Watch Year 13:

Congratulations to all of the winners of 72 Film Fest Year 13!

It was a great year of movies and we want to thank every team and audience member that came out to support local film in Frederick!  Here are the award winners and nominations for 2018:

Acting
Winner: Star Wipe Films
Nominations: Nuclear Films, Star Wipe Films, Comatoast, First Grade, Crowded Elevator

Sound
Winner: Crowded Elevator
Nominations: Comatoast, Stepdad, Crowded Elevator, Shrug

Editing
Winner: Comatoast
Nominations: Shrug, Star Wipe, Raven Lost, Comatoast, Crowded Elevator

Writing
Winner: Comatoast
Nominations: Stepdad, Comatoast, Shrug, Carpet Wall, Crowded Elevator

Lighting
Winner: Stepdad Productions
Nominations:  Stellar Door, Skybox, Hidden Elite, Stepdad

Cinematography
Winner: Stepdad Productions
Nominations: Raven Lost, Stepdad, Stellar Door, Skybox, Star Wipe

Student
Winner:  Carpet Wall
Nominations: Nuclear Films

Amateur
Winner: Stellar Door Studios
Nominations: Screenburn, Hidden Elite, First Grade, Stellar Door

Pro
Winner: Comatoast
Nominations: Crowded Elevator, Shrug, Star Wipe, Comatoast, Stepdad

Best Horror Film
Winner: Raven Lost Productions

Best of the Fest
Winner: Shrug Productions
Nominations: Star Wipe, Stellar Door, Shrug, Carpet Wall, Comatoast

Audience Choice
Winner: Comatoast

Congratulations to all of the filmmakers and teams of screen artists that completed a film for 72 Film Fest 2018!

Here are all of the finalists for Year 13!

In addition to the teams below, the audience chose to move on:

Audience Choice Block One: Parallax Films
Audience Choice Block Two: Noticeable Grain.

Year 13 Theme:
Fears and Superstitions

WHAT IS THIS THING?

72 Film Fest is a 72 Hour film competition where teams have 72 hours to make a film based around criteria specific to the team. For Year 13 – the criteria will be based around the theme FEARS and SUPERSTITIONS.

Teams will receive their criteria at the LAUNCH PARTY on Thursday Oct 4th at CAFE 611 in Frederick MD, or ONLINE here shortly thereafter. Teams will then have 72 hours to write, direct, edit and turn in the film by Sunday Night Oct 7th.
All creative elements must take place in those 72 hours.

All entries will screen the following FRIDAY NIGHT at WEINBERG CENTER.
Finalists will move on to SATURDAY NIGHT and screen a second time followed by award ceremony, then all invited to AFTER PARTY at NIDO’s.
Tickets $13 One Day. $17 Both.  Available at Weinberg Center Box Office. Purchase in person to save on online fees, but get there early.

For other information read the Frequently Asked Questions below:

2018 CRITERIA:
Each team is given a Fear or Superstition.  They were to make the Fear or Superstition the MAIN CONFLICT or INCITING INCIDENT for your film.

CHALLENGE: HORROR FILM This year we will be giving out a prize/award for BEST HORROR FILM, judged by Eduardo Sanchez.

Schedule:

Friday Night Premieres
6:30pm Students/Amateur Block
8:30pm Amateur/Pro Block
Finalists announced at the end of each block.

Saturday Night Main Event
7pm Finalists and Surprises
9:30pm Awards
10pm After Party at Nido’s

Tickets $13 One Night. $17 Both.
Available at the Weinberg Center Box Office.

FRIDAY NIGHT BLOCK ONE

(alphabetical, not screening order)

Team Name	Level	Criteria	Rating
A & G Productions	Student	Fear of Birds	PG-13
Black Cat Productions	Amateur	Fear of Open Spaces	PG-13
Brown Boujee	Amateur	The Number 13	PG
Carpet Wall	Student	Fear of Satan	PG-13
Eight Leg Studio	Student	Fear of Body Odor	PG-13
First Grade Studios	Amateur	Fear of Clowns	PG-13
Hidden Elite Productions	Amateur	Black Cats	PG-13
Montressor Media	Amateur	Fear of Commitment	PG-13
Nuclear Films	Student	Fear of Public Speaking	PG
Parallax Pictures	Amateur	Wishbone	PG-13
Roaring River Productions	Amateur	Breaking A Mirror	PG-13
Screenburn Productions	Amateur	Fear of Time	PG
STRANDEAD	Amateur	Spilling Salt	PG
The Collective	Student	Fear of God	PG-13
The Soccer Moms	Student	Fear of Light	PG-13
Too Many Cooks	Student	Itchy Palms	R

