Highway 61 Film Festival “Best of the Fest” schedule 2018

FRIDAY, APRIL 6 at 6:30 pm

PINE CENTER for the ARTS

Lumber Jill • Director: Tucker Lucas • Comedy Short – 2011 Second Place • Cloquet • 20 min • Jill LeBlah, an urban misfit, decides to finally seek her birth parents. Her journey leads her to Cloquet, an old logging town in northern Minnesota, where she, in the midst of magical lumberjacks and talking taxidermy discovers … a home?

Wallflower • Director: Nils Westergard • Animation Short – 2014 Finalist • Virginia • 4 min • An exploration of nature in an urban environment utilizing over 1,900 hand-cut paper figures, spraypaint and murals.

Dear • Director: Laura Malatos • Student Short – 2016 • Portland • 2 min • During WWII, an evacuee child tries to remain in contact with his mother through their only means of connection: words.

Free Associates  • Director: John Akre • Made in Minnesota – 2016 • 3 min • An animated treatise on the must fundamental of rights, the right freely to associate.

The Wooden House • Director: Hannah Gautrey • Student Short – 2015 Finalist • United Kingdom • 12 min • A short documentary on Wesley West, a sculptor and model maker based in Cambridge, England.

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

Optics for Love • Directors: Martin Blanco, Clayton Stansberry • Made in Minnesota – 2016 First Place • 6 min • An industrial worker in St. Paul, Minnesota seeks purpose while escaping his past.

We All Go the Same • Director: Morgana McKenzie • Student Short – 2015 Finalist • Canada • 4 min • By 15-year-old filmmaker Morgana McKenzie: “In the timeless world of fairy tales, villains and victims are visited by a vengeful fairy who offers to shift the balance of power.”

Wild Bill’s Run • Director: Mike Scholtz • Documentary Feature – 2012 First Place • Willow River • 60 min • Part Arctic adventure and part crime caper, this is the unforgettable story of local legend Wild Bill Cooper.

 

 SATURDAY, APRIL 7 at 6:30 pm

PINE CENTER for the ARTS

Family Friendly – Kid Safe

Percipient • Director: Keith Mullin • Animation – 2016 First Place • Brooklyn Center • 5 min • An artist’s creation comes to life and explores its new surroundings.

The Genesis of the Trike • Director: Andrew Hed • Documentary Short – 2017 • Minnesota • 4 min • Peacock Groove, founded by Erik Noren, is a Minneapolis-based custom bicycle studio. Noren handcrafts one-of-a-kind bicycles that inspire the niche of the custom world. This video captures his unique creation, a fat bike cargo trike that features turn signals, a horn, electric motor and more.

Corky • Director: Ty Primosch  •  Animation – 2017 •  Connecticut  •  6 min • A corkscrew with a screw loose battles a giant glass bottle to uncork seven magical lightning bugs trapped inside.

Playing with Food • Director: Soohyun Kim • Animation Short – 2015 Finalist • Texas • 3 min • A hungry fox prepares a TV dinner, but instead of a delicious, cooked meal he gets a surprise.

The Casebook of Nips & Porkington • Director: Melody Wang • Animation Short – 2015 Second Place • Canada • 3 min • The Casebook of Nips & Porkington is an animated short film about two members of the constabulary and their quest to restore a stolen egg to its distraught parents.

Brotherhood • Director: Christian Washington • Animation – 2016 • Muncie, Indiana • 5 min • Sometimes the people in our lives we find hardest to love end up being the most important people we should cherish.

My Heart • Director: Yaser Talebi • Drama Short – 2014 • Iran • 2 min • Students prepare a gift for their sick teacher.

Pants • Director: The Mutts • Comedy Short – 2012 • 2 min • Nobody loves and appreciates their pants as much as this guy does.

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

Derby Fever • Director: Dell Gross • Documentary Short – 2014 • Pine City • 32 min • Experience the excitement of the Pine County Fair Derby, an event many call the greatest in Minnesota.  Meet the legendary drivers and get a taste of the passion they have for their sport.

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 7 at 8:30 pm

PIZZA PUB, PINE CITY

Call For A Good Time  • Director: Linnea Ritland • Comedy Short – 2016  Semifinalist • Vancouver, British Columbia • 4 min • Either an absurdist, nonsensical comedy piece or a musing on confronting one’s own fears of love and rejection—or both.

Bubble Bath • Director: Kevin Saxby • Comedy Short – 2016 Semifinalist • Canada • 5 min • Jerry’s bath time is interrupted when a mysterious stranger calls his home. It gets worse before it gets wetter.

The Life and Times of Thomas Thumb Jr. • Director: Ryan Fox • Comedy Short – 2015 Finalist • Wisconsin • 15 min • Thomas Thumb Jr. is unlike any other man. He has a giant thumb for a head and he’ll do whatever it takes to achieve the American Dream.

Hada  • Director: Tony Morales • Action/Horror Short – 2016 • Spain • 9 min • Tonight Hada comes to visit Daniel because his last baby tooth has fallen out. What Daniel doesn’t expect is that his worst enemy is the light.

Melon Head • Director: Andy Fortenbacher •  Comedy Short – 2014 Second Place • New York • 14 min • After timid Gordon receives some bad advice( that the only way to excite a woman like Wendy is to get her scared), he comes up with the perfect plan for a date: a late night trip into the woods where cannibalistic creatures known as the Melon Heads are rumored to live.

Timothy • Director: Marc Martínez Jordán • Action/Horror Short – 2014 First Place • Spain • 10 min • Simon has to deal with his nasty babysitter Sonia. But then Simon receives an unexpected visitor, Timothy, the main character of his favorite show. It’s a visit he will never forget.

Portent • Director: Justin Carter • Action/Horror Short – 2016 First Place • United Kingdom • 10 min • A young couple enjoy a romantic camping trip in Devon, but their getaway becomes a nightmare when Ellie starts to experience visions of death.

Serve & Protect • Director: Scott Granville • Comedy Short – 2014 Finalist • New Zealand • 13 min • When suspicious crates are discovered in and around the small town of Caldwell, New Zealand, local police officer Darryl Kitchen must use all of his crime-fighting experience to solve the case.

Princess Beard • Director: Hiroki Ohsawa • Comedy Short – 2017 Second Place • California • 15 min • A princess who has a beard because of a wicked witch’s curse tries to get a true love kiss from a prince in order to break that curse.

Steele Vengeance • Director: Ryan Schaddelee • Action/Comedy – 2012 • 4 min • Rod Steele is a respectable cop – until Timmy, an innocent six-year-old boy, is ruthlessly murdered, and Rod goes on a gin-soaked bender of revenge.

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

Problem Solving the Republic • Director: Elliot Diviney • Comedy Feature – 2013 • 90 min • A superhero known as ‘The Taxpayer’  is kidnapped by an evil organization known as ‘The Alliance.’ Retired superheroes ‘Common Sense’ and ‘Personal Responsibility’ are tasked with saving the day.

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 8 at 6:30 pm

PINE CENTER for the ARTS

Mousse • Director: John Hellberg • Comedy Short – 2014 First Place • Sweden • 40 min • During the year’s biggest horse race event, the betting center Washington’s Tobacco looks like the ultimate hit for some fast cash for Mousse, a man of principles fed up with living as a second-class citizen.

The Bet (Styx) • Director: Mari Cielo Pajares • Action/Horror Short – 2017 First Place •  Spain • 15 min • A man awakes in a different body every day. He will soon find out that there is a reason for him to be “them” on one particular day.

 It Hit Upon the Roof • Director: Teymour Ghaderi • Student Short – 2015 Finalist • Iran • 3 min • A young boy is at home, alone with his sick mother. It is raining outside and the roof of their home is dripping. He is playing with his toys, and also collecting the pouring water but one spot is very challenging where his mother is sleeping. He wants to keep his mother dry and does not want to wake her up.

