As the definition of an independent film has shifted with the ever-expanding budget divide in American filmmaking — particularly Hollywood cutting back on its mid-range projects — when it comes time for awards season, it’s often only the highest profile of “indie films” that get recognized. While we do our best to recognize the films that often get unfortunately, a new awards has launched that honors the best of truly independent American cinema, featuring films all under a $1 million budget.
Aptly titled the American Independent Film Awards (aka AIFAs), they were voted on by international film festival programmers, U.S. based film festival programmers, and North American film critics (including yours truly.) “First and foremost, we would like to thank all film producers and distribution companies who helped us identify qualifying films and outline the categories. We’d also like to thank the international and American based film festival programmers, and...
Aptly titled the American Independent Film Awards (aka AIFAs), they were voted on by international film festival programmers, U.S. based film festival programmers, and North American film critics (including yours truly.) “First and foremost, we would like to thank all film producers and distribution companies who helped us identify qualifying films and outline the categories. We’d also like to thank the international and American based film festival programmers, and...
- 2/20/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Chicago – On Tuesday, December 6th, the Midwest Independent Film Festival will award their 2016 “Best of the Midwest” honors with a ceremony at Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard, in Chicago. The evening will be hosted by Festival Director Mike McNamara, and nominees include the short film “Lady of the House” (directed by Brad Bischoff), plus feature films “Mad” (directed by Robert Putka), and “My Friend’s Rubber Ducky” (directed by Josh Hyde).
Presented by the Midwest Independent Film Festival
Photo credit: MidwestFilm.com
The Midwest Independent Film Festival is a year-round movie event in Chicago that takes place the first Tuesday of every month, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema. The festival has been recognized by Chicago Magazine in their “Best of Chicago” issue, and has become one of the top places for local filmmakers, producers and actors to network in the city. The “Best of the Midwest” Awards has a...
Presented by the Midwest Independent Film Festival
Photo credit: MidwestFilm.com
The Midwest Independent Film Festival is a year-round movie event in Chicago that takes place the first Tuesday of every month, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema. The festival has been recognized by Chicago Magazine in their “Best of Chicago” issue, and has become one of the top places for local filmmakers, producers and actors to network in the city. The “Best of the Midwest” Awards has a...
- 12/5/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The Mammoth Lakes Film festival concluded on Sunday, May 29th with the award-winning documentary Sonita, followed by a lively, music and fun-filled awards presentation at Sierra Events Center. Over 50 films were screened over the five day fest, including premieres, presentation of the first ever Sierra Spirit Award to legendary director Joe Dante, filmmaker bonding at screenings and events, including a film fest hosted trip to Bodie ghost town. Awards, detailed below, included the presentation of the physical Orson trophy, each one with its own personality, and all created by local artist Josh Slater.
Jury Award for Feature Narrative – Bodkin Ras, a first time feature by director Kaweh Modiri. This Dutch film, shot in the remote town of Forres Scotland, caught the Jury by surprise with its intriguing blend of documentary and fiction. Its lyrical images, Poetic construction and poignant performances have indelible haunting effects that stay with the viewer. Awards:...
Jury Award for Feature Narrative – Bodkin Ras, a first time feature by director Kaweh Modiri. This Dutch film, shot in the remote town of Forres Scotland, caught the Jury by surprise with its intriguing blend of documentary and fiction. Its lyrical images, Poetic construction and poignant performances have indelible haunting effects that stay with the viewer. Awards:...
- 6/3/2016
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The 2nd Annual Mammoth Lakes Film Festival is happening right now in beautiful Mammoth Lakes California, and their programming, yet again, is nothing short of spectacular (thanks to Festival Director Shira Dubrovner and Director of Programming Paul Sbrizzi).
One of the more powerful films that I have seen thus far is the feature film by director/writer Robert G. Putka, Mad. In this tragicomedy, daughters Connie (Jennifer Lafleur) and Casey (Eilis Cahill) are trying to navigate their own lives and relationships while also dealing with their mother, Mel’s (Maryann Plunkett) nervous breakdown after her recent divorce, on top of her bi-polar disorder. Mel finds herself abandoned in a psych ward after her daughters decide they would rather not deal with her, and is now faced with navigating through her mental health. Meanwhile, perfect daughter Connie and ‘fuck up’ Casey can’t seem to find a common thread other than...
One of the more powerful films that I have seen thus far is the feature film by director/writer Robert G. Putka, Mad. In this tragicomedy, daughters Connie (Jennifer Lafleur) and Casey (Eilis Cahill) are trying to navigate their own lives and relationships while also dealing with their mother, Mel’s (Maryann Plunkett) nervous breakdown after her recent divorce, on top of her bi-polar disorder. Mel finds herself abandoned in a psych ward after her daughters decide they would rather not deal with her, and is now faced with navigating through her mental health. Meanwhile, perfect daughter Connie and ‘fuck up’ Casey can’t seem to find a common thread other than...
- 5/29/2016
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
We as a culture have only recently started a collective conversation about the realities of mental illness and the ways they effect us. Premiering at Slamdance, Mad is a character piece with an uncommonly perceptive view towards the way mental illness can cause collateral damage. But that’s not to say that it handles things gingerly or with gentle political correctness. Within the opening minutes, it’s clear that these characters don’t fit into our newfound progressive sensitivity toward the subject. Mad is a slow motion car wreck, exploding the effects of the illness across a mother and her two dysfunctional children.
The narrative isn’t involved, but it’s essential to the understanding of the characters. The story begins when Connie (Jennifer Lafleur), a married working professional receives a call from the hospital about her bipolar, newly divorced mother, Mel (Maryann Plunkett), who had a nervous breakdown. Connie...
The narrative isn’t involved, but it’s essential to the understanding of the characters. The story begins when Connie (Jennifer Lafleur), a married working professional receives a call from the hospital about her bipolar, newly divorced mother, Mel (Maryann Plunkett), who had a nervous breakdown. Connie...
- 1/22/2016
- by Michael Snydel
- The Film Stage
Robert G. Putka has built up a smart and sharp filmography of shorts over the last half decade, emphasizing rich, rude and raw performances, deriving his drama and comedy with character first. Mad, his feature debut, is as charming as it is abrasive, somber as it is hostile.Maryann Plunkett plays Mel, a mother of two grown-up daughters, and a woman who has endured a long and drawn out divorce. Who is she now? A woman entering her twilight years? Is that all... Is this it? Leaving her daughters hysterical messages about thoughts of suicide, Mel ends up at the hospital, crying uncontrollably, leaving the doctors in a daze. Connie (Jennifer Lafleur), her eldest, and the responsible one, sits in her car, distraught, struggling to find...
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- 1/22/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Read More: Best Films and Performances from Tiff 2015 Ballots Among the films selected to play in the Narrative Feature program at this year's Slamdance Film Festival is "Mad," filmmaker Robert G. Putka's story of a matriarch pushed past the edge of a nervous breakdown. The drama stars Jennifer Lafleur, Maryann Plunkett and Eilis Cahill and will be making its world premiere at Slamdance this month. More than just another nervous breakdown film, "Mad" also involves the matriarch's two daughters, who refuse to give a damn about her condition. They're resentment towards their mother eventually hits a breaking point as the three must confront one another if everyone wants to make it out with a piece of their sanity left in tact. The 2016 Slamdance Film Festival takes place January 22-28 in Park City, Utah. Check out the exclusive trailer above, as well as the debut official poster below. Read More:...
- 1/14/2016
- by Jake Spencer
- Indiewire
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