FRIDAY NIGHT BLOCK TWO

(alphabetical, not screening order)

Team Name	Level	Criteria	Rating
Ah Muh Face!	Amateur	Fear of Ghosts
Bright Boy Alert	Amateur	Fear of Responsibility	PG-13
CCAC	Amateur	Fear of Poison	PG-13
Comatoast	Pro	Fear of Eyes	PG
Creamed Productions	Amateur	Fear of Sleep	PG-13
Crowded Elevator	Pro	Fear of Snakes	PG-13
Dishwasher Safe	Pro	Wrong Side of the Bed	PG-13
Dunce Cap Academy	Amateur	Lucky Penny	R
EEG Productions	Amateur	Fear of Parasites	R
Film.Lovables	Pro	Fear of Technology	PG-13
Flotilla Films	Amateur	Fear of Corpses	PG-13
Frederick Book Arts Center	Pro	Fear of Men	PG
Noticeable Grain	Pro	Fear of Death	R
Nugget Productions	Pro	Fear of Sin	PG-13
One Way Productions	Amateur	What you do on New Years day is what you do all year	PG-13
Raven Lost Pictures	Pro	Cross Your Fingers	PG-13
SHRUG Productions	Pro	Rabbit's Foot	R
Skybox Media	Pro	Fear of Germs	PG-13
SRK Video	Amateur	Birds in the House	PG-13
Star Wipe Films	Pro	Fear of High Places	PG
Stellar Door Studios	Amateur	Fear of Spiders	PG
Stepdad Productions	Pro	Fear of Imperfection	PG
Team Unimental	Pro	666	PG-13
Weapons Grade Geranium	Amateur	Fear of Strangers	PG-13

2018 Jury

Guest Judge for “Best Horror Film”

Eduardo Sanchez was born in Cuba in 1968.  He studied Television Production at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD and received his BA in Motion Picture Production from the University of Central Florida in 1994.

It was at UCF where Eduardo met his future Haxan Films partners and in 1998 he co-wrote, co-edited and co-directed THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT.  He also designed and built the original BLAIRWITCH.COM website and co-directed the TV special CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH for the Sci-FI Channel.

Eduardo directed the alien-abduction feature film ALTERED in 2005 and the China-ghost film SEVENTH MOON in 2009, starring Amy Smart.  He then wrote, directed and edited the psychological horror film LOVELY MOLLY in 2012 and co-directed the zombie short film A RIDE IN THE PARK that was part of the anthology film V/H/S/2 released in 2013.  His latest film, the Bigfoot found footage film EXISTS, premiered at SXSW 2014, winning the audience award in the Midnighters section.

In television, Eduardo just directed his second episode of LUCIFER for FOX and his fourth episode of the USA series QUEEN OF THE SOUTH. He was one of the lead writers on the 2014 ABC series THE QUEST and directed the first four episodes of the Glen Morgan (THE X-FILES) BBC America series, INTRUDERS, which premiered in 2014. He returns to direct his fourth episode of SUPERNATURAL for CW later this year.

He lives with his wife, Stefanie, their three children, Bianca, Lucas and Lennon, and a ridiculous Star Wars collection in Urbana, Maryland.

Skizz Cyzyk is a filmmaker, writer, musician, artist, and film festival careerist. He has held positions at MicroCineFest, Maryland Film Festival, Slamdance, and Atlanta Film Festival, as well as serving on juries and advisory boards at many other festivals. His films include Hit & Stay, Freaks In Love, Alfred Jarry & ‘Pataphysics, Little Castles, Managers Corner, multiple music videos (Beach House, Young Fresh Fellows), and the recently completed documentary feature, Icepick To The Moon. He writes for music and film magazines, is on the Board of Directors for Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and performs music with The Stents, Go Pills, The Jennifers, Garage Sale, Half Japanese and Mink Stole & Her Wonderful Band.

Dina Fiasconaro is a Baltimore screenwriