia Fulmer
Editor | Ramon Hamilton
Cast | Andrew Bowen, Jamie Grace, Nancy Lantis, Adam Simpson, Ramon Hamilton, Ovington Michael Owston
In this satirical portrayal of the entertainment industry, join Rachel Jensen, a quirky but ambitious young filmmaker, as she attempts to pitch her ideas to Mr. McKnight, an intimidating big-time producer. | more info
Terry Roueche Audience Choice Award
Prizes: $100
Uncle Gareth
Narrative | 2018 | 14 min. 50 sec.
Language | English
Director | Chris London
[WORLD PREMIERE]
After his mother's death, Gareth is caught between his fear of being alone and his fear of dealing with the outside world. The natural solution, hanging out with preserved bodies from his family's funeral home, works perfectly--until he suddenly has to take care of his niece while hiding the bodies from a neighborhood watchman. | more info
The Underexposed Film Festival yc is presented by Morton & Gettys, and is made possible by partnerships with Carolina Fresh Farms; Cinematiq; Karen Collins, Dr. Susan Collins; Concerts at the Courtroom; Final Draft; Founders Federal Credit Union; Hilton Garden Inn; Lightworks; Melton Insurance; Old Town Association; Teresa & David Rector; Samsung; Sharp Business Systems; Toon Boom; Winthrop University; Wells Fargo; The White Horse Restaurant; Winthrop University College of Visual and Performing Arts; WRHI AM/FM, Interstate 107, and 104.1 The Bridge.
Support for this project is provided by the SC Arts Commission, Arts Council of York County Small Grants Program, the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC, Rock Hill Accommodations Tax Grant Fund, York County Hospitality & Accommodations Tax & the ACYC Annual Campaign. For visitors information including lodging, contact the York County Visitors Center at 888-702-1320.
The 2019 Underexposed Film Festival yc is a part of the 2019 South Carolina Humanities Festival. Visit York County has partnered with South Carolina Humanities to host the 2019 SC Humanities Festival in York County for the first time.