Highway 61 Film Festival schedule 2014

 

More than 600 films from 58 countries were submitted to Pine City’s 2014 Highway 61 Film Festival, and 18 judges from around Minnesota helped pick the winners. Now, come see some of the best independent short and feature films in the world Friday, Oct. 3rd through Sunday, Oct. 5!  Tickets $5 for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. film sessions at Pine Technical & Community College. “All-Access Weekend Pass” $20.  Pizza Pub sessions start 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday – no charge!

To download a PDF of  the full festival program with more film details, click here:  Program Final 1

Want the list of festival competition winners? Click here.

Friday, Oct. 3 • 6 p.m.

Pine Technical & Community College

(MILD LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE)

Mousse

Mousse Comedy Short • 1ST PLACE WINNER! • Sweden • 40 min • During the horse race, a betting center looks like fast cash for Mousse, a man of principles living as a second-class citizen.

Community Acupuncture  Documentary Short • USA • 35 min • A small group of loudmouthed, underemployed activists and a massive group of ordinary people with average incomes revolutionize health care.

Int. Café – Night Drama Short • 2ND PLACE WINNER! • India • 13min • Two stories come together inside a café.

A Brand New You Comedy Feature • 1ST PLACE WINNER! • Canada • 1 hr 23 min • A depressed young widower convinces his landlord and roommate to help him clone his dead wife.

A Brand New You


Friday, Oct. 3 • 10 p.m.

Pizza Pub • Pine City 

(ACTION, HORROR, 18+ COMEDY)

Timothy

Timothy Action/Horror Short – 1ST PLACE WINNER! • Spain • 10 min • Simon has to deal with his nasty babysitter Sonia. But then Simon receives a visitor – the main character of his favorite show.

Heavy Metal Recollections  Animation Short – 2014 Semifinalist • New York • 3 min • Two buddies remember the simpler times.

10K

10K Action/Horror Short  – 2014 Finalist • California •16 min • A couple relocates to a country farmhouse. But a peaceful run on the back roads turns into terror.

Sleeping with the Dead Action/Horror Short – 2014 Finalist • Canada • 20 min • Bumbling ghost-busters sleep overnight in haunted houses for a reality TV show.

Insane Action/Horror Short – 2014 Finalist • Canada • 19 min • A young director in an abandoned psychiatric hospital inadvertently awakens a tormented soul.

The Border  Drama Short – 2014 Finalist • Texas • 27 min • After Miguel learns his daughter needs surgery his only choice is to work in the U.S.A. A smuggler takes him into the perilous Texas wilderness where they come across a grisly car accident … with survivors.

Profile of a Killer Action/Horror Feature • 1ST PLACE WINNER! • Minnesota • 1 hr 58 min  • A retired FBI profiler comes to Minnesota and is kidnapped by the “Highway 61 Killer.” Now he must profile this undetectable serial killer while directly within his psychotic grasp.


Saturday, Oct. 4 • 2 p.m.

Pine Technical & Community College

(DOCUMENTARIES AND DRAMAS)

Organic life

The Organic Life Documentary Feature – 2014 Finalist • California • 60 min • A yearlong chronicle of organic farmer Austin Blair. It’s a story filled with sweat, blisters, sun, and rain as well as a passion for life, food and the earth.

Wallflower Animation Short – 2014 Finalist • Virginia • 4 min • An exploration of nature in the city with over 1,900 hand-cut paper figures, paint and murals.

Screen Shot 2014-09-15 at 8.03.44 AM

Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution Documentary Short – 2ND PLACE WINNER! • Syria • 15 min  • The story of the Syrian revolution as told through the experiences of two young Syrians.

Father Drama Short – 2014 Finalist • Russia • 24 min • An alcoholic father visits his son to borrow money. The son decides to see his father home, but will this trip end in regret?

Wicker Kittens Documentary Feature • 2ND PLACE WINNER! • Wrenshall, MN • 52 min • Every January, the country’s largest jigsaw puzzle contest is held in St. Paul. Choose your favorite team and watch them try to put the pieces back together.


Saturday, Oct. 4 • 6 p.m.