El Audifono (The Earpiece) • Director: Samuel Quiles Palop •  Comedy Short – 2017 First Place • Spain • 15 min • Fernando and Perfecta are a married couple of 50 years. He is an amateur magician, who is a bit deaf and forgetful. He uses his magic to draw his wife’s attention. However, she only cares about her cats, which disappear in strange circumstances. One day, Perfecta finds out that Fernando is the one who is responsible for the cats’ disappearances and their strange deaths, so she takes revenge in their anniversary dinner.

Fanette • Director: Sebastien Chamaillard • Comedy Short – 2015 Second Place • France • 14 min • Julien, new recruit at the “Skin Center” sofa store, has a disastrous first test day on the job. His boss threatens to fire him if he does not make a sale within the next 24 hours!

L.I.P.S. • Director: Mike Cheslik • Comedy Short – 2016 First Place •  22 min • The League of Interplanetary Process Servers’  finest agent attempts to deliver 30 subpoenas throughout the universe in ten minutes.

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

216 Months • Directors: Valentin Potier & Frédéric Potier • Drama Short – 2014 First Place • France • 25 min • Maureen has found great success as a “ventriloquist singer.” But the entrancing voice that comes out of her huge belly has a name: Charles. He will soon be 18 and has one sole objective in life: to be born.

 

 

Come see the Best of the Fest this April!

The Highway 61 Film Festival is springing into its 8th year with new dates – April 6, 7 and 8 – and tickets at the low, low price of $0.

The 2018 edition of the Pine City film festival will feature “Best of the Fest” films – prize winners and fan favorites from the last seven years of the festival.

Organizers are excited to bring this selection of outstanding local, state, national and international films to audiences in Pine City.

Shows on Friday, April 6, Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8 will start at 6:30 p.m. at Pine Center for the Arts (265 5th Street SE in Pine City, MN).

A great late-night show will be put on across the street at Pizza Pub (500 3rd Ave SE, Pine City, MN) on Saturday, April 7 starting at 9 p.m.

Again, all shows are free, but seating is limited. Look for schedules of films to be posted shortly. And see you at Best of the Fest!

2017 Highway 61 Film Festival schedule • Oct. 5-8

DIFFERENT REALITIES • Thursday, October 5 at 6:30 p.m. • Pine Center for the Arts  (265 5th St. SE, Pine City, MN 55063)

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iRony • Director: Radhey Jegatheva • Animation • Australia • 8 min • A film that explores the relationship between man and technology… told from the perspective of a phone.

Limit

Limit • Director: Javad Daraei • Student Short • Iran • 9 min •  in a quiet area a mentally-challenged man asks for help from the people he sees till someone enters his house, then suddenly…

sonate

Sonate • Director: Rineta Xhema  • Student Short • 3 min • A ballerina dreams of performing, then wakes up to find things are not as they seem.

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Metamorphosis • Director: Lana Bregar • SECOND PLACE- Student Short • Slovenia • 2 min• Gregor Samsa is a traveling salesman, a lone individual, and is actually transforming into a bug.

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The Interview • Director: Marc Gurung • FIRST PLACE-  Drama Short  •  France • 18 min • Christophe passes a job interview in the company where his girlfriend, Emma, works. The couple celebrates, but Christophe asks himself if he received special treatment. The evening has just begun…

Officially Limited explores artists' reimaginings of pop culture

Officially Limited • Director: John Otterbacher • FIRST PLACE- Documentary Short  • Chicago • 37 min • A trip into the booming alternative movie poster world through the lens of a filmmaker, where nerd art is coveted and copyright battles are fought.

Occupants

Occupants• Director: Russell Emanuel • SECOND PLACE- Action/Horror Feature • California • 1 hr 20 min • Annie and Neil set up cameras all over their house for an internet show. But half of their cameras capture a parallel version of themselves – a version that ultimately threatens their very existence.

THE SPACE BETWEEN US • Friday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Pine Technical and Community College  (900 4th St. SE, Pine City, MN 55063)

The astronauts journal

The Astronaut’s Journal • Director: Marina Belikova • Germany • SECOND PLACE-  Animation •  5 min • Man has gone out to explore other worlds and other civilizations without having explored his own labyrinth…

The Bet Styx

The Bet (Styx) • Director: Mari Cielo Pajares • FIRST PLACE-  Action/Horror Short •  Spain • 15 min • A man awakes in a different body every day. He will soon find out that there is a reason for him to be “them” on one particular day.

