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 • Timothy • Director: Marc Martínez Jordán – Spain
2nd Place • Disaffection • Director: 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 Stomachache • Director: Matt Orefice – United States
ANIMATION SHORT FINALISTS
1st Place • What Remains • Director: Liv Scharbatke
2nd Place • Two Ghosts • Director: 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 You • Directors: Kathryn Palmateer & Shawn Whitney • Canada
2nd Place • Father – LikeSon • Director: Mac Alsfeld • United States
The Karaoke Brothers • Director: Joe Richardson • United States
COMEDY SHORT FINALISTS
1st Place • Mousse • Director: John Hellberg • Sweden
2nd Place • Melon Head • Director: 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 Heart • Director: Chris Newberry • United States
2nd Place • Wicker Kittens • Director: 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 Whiskey • Director: Caleb Watson • United States
2nd Place • Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution • Director: 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 Cinnamon • Director: Giovanna Ribes • Spain
2nd Place • Redemption of the Commons • Director: 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 Months • Directors: Valentin Potier & Frédéric Potier • France
2nd Place • Int. Café–Night • Director: 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
Rambler • Director: Patrick Quagliano • United States
Silent Spring • Director: Antoine Nassif • Lebanon
Spirit of Negation • Director: Alexander Kuribayashi • United States
Sweetness • Director: Joseph Lueben • United States
The Bounty Hunter • Director: Gordon S. Williams • United States
The Cage • Director: Natalka Gordiy • Ukraine
War of Conscience • Directors: Daniel Chudy and Melanie Wiegmann •Germany
The Dolphin Skin City • Director: Pierre Gaffie • France
The Last I Look Upon Your Face • Director: Jed Tune and Glen Kirby • United Kingdom
The Last Sight • Director: Douglas Stahl • Germany
The Man Who Walked on the Moon • Director: Jenny Lu • United Kingdom
The Real Evidence: Laptop • Director: Egor Gavrilin • Russian Federation
STUDENT SHORT FINALISTS
1st Place • Gifts • Director: Morgana McKenzie • United States
2nd Place • We’re Okay • Director: Kira Bursky • United States
(finalists in alphabetical order)
Angel for Hire • Director: Katy Hoggard • United Kingdom
Because I Am a Girl • Directors: Students of Christel House India, Bangalore • India
Camping Misadventures • Director: Chris Choyce • United States
Conscription • Director: Nick Ramey • United States
Evolution • Directors: Alexia and Sophia Salingaros • United States
Let’s Try this Again • Director: Doug Keeling • United States
Looking Up: Sami Stoner & Chloe • Director: Brittney Lybarger • United States
Shirzad • Director: Ahmed Negm • Egypt
The Bag II • Directors: Teagan Gosling and Avery Stefanson • Canada
Trust Me • Director: Jenna Menzies • United Kingdom
SEMIFINALISTS
Black Rock Creek • Director: Malone Lumarda • United States
Cave • Director: Abbey Sacks • United States
Chained Colours • Director: Leo Vitasovic and Jozo Jozipovic • Croatia
Ne Kopeyka • Director: Maria Alina • Russian 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 Wong • Canada
Three-O-Seven • Director: Spencer Howson • United States
The Waiting Game • Director: Maria Alvarez • United States
To Kill a Mockingbird Trailer • Director: Annie Nelson • United States
Warm Rush• Director: Kira Bursky • United States
Yashoda• Director: Yuvraj Mahagaonkar • India
Z-Day• Director: Chloe Billadeau • United 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