Pine Technical & Community College

(MILD LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE)

“Saturday”  Comedy Short • 2014 Finalist • United Kingdom • 14 min  • A behind-the-scenes look at the creation.

Amulet Dragon

Amulet of the Dragon Action/Horror Short – 2014 Finalist • Brazil • 17 min  • The clash for a stolen amulet reveals a secret guarded for centuries.

Redeploy Drama Short • 2014 Finalist • New York • 15 min • A soldier returns home in search of the peace he lost.

Let’s Try This Again Student Short – 2014 Finalist • Indiana • 16 min  • A short film about dating in a small town and why that isn’t a good idea.

Straight Up: Tennessee Whiskey Documentary Short • 1ST PLACE WINNER! • Nashville, Tennessee • 37 min •Tennessee has a long history of producing some of the world’s finest liquor, and  new distilleries have revived that tradition.

The First Date  Comedy Short • 2014 Finalist • Minnesota • 33 min • Destined to be soul mates, Jack and Rachel must have the worst first date of their lives…over and over again.

Pint  Comedy Short • 2014 Finalist • Australia • 9 min  • A wedding guest goes to work on the open bar.  Then it goes to work on him.

Derby Fever  Director: Dell Gross • Documentary Short • Pine City • 32 min  • Experience the thrills of the Pine County Fair Derby –  the greatest in Minnesota.  Meet the legendary drivers and get a taste of their passion for their sport.


Saturday, Oct. 4 • 10 p.m.

Pizza Pub • Pine City

(ACTION, HORROR, 18+ COMEDY)

Run   Action/Horror Short• 2014 Finalist • Minnesota • 8 min • A woman pieces together her memories and comes to a deadly conclusion.

 

Melon Head  Comedy Short • 2ND PLACE WINNER! • New York • 14 min • Timid Gordon comes up with the perfect plan for a first date: a late night trip into the woods where cannibalistic creatures are rumored to live.

Death Bed  Comedy Short • Minnesota • 10 min • Bob and Linda didn’t have the best marriage but they were about to find out just how bad love stinks.

Serve and Protect  Comedy Short – 2014 Finalist • New Zealand • 13 min • Suspicious crates are discovered in a small town and Darryl Kitchen must solve the case.

Go Home  • Drama Short • Minnesota • 13 min • Annie, 16, finds herself to be a stranger in her own home.

wallpeople1

The Wall People  Action/Horror Feature – 2014 Finalist • St. Paul • 50 min • A man’s son goes missing, and his search for the boy takes him across the solar system – and deep into his own mind.

Two Oranges and a Lemon  Comedy Short – 2014 Semifinalist • California • 2 min  • Two angry women kidnap the wrong guy – or is it the “right guy?”

The Story of M.  Drama Short – 2014 Finalist • Russia • 22 min • A woman’s obsession with a Hollywood icon leads to a crushing confrontation with reality.

Finding Jimmy  Comedy Short  • Minnesota • 40 min • Jimmy’s walk to visit gamer friends takes a wild detour.


FAITH AND FAMILY FRIENDLY!

Sunday, Oct. 5 • 2 p.m.

Pine Technical & Community College

Enlightenment  Animation Short • 2014 Finalist • Russia • 1 min  • The secret of the universe has finally been revealed.

Tiki Hot  Animation Short • 2014 Semifinalist • Ohio • 2 min • A tiki tries to find a way to heat things up.

Screen Shot 2014-09-14 at 11.59.16 PM

Sled  Drama Short • Morocco • 12 min • After the death of their parents, 8-year-old Ismail’s sister insists on him continuing his education. However, he starts to live his life the way he wants to.

The Goat  Comedy Short – 2014 Finalist • United Kingdom • 2 min • Dan’s patience is tested when his housemate brings home a goat. Yes, a goat.

My Heart  Drama Short • Iran • 2 min • Students make a gift for their sick teacher.

Screen Shot 2014-09-15 at 9.12.24 AM

I Need My Monster  Animation Short – 2014 Finalist • Colorado • 12 min • Ethan just can’t get to sleep without the help of his monster. Based on the children’s book by Amanda Noll.