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Hope Springs Eternal • Director: Rachel Miller • FIRST PLACE- Student Short  •  USA •  5 min • A mother must learn to cope with the hardships of war, her son’s absence, and the reality of her situation.

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El Audifono (The Earpiece) • Director: Samuel Quiles Palop • FIRST PLACE- Comedy Short • Spain • 15 min • One day, Perfecta finds out that Fernando is the one who is responsible for her cats’ disappearances, so she takes revenge in their anniversary dinner.

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Laymun • Director: Catherine Prowse • London • FIRST PLACE- Animation Short • 5 min • The story of a gardener in a Middle Eastern war zone, fighting the destruction around her with life-giving plants.

Zero MM

Zero MM • Director: Semaa Samir • Iraq • Drama Short • 8 min • Homeless children live in a car parking lot and struggle for life.

Jukebox Girl

Jukebox Girl • Director: Alex Richard Thomas •  Georgia • Drama Short • 10 min • Brenda, the mayor’s daughter, is also known by her criminal alias, The Jukebox Girl.

Inhumanwich

Inhumanwich! • Director: David Cornelius • FIRST PLACE- Comedy Feature • Ohio • 1 hr 15 min • When all-American astronaut Joe Neumann mutates into an unstoppable blob of meat, it’s up to a team of devoted scientists and hard-nosed soldiers to save the planet.

BLOODY GOOD FUN • Friday, October 6 at 9 p.m. at Pizza Pub (500 3rd Ave SE, Pine City, MN 55063)

When chickens turn the tables, you have All You Can Eat

All You Can Eat • Directors: Manuel Pérez and Paulina Galindo • Animation • México • 8 min • Tommy is a tiny chick living a normal life until the farmer kills his mother, and he leads a revolution of chickens.

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Princess Beard • Director: Hiroki Ohsawa • Comedy Short- SECOND PLACE • California • 15 min • A princess who has a beard because of a wicked witch’s curse tries to get a true love kiss.

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A Father’s Day • Director: Mat Johns • Action/Horror Short- SECOND PLACE • U.K. • 10 min • Reunited with his daughter amongst the ruins of the world as they knew it, a father is determined to make this day special, even if they are already dead.

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Pet Man • Director: Marzieh Abrarpaydar • Animation • Iran • 4 min • An animal dealer goes asleep in his shop and has a nightmare, finding himself caught in an animal cage.

so what if I

So What If I Couldn’t Take It • Director: Zachary Weinstein • Student Short • New York • 6 min • A high school student directed music video in four different parts.

When your blind date turns out to be a sock pupp

American Sock • Director: Jeffrey Lamont Brown • Comedy Short • Tennessee • 7 min • A girl finds her soul mate on a social media site, but he turns out to be a sock puppet.

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For Luck • Director: TL Westgate • Comedy Short • USA • 7 min • The wrong guy goes into the wrong place at the wrong time. What could possibly go right?

Atlas world

Atlas World • Director: Morgana McKenzie • Student Short • Ontario, Canada • 7 min • A malignant spirit forces a girl into a perilous journey through a watery underworld.

the stillborn

The Stillborn • Director: Forrest DePoy • Action/Horror Short  •  Indiana  •  5 min • Something terrible has happened. One brother has gone missing, and something evil stalks the other.

The Tug

The Tug • Director: Nic Barker • Comedy Short • Australia • 1 min • Matt and Emma are about to take their relationship to the next level.

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Autumn Lovers • Director: Jason K. Allen • Comedy Short • Tennessee • 5 min • Two young lovers go for a walk in the park and are inspired to reveal their true feelings about each other.

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Just Words • Director: Ilia Antonenko • Drama Short  •  Russia • 24 min • A policeman and his happy-go-lucky colleague investigate a routine suicide. The policeman breaks the law and his own moral principles after he hears a familiar voice from a victim’s cellphone.

