Film News: Midwest Indie Fest to Honor 2013 Films at ‘Best of the Midwest’

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CHICAGO – On Tuesday, December 3rd, the Midwest Independent Film Festival will award their “Best of the Midwest” honors with a ceremony at The Underground Nightclub in Chicago. The evening will be hosted by Festival Director Mike McNamara, and nominees include “The Kings of Summer,” directed by Justin Vogt-Roberts, “Sole Survivor,” directed by Ky Dickens and “Be Good,” directed by Todd Looby.

The ‘Best of the Midwest’ Awards Are Tuesday, December 3rd 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 named 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 nominees for the “Best of the Midwest” Awards are as follows….

Best Music Video
“Rouse Yourself” Directed by Billy Bungeroth

”I.L.O.U.” Directed by Michael Starcevich
“Float Away” Directed by Thom Glunt
‘Blood Is Blood” Directed by Frank Donnangelo
“Waiting for Godot” Directed by Caitlin Pashalek
Dream Bigger Dreams, directed by Sandro

Best Short Film
“Best If Used By” Directed by Aemilia Scott
“Paraiso” Directed by Nadav Kurtz
“Eugene” Directed by Jason Stanfield and Jordan Olshansky
“’92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card” Directed by Todd Sklar
“The Queen of My Dreams” Directed by Fawzia Mirza and Ryan Logan
“Sparkle” Directed by Julia Reichert and Stephen Bognar
“The Ghosts” Directed by Eddie O’Keefe

Best Editing
Spencer Sachs and Jordan Olshansky, “Eugene”
Nadav Kurtz and Anthony Gannon, “Paraiso”
Anna Patel, “Sole Survivor”
Jan Maitland, “Dream Bigger Dreams”
Bill Sebastian and Clinton Noel Williams, “QWERTY”

Best Cinematography
Mike Gibisser, “Be Good”
Ross Riege, “The Kings of Summer”
Delaney Teichler, “The Ghosts”
Ryan Samul, “She Loves Me Not”
Christopher Barrett, “Best If Used By”

Best Screenplay
Maria Finitzo, “Life Lessons”
Juliet McDaniel, “QWERTY”
Aemilia Scott, “Best If Used By”
Brian Jun, “She Loves Me Not”
Todd Looby, “Be Good”

Best Female Actor
Aemilia Scott, “Best If Used By”
Megan Mullaly, “The Kings of Summer”
Amy Siemetz, “Be Good”
Dana Pupkin, “QWERTY”
Amy Speckien, “Kat and Willy”
Kate Cobb, “The Ghosts”

Best Male Actor
Thomas J. Madden, “Be Good”
Nick Offerman, “The Kings of Summer”
Christian Stolte, “Graveyard”
Alex Beh, “Coffees”
Eric Hailey, “QWERTY”
David Pasquesi, “Graveyard”

Best Director
John Anderson, “Born In Chicago”
Ky Dickens, “Sole Survivor”
Aemilia Scott, “Best If Used By”
Jordan Vogt-Roberts, “The Kings of Summer”
Todd Looby, “Be Good”
Todd Sklar, “’92 Skybox Alonzo Mourning Rookie Card”

Best Feature
“The Kings of Summer” Directed by Jordan Vogt Roberts
“Sole Survivor” Directed by Ky Dickens
“Born In Chicago” Directed by John Anderson
“QWERTY” Directed by Bill Sebastian
“Be Good” Directed by Todd Looby
“She Loves Me Not” Directed by Brian Jun

By PATRICK McDONALD Senior Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com