Something Important  Animation Short • 2014 Semifinalist • New York • 10 min • The artist shares his life experiences filtered through time and remembrance.

Screen Shot 2014-09-15 at 12.13.59 AM

Amongst Laughter and Tears  Drama Short • 2014 Finalist • Brazil • 8 min • On a lonely landscape, clowns of all kinds gather in sadness, until a female clown takes them by surprise.

Humanexus  Animation Short – 2014 Finalist • Indiana • 14 min • The human race has long searched for meaningful connections. We must always ask: “Is this what we want? What do we want?”

Redemption of the Commons  Drama Feature • 2ND PLACE WINNER! • South Carolina • 90 min • Victor discovers that he must deal with his volatile past before he can move toward his life’s purpose.

Screen Shot 2014-09-15 at 8.07.40 AM


Sunday, Oct. 5 • 6 p.m.

Pine Technical & Community College

(MILD LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE)

Screen Shot 2014-09-20 at 11.29.34 PM

AL MILGROM PRESENTS!  Rediscovering John Berryman •  Documentary Short • 26 min • Pine City native Al Milgrom presents a preview of his new  film.

87 Topaz  Documentary Short • St. Paul, Minnesota • 8 min  • A late grandfather’s diary ends abruptly, but his memory lives on through an elegy of excerpts, photographs, and musings on cars.

Gifts  Student Short • 1ST PLACE WINNER! • Canada • 10 min • At age six, Jan was miraculously retrieved from a frozen river. Now, after a lifetime of experiencing visions of others’ pain and suffering, the teenager hopes to prevent a murder.

Little Things  Drama Short •  2014 Finalist • United Arab Emirates • 15 min • Sophie realizes that her loving relationship with her husband has turned distant and decides to take action.

Disaffection  Action/Horror Short • 2ND PLACE WINNER! • France • 18 min • In the future, a team of doctors find a patient affected by a feared emotional disease.

to edgar

To Edgar  Animation Short • 2014 Finalist • Poland • 6 min • Edgar Allen Poe struggles with his creative process and his inner demons.

Never Stop Cycling  Animation Short – 2014 Finalist • Canada • 4 min • In order to maintain his routine life, a creature must journey into a strange living world

How to Catch a Bird  Director: Vera van Wolferen • Animation Short – 2014 Finalist • Netherlands • 5 min • A fishing trip leads a young woman into a dreamlike world of beauty and pain.

What Remains  Animation Short • FIRST PLACE WINNER! • Germany • 5 min • A living room in the 1940s, abandoned. What is left are photographs on the wall, memories that come to life and tell the tragic story of a love which must not be.

Screen Shot 2014-09-15 at 12.24.01 AM

Two Ghosts  Animation Short • 2ND PLACE WINNER! • California • 10 min • A haunting, wordless journey through love, loneliness, and ultimately acceptance of the universe.

The Late Bird  Comedy Short • 2014 Finalist • Germany • 20 min • A crashed astronaut opens to 71-year-old Thea the possibility to  exchange her little village with the endless wideness of space.

216 Months  Drama Short • FIRST PLACE WINNER! • France • 25 min • Maureen has found great success as a “ventriloquist singer.” But the voice from her huge belly has a name: Charles. He will soon be 18 and has one sole goal in life: to be born.

Here are your winners! 2014 Highway 61 Film Festival competition results

Wow! It‘s been a long and remarkable journey to get here. We received more than 600 submissions from 57 countries, and we’re grateful to each and every filmmaker who sent in their work for our 2014 competition. It was thrilling to receive such a number and variety of films by so many talented directors. It made judging very tough, and we’d like to thank our festival prescreeners and the 18 judges who carefully and thoughtfully went through this remarkable group of short and feature films to pick the very best.

Here are the semifinalists, finalists and winners of the 2014 Highway 61 Film Festival competition.