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Short Distance • Director: Nic Barker • FIRST PLACE- Drama Feature •  Australia • 1 hr • Over the course of a weekend, three couples experience complications of long distance relationships and modern love.

FINDING FAMILY (Family friendly films)  • Saturday, October 7 at 12 p.m. at the North West Company Fur Post (12551 Voyageur Lane, Pine City, MN 55063)

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Corky • Director: Ty Primosch  •  Animation  •  Connecticut •  6 min• A corkscrew with a screw loose battles a giant glass bottle to uncork seven magical lightning bugs trapped inside.

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The Magician • Directosr: Yu Xin, Yao Nan and Zhu Yinyin •  Student Short  •  4 min • A young magician is practicing his magic tricks all alone when a bird arrives across and becomes his only fan.

the snack list

The Snack List Director: Alyce Rogers  •  Student Short •  Florida  •  7 min • Kids who run a snack business at their summer camp have competition, and set out to take their rivals down.

believer

Believer • Director: Joey Gainor • Student Short • USA • 1 min • Skeletons and a tiger engage in a fierce stop-motion battle in a film by this 8-year-old director.

Finding Home • Director: Radheya Jegatheva • Student Short • Australia •  3 min • A lonely piece begins to look for his family and home.

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Tiny Wing • Director: Wei Li • Animation • California • 3 min • Two birds born with wing problems meet each other and figure out a way to make a miracle happen.

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FloreDirector: Jean-Philippe Poisson • Animation • Canada • 1 min • An old adventurer tries to catch a mysterious flower in a desert temple.

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Flipped Out •  Director: Jae Bae • Animation • 6 min • An old flip phone has to come to terms with being replaced by the latest smartphone model.

The true viking

The Story of the True VikingDirector: Alexandra Evseeva • Animation • Russia • 7 min • Danger, blood, powerful enemies, death risk – all of this is not a problem at all…

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The Genesis of the Trike • Director: Andrew Hed • Documentary Short • Minnesota • 4 min • Peacock Groove, founded by Erik Noren, is a Minneapolis-based custom bicycle studio where Noren handcrafts one-of-a-kind bicycles.

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Demolition Dreaming • Director: John Akre • Animation Feature • Minnesota • 53 min • A fantasy of the Minneapolis Gateway District, part of the city destroyed during the days of urban renewal in the 1950’s and early 1960’s

EXPLORING MINNESOTA • Saturday, October 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Pine Technical and Community College (900 4th St. SE, Pine City, MN 55063)

My father

My Father • Director: Joseph Dutra • FIRST PLACE- Made in Minnesota • 6 min • An honest, historical portrait a man’s father, and how memories struggle in his thoughts.

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The Ragman – A Hobo’s Story Untold • Director: Cy Dodson • SECOND PLACE- Made in Minnesota • 15 min • The untold tale of The Ragman – the storyteller, the vagabond, but most importantly the songwriter.

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In the Skip Distance • Director: Emily McNeill • Made in Minnesota • Duluth • 7 min • A young girl alone in the wilderness finds analog technology. An exploration of childhood.

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Nuclear Winter- The Musical! Director: Erin LeMair • Made in Minnesota • Lindstrom • 12 min • A spunky girl, who really likes to break radios, makes music in the aftermath of nuclear war.

What happens when actual aliens move into a small MN town? Illegal Aliens has the answer

Illegal Aliens • Director: Justin and Kristin Schaack • Made in Minnesota • Richfield • 10 min • Due to the arrival of actual undocumented aliens, the city meets to determine if they should ban the newcomers.

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Twin Cities • Director: David Ash • Made in Minnesota • St. Anthony • 1 hr 38 min • Salvaging a marriage takes time and trust, two things that John and Emily no longer have.

BLOOD ON THE TRACKS • Saturday, October 7 at 9 p.m. at Pine City Pizza Pub (500 3rd Ave SE, Pine City, MN 55063)

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Zomburbia • Director: Nathan Wold • Made in Minnesota • 7 min • A zombie movie set inside a 1950s sitcom.

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Conscience • Director: Kirk Eckstine and Joe John • Made in Minnesota • 13 min • Asleep at the wheel, a driver makes a tragic mistake. All choices have consequences. What will his be?

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Inside • Director: Tony Perkins • Made in Minnesota • 13 min • A psychological thriller about a girl wrestling with her past as the lines of reality are blurred.

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Ghost Slapper • Director: David Mair • Made in Minnesota • Vadnais Heights • 7 min • It’s business as usual for ghost exterminator Keith, until he must face the biggest challenge of his life – the ghost of his former partner.

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Actual Cannibal Shia LaBeouf Trailer • Director: Joseph Dutra • Made in Minnesota • Shoreview • 3 min • Based on a myth they heard, teens dare the actor Shia Labeouf to come to their house and kill them. Then bodies start dropping.

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 “Vilsen” /Ave Mater • Director: Rasmus Tirzitis • FIRST PLACE- Action/Horror Feature • Sweden • 1 hr 55 min • Detective Lidman faces his career’s toughest assignment yet – to solve the ritualistic serial killings in Gothenburg.

TELLING STORIES • Sunday, October 8 at 5:30 p.m. at Pine Technical and Community College (900 4th St. SE, Pine City, MN 55063)

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American Storytellers • Director: Emily Tope • Documentary Short • Wisconsin • 11 min • This Decorah-made film explores the history and mission of Free River Press.

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Melding Tiles • Director: Justin Choo • Student Short • Hong Kong • 7 min • The ancient tradition of carving Mahjong tiles is explored.

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Shadow People • Director: Amanda Ramirez • Student Short • Texas • 7 min • Exploring the dark and mysterious world of the paranormal phenomena known as “Shadow People.”

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Stroke • Directors: Jiani Zhao and Emanuele Romano • Animation • U.K. • 5 min An old man recalls his experience. It starts with a strong headache, then symptoms alternate with peculiar visions of the reality around him.

Full Throttle – Without a Care • Director: Daniel Bahr • Animation • 3 min • Every year, 3.3 million people die. Tiny poison bombs in the air penetrate our bodies. Fine dust kills.

Yi

Yi • Director: Jiacheng Xu • SECOND PLACE- Documentary Short • Virginia • 36 min • Yi centers on a Chinese migrant laborer, and explores the intersections of transnational migrancy, cultural identity, and diasporic communities.

Scent of the Stars

Scent of the Stars • Director: Francesco Felli • SECOND PLACE- Drama Short • Italy • 12 min • Nino, out of the madhouse after 30 years, finds himself incapable of living otherwise. Just as Adriano, a hospital doctor, is unable to find the courage to face life. They all will find the meaning of small things again.

Jeffs World

Jeff’s World • Director: Brenda Piekarski • FIRST PLACE- Documentary Feature • Minnesota • 1 hr • A humorous behind-the-scenes look into the world of rock climbing Follow Jeff Engel and his friends as in a wild and remote climbing area ten miles beyond the Minnesota border into Canada.

Congratulations to all the 2017 Award Winners and Semifinalists!

AWARD WINNERS

ACTION/HORROR FEATURE
Vilsen • Director: Rasmus Tirzitis • First Place – Action/Horror Feature • 115 minutes
Occupants • Director: Russ Emanuel • Second Place – Action/Horror Short • 80 minutes

ACTION/HORROR SHORT
The Bet (Styx) • Director: Mari Cielo Pajares • First Place- Action/Horror Short • 15 minutes
A Father’s Day • Director: Mat Johns • Second Place – Action/Horror Short • 10 minutes

ANIMATION
Laymun • Director: Catherine Prowse • First Place – Animation • 5 minutes
The Astronaut’s Journal • Director: Marina Belikova • Second Place – Animation • 5 minutes

COMEDY FEATURE
Inhumanwich! • Director: David Cornelius • First Place – Comedy Feature • 73 minutes
Fairfield Follies • Director: Laura Pepper • Second Place – Comedy Feature • 100 minutes

COMEDY SHORT
El Audifono (The Earpiece) • Director: Samuel Quiles Palop • First Place – Comedy Short • 15 minutes
Princess Beard • Director: Hiroki Ohsawa • Second Place – Comedy Short • 15 minutes