 

ACTION HORROR FEATURE FINALISTS

1st Place • Profile of a Killer • Director: Caspian Tredwell-Owen – United States

2nd Place They Came from the Ether • Director: James Pronath – United States

Late Night Double-Feature • Director: Christopher Mimh – United States

SEMIFINALISTS

Let’s Play Ghost • Director: Damien Dematra – Indonesia

TORN: a SHOCK YOUmentary • Director: Justin Carter – United Kingdom

 

ACTION HORROR SHORT FINALISTS

1st Place TimothyDirector: Marc Martínez Jordán – Spain

2nd Place DisaffectionDirector: Charles Thomas – France

(finalists in alphabetical order)

10K • Director: Hendrix Caudill – United States

B.A.M.Director: Andrew Dymond – United Kingdom

He’s Not Looking So Great • Director: Gregory G. Kurczynski – United States

Insane • Director: Adam O’Brien – United States

Necrotic • Director: Ross Williams – United States

Pixel Theory: Pandora’s Box • Director: Daniel Hernández Torrado – Spain

Run • Director: Josh Mruz – United States

Second Wind • Director: Sergey Tsyss – Russian Federation

Sleeping with the Dead • Director: Allison Beda – United States

The Amulet of the Dragon • Director: João Paulo Andrade – Brazil

SEMIFINALISTS

Days End • Director: Thomas C. Gaunt – United States

Decon • Director: Luke Snailham – United States

Freedom Deal: The Story of Lucky • Director: J “Jack RO” Rosette – Cambodia

Home Sweet Home • Director: Carlos Carpallo – Spain

Let God Sort Them Out • Director: Cédric Le Men – France

Medicine Men • Director: Freddy Lond – Belgium

Spectral Transmission • Director: Bryan Liberty & Bryan Kastelan – United States

The Chosen • Director: Guillermo Ruotolo – Germany

The First Step • Directors: Kate McMeans & Daniel Brown – United States

The Visitor • Director: Matt James – United Kingdom

 

ANIMATION FEATURE

1st Place Bubble Bubble Meows and the Meteor StomachacheDirector: Matt Orefice – United States

 

ANIMATION SHORT FINALISTS

1st Place • What RemainsDirector: Liv Scharbatke

2nd Place Two GhostsDirector: Amy Lee Ketchum

(finalists in alphabetical order)

Enlightenment • Director: Marat Narimanov • Russian Federation

How to Catch a Bird • Director: Vera van Wolferen • Netherlands

Humanexus • Director: Ying-Fang Shen • United States

I Need My Monster •  Director: Stephen Baker • United States

Keli • Director: Ranjitha Rajeevan • India

Never Stop Cycling • Director: Colin Lepper • Canada

The Little Girl • Director: Hakan Berber • Turkey

The Pride of Strathmoor • Director: Einar Baldvin • United States

To Edgar • Director: Ewa Łuczków • Poland

Wallflower • Director: Nils Westergard • United States

SEMIFINALISTS

A Bottle of Lives • Director: Ching Yu Yang • Taiwan

Heavy Metal Recollections • Director: Shawn Wickens • United States

Mean Teddies • Director: Tyler Novo • Canada

Mirage • Director: Yaya Xu • United States

Something Important • Director: NaiWei Liu • United States Jarann Pan

Tiki Hot • Director: Jarann Pan • United States

Tick and Cow • Director: Mehr Chatterjee • United States

 

COMEDY FEATURE FINALISTS

1st Place • A Brand New YouDirectors: Kathryn Palmateer & Shawn Whitney • Canada

2nd Place FatherLikeSonDirector: Mac Alsfeld • United States

The Karaoke Brothers • Director: Joe Richardson • United States

 

COMEDY SHORT FINALISTS

1st Place MousseDirector: John Hellberg • Sweden

2nd Place Melon HeadDirector: Andy Fortenbacher • United States

(finalists in alphabetical order)