DRAMA FEATURE
Short Distance • Director: Nic Barker • First Place – Drama Feature • 60 minutes
The Family (Dementia) • Director: Giovanna Ribes • Second Place – Drama Feature • 112 minutes

DRAMA SHORT
The Interview • Director: Marc Gurung • First Place – Drama Short • 18 minutes
Scent of the Stars • Director: Francesco Felli • Second Place – Drama Short • 12 minutes

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Jeff’s World • Director: Brenda Piekarski • First Place – Documentary Feature • 60 minutes
Essence of Healing: The Journey of American Indian Nurses • Directors: Loretta Heuer and Candace Muggerud • Second Place – Documentary Feature • 57 minutes

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Officially Limited • Director: John Otterbacher • First Place – Documentary Short • 37 minutes
Yi • Director: Jiacheng Xu • Second Place – Documentary Short • 36 minutes

MADE IN MINNESOTA
My Father • Director: Joseph Dutra • First Place – Made in Minnesota • 6 minutes
The Ragman – A Hobo’s Story Untold • Director: Cy Dodson • Second Place – Made in Minnesota • 15 minutes

STUDENT SHORTS
Hope Springs Eternal • Director: Rachel Miller • First Place – Student Short • 5 minutes
Metamorphosis •  Director: Lana Bregar • Second Place – Student Short • 2 minutes

 A note on Semifinalists: The Highway 61 Film Festival pre-screeners and judges have determined that these films were among the very best in the categories they entered, and deserved recognition as such. Unfortunately, we have a limited amount of screen time to actually show films during the festival, and because of those time constraints we will not be able to show these films in 2017. We truly wish it were otherwise. We hope that the designation as Semifinalist at the Highway 61 Film Festival helps these talented filmmakers find the recognition and success they deserve.

SEMIFINALISTS

ACTION/HORROR SHORT
Bride of Frankie • Director: Devi Snively • Action/Horror Shorts • 19 minutes
Doll • Director: Tony Yang • Student Shorts • 6 minutes
Chateau Sauvignon: Terroir • Director: David Maire • Action/Horror Shorts • 13 minutes
Rotary • Director: Lorenzo P. Adams • Action/Horror Shorts • 11 minutes
The Dark Hunger • Director: Anthony Williams • Action/Horror Shorts • 15 minutes
The Hag: Bloodline • Director: Chris Borgo • Action/Horror Shorts • 35 minutes
The Grove • Director: J. Shreck • Action/Horror Shorts • 18 minutes
The Weed Whacker Massacre • Director: Benjamin R Dover • Action/Horror Shorts • 12 minutes
Under The Apple Tree • Director: Erik van Schaaik • Action/Horror Shorts • 18 minutes

ANIMATION (SHORT OR FEATURE)
Can You Decide • Director: Lu Pulici • Animation • 5 minutes
Glorious Victory • Director: Will Kim • Animation • 2 minutes
Panic Attack! • Director: Eileen O’Meara • Animation • 3 minutes
The Lonely Giant • Director: Alek Raulerson • Animation • 2 minutes
Twice Upon a Time • Director: Vojin Vasovic • Animation • 14 minutes

COMEDY SHORT
Dead Air • Director: Emmet O’Brien • Comedy Short • 12 minutes
Dolce Vendetta • Director: Anthony Riggs • Comedy Short • 10 minutes
Down to the Last • Director: Margaret Broach • Comedy Short • 18 minutes
Holy F__k • Director: Chris Chalklen • Comedy Short • 9 minutes
In a Dream • Director: Edina Kishonthy • Comedy Short • 17 minutes
Mic & Me • Director: Jacob Shao • Comedy Short • 11 minutes
Noisy Library • Director: Rollyn Stafford • Comedy Short • 5 minutes
Stanley • Director: S.G. Warkel • Comedy Short • 9 minutes
Violet and June • Director: Linnea Ritland • Comedy Short • 6 minutes
We Hate Bob • Director: JC Farris • Comedy Short • 7 minutes

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Portrait of Snow • Director: Roy Zheng • Documentary Short • 10 minutes
Searching for Lady Day: A Portrait in Steel • Director: Geoffrey Bates • Documentary Short • 28 minutes
The Fourth Kingdom • Directors: Alex Lora-Cercos and Adan Aliaga • Documentary Short • 14 minutes
The Last Doll Lady • Director: Taryn Hough • Documentary Short • 21 minutes

DRAMA FEATURE
Christopher Darling • Director: Martin Kaszubowski • Drama Feature • 75 minutes
Intersection • Director: Hoyt Richards • Drama Feature • 80 minutes

DRAMA SHORT
Blessing • Director: Rachael Norman • Drama Short • 25 minutes
Hope to Her Register • Director: Alfred Giancarli • Drama Short • 20 minutes
Impervia • Director: Patrick Devaney • Drama Short • 34 minutes
In Search of an Author • Director: Alain Legend Raymond • Drama Short • 14 minutes
Love Robot • Director: Drew V. Marke • Drama Short • 12 minutes
Shades of Scarlet • Director: Wendy Keeling • Drama Short • 14 minutes
Remembrance • Director: Tony Curatolo • Drama Short • 13 minutes
The Real Man • Director: Cathy Reinking • Drama Short • 20 minutes
Until Now • Director: Dana Altman • Drama Short • 8 minutes

MADE IN MINNESOTA
Between the Fire and the Stars • Director: Kyle Ensrude • Made in Minnesota • 16 minutes
Lake Runs Red • Director: Jason Riesgraf • Made in Minnesota • 66 minutes
Tit • Director: Phil Holbrook • Made in Minnesota • 77 minutes
Undo • Director: Keith Hopkins • Made in Minnesota • 10 minutes
When the Fat Girl Gets Skinny • Director: Abby Thompson • Made in Minnesota • 4 minutes
Son of Man • Director: Josh Cisewski • Made in Minnesota • 19 minutes

STUDENT SHORT
Ape • Director: Noah J Dunbar • Student Shorts • 10 minutes
Domestic Violence PSA • Directors: Gillian Copeland and Evie Masters • Student Shorts • 1 minute
I Am the Party (Or How to Be Nihilistic) • Director: Borja Ibrahim • Student Shorts
If I Ask • Director: Alexia Salingaros • Student Shorts • 6 minutes
Phantom Pain • Director: Borja Ibrahim • Student Shorts • 3 minutes
Scarlet’s Vow • Director: Liam Sanderson • Student Shorts • 7 minutes

Highway 61 Film Festival open for submissions

Pine City’s Highway 61 Film Festival is eagerly awaiting submissions from regional filmmakers now through July 1.
As the festival heads into its seventh year, organizers are excited to see what amazing films will come from the imaginations of local, state, national and international filmmakers.
Submissions may include short (less than 40 minutes) and feature films. Categories include: Drama, Comedy, Action/Horror, Documentary, Animation and “Made in Minnesota,” for films actually shot, in whole or part, in this great state. A special spot is reserved for Student Short films made by students age 18 or younger.
Submitted films are reviewed by judges, and cash prizes awarded to the top film in each category: $100 for features, $50 for short films, including a $50 prize for the top Student Short film.
Early submission fees (by June 15) are $5 for short films and $10 per feature film. Late submission fees (by July 1) are $10 for short films and $20 per feature film submission. All  Made in Minnesota films are $1 and Student Short films (age 18 and under) are free to submit.
Last year hundreds of films were submitted to the Highway  61 Film Festival through  FilmFreeway.com (an online independent film festival submission service), and the very best were featured at the October festival.
The festival will be held Oct. 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Pine City, with screenings at Pine Technical & Community College, Pine City’s Pizza Pub, the North West Company Fur Post, and Pine Center for the Arts.
Films can be submitted at filmfreeway.com/festival/Highway61FilmFestival. For more information, visit highway61filmfestival.org, the Highway 61 Film Festival page on Facebook, or follow on Twitter. Questions? Email highway61filmfestival@gmail.com.
The Highway 61 Film Festival is sponsored by the nonprofit Pine Center for the Arts: 320-629-4924.