A Frenchman In Barrow • Director: Paul Peterson • United States

Kosher • Director: Alexanderson Bolaño • Mexico

Pint • Director: Nic Barker • Australia

Saturday • Director: Keif Gwinn • United Kingdom

Serve and Protect • Director: Scott Granville • New Zealand

Sophie’s Fortune • Director: Phil Meachem • United Kingdom

The Goat • Director: James Button • United Kingdom

The First Date • Director: Mason Makram • United States

The Late Bird • Director: Sascha Vredenburg Germany

Tough Case • Director: Stefan Perez United States

SEMIFINALISTS

A Noble Quest • Director: John Gigrich • United States

Bathroom Scribes • Director: Cassandra V.H. Petersen • United States

Blue Division • Director: Sergi Marti • Spain

Cyberlife 2030 • Director: Rudy Carpio • Norway

Did You Like the Movie? • Director: Adrià Guxens • United States

Hollywood, Extra! • Director: Ryan Gilmer • United States

G-T • Director: Mark Krol • Russian Federation

Internal Revelation • Director: Eden Hadad • Israel

Love in the Kitchen • Director: Teresa Hayer Germany

Love Unmasked • Director: Cole Meyer • United States

Margie: A Retirement Tale • Director: Charlie Sporns • United States

Michel • Director: Romain Richard France

Out of a Limb • Director: Patrick Loy • United States

Shotgun • Director: Maverick Moore • United States

Strong Coffee with Vodka • Director: Vladimir Scheiermann • Germany

That Bitch Becky • Director: Rebecca Rochon • Canada

The Kid Who Made the Face • Director: Michael Gingras • Canada

Zugzwang • Director: Yolanda Centeno • Brazil

 

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FINALISTS

1st Place American HeartDirector: Chris Newberry • United States

2nd Place Wicker KittensDirector: Amy C. Elliott • United States

(finalists in alphabetical order)

Existentia • Director: Matt Utecht United States

Teddy – A Tour of the Guide • Director: Justin Steigely • United States

The Organic Life Director: Casey Beck • United States

Thicker Than Water • Director: Bradley Rappa • United States

SEMIFINALISTS

Adelante • Director: Noam Osband • United States

Rewilding America: Lessons Learned from the Cape Cod Bear • Director: Maryanne Galvin • United States

 

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FINALISTS

1st Place Straight Up: Tennessee WhiskeyDirector: Caleb Watson • United States

2nd Place Not Anymore: A Story of RevolutionDirector: Matthew VanDyke • Syria

(finalists in alphabetical order)

87 Topaz • Director: Bill Kersey • United States

Art of Motion • Director: Rhodri Williams • United Kingdom

Breaking the Cycle • Director: Philip Coleman • United Kingdom

CottonDreams • Director: Sandeep Balhara • Poland

Hotel Bellvue • Director: Claire Walka • Germany

Michael S.Recollected • Director: Steven Swirko • Austria

Puppet Man • Director: Yang Wu • United States

Sayachapis • Director: Marie Soleil Henri Foisy • Canada

The Characteristics of C-Minor • Directors: J.Ollie Lucks and Max Bellamy • New Zealand

The Real Story: Media Coverage of Disability Issues in Minnesota Directors: Tim Benjamin and Jerry Smith • United States

SEMIFINALISTS

Atletico Clube Serido • Director: Fritz Delangelo • Brazil

City Hearts • Director: Yang Wu • United States

Community Acupuncture • Director: Brian Lindstrom • United States

Going Country • Director: Barry Leigh-Delaney • United Kingdom

I, Artist • Director: Yang Wu • United States

My Uncle Bob • Director: David Jensen • United States

Once Upon Another Time • Alexandre Baevi • Georgia

The Man in the Booth • Director: Justin Ayd • United States

Zio Ninnucio • Director: Noriko Sugiura • Italy

 

DRAMA FEATURE 

1st Place • A Soft Scent of CinnamonDirector: Giovanna Ribes • Spain

2nd Place Redemption of the CommonsDirector: KT Terry • United States

Bittersweet Monday • Director: Jaime Lee • United States

SEMIFINALISTS

(in alphabetical order)

Agnus Dei • Director: Agim Sopi • Kosovo

Amberpark: The Beginning • Directors: Lance Meaux and Terri L. Bea • United States

Coin Toss • Director: Satya Kharkar • United States

 

DRAMA SHORT FINALISTS

1st Place • 216 MonthsDirectors: Valentin Potier & Frédéric Potier • France

2nd Place Int. Café–NightDirector: Adriraj Bose – India

(finalists in alphabetical order)

Amongst Laughs and Tears • Director: Rubens Marinelli Neto • Brazil

Erase Una Vez • Director: Alexanderson Bolaño • Mexico

Father • Aleksandr Razbash • Russian Federation

Jung-Mi • Director: Juhyoung Ra • United States

Lea • Director: Dario Gorini • Italy

Little Things • Director: Rati Tsiteladze • United Arab Emirates

Redeploy • Director: Nuria Dixon • United States

The Border • Director: Rene Rhi • United States

The Story of M. • Director: Anna Arlanova • Russian Federation

SEMIFINALISTS

Aemorrage • Director: • Patrick Devaney • United States

Being James • Haolu Wang • United Kingdom

Citizen • Director: Dale Driver • United Kingdom

Damage • Director: Maya Meiri • Israel

Diminished • Director: Konstantina Palli • Greece

Diving In • Director: Simon Intihar • Slovenia

Eternal Vendetta • Director: Oscar Rodriguez Gorriz • Mexico

Four Leaf Clover • Director: Hakan Berber • Turkey

Last Ditch • Director: Mahi Bena • France

Last of You • Director: Dan Sachar • Israel

Moths • Director: Andy Fortenbacher • United States

RamblerDirector: Patrick QuaglianoUnited States

Silent SpringDirector: Antoine Nassif Lebanon

Spirit of NegationDirector: Alexander KuribayashiUnited States

SweetnessDirector: Joseph LuebenUnited States

The Bounty HunterDirector: Gordon S. WilliamsUnited States

The CageDirector: Natalka Gordiy • Ukraine

War of ConscienceDirectors: Daniel Chudy and Melanie WiegmannGermany

The Dolphin Skin City • Director: Pierre Gaffie • France

The Last I Look Upon Your FaceDirector: Jed Tune and Glen Kirby United Kingdom

The Last SightDirector: Douglas StahlGermany

The Man Who Walked on the MoonDirector: Jenny LuUnited Kingdom

The Real Evidence: Laptop • Director: Egor Gavrilin • Russian Federation

 

STUDENT SHORT FINALISTS

1st Place GiftsDirector: Morgana McKenzie • United States

2nd Place We’re Okay • Director: Kira Bursky • United States

(finalists in alphabetical order)

Angel for HireDirector: Katy HoggardUnited Kingdom

Because I Am a GirlDirectors: Students of Christel House India, Bangalore India

Camping MisadventuresDirector: Chris Choyce United States

ConscriptionDirector: Nick Ramey United States

EvolutionDirectors: Alexia and Sophia Salingaros United States

Let’s Try this AgainDirector: Doug KeelingUnited States

Looking Up: Sami Stoner & ChloeDirector: Brittney LybargerUnited States

ShirzadDirector: Ahmed NegmEgypt

The Bag IIDirectors: Teagan Gosling and Avery Stefanson Canada

Trust MeDirector: Jenna MenziesUnited Kingdom

SEMIFINALISTS

Black Rock Creek Director: Malone LumardaUnited States

Cave Director: Abbey SacksUnited States

Chained Colours Director: Leo Vitasovic and Jozo JozipovicCroatia

Ne Kopeyka Director: Maria AlinaRussian Federation

Shards Director: Charisma Dozier United States

Sink or Swim Directors: Max Wilson, Fiaona Macintosh, Kai Dougan

Speed Bumps Director: Abbey Sacks United States

Take a Nap Director: Anton WongCanada

Three-O-Seven Director: Spencer Howson United States

The Waiting Game Director: Maria AlvarezUnited States

To Kill a Mockingbird Trailer Director: Annie NelsonUnited States

Warm RushDirector: Kira BurskyUnited States

YashodaDirector: Yuvraj Mahagaonkar India

Z-DayDirector: Chloe BilladeauUnited States

 

A special recognition to our fellow local filmmakers who submitted this year:

Alone with his Thoughts • Director: A.L. Terry • Rock Creek, MN

Burning Memories • Director: Pete Garsow • Cloquet, MN

Do It! • Director: Payton Koehler • Stewartville, MN

SnowBound | Lightning Strikes Twice • Director: Doug Phillips • Rice Lake, WI

Waiting to Scream • Director: Nate Johnson • Kettle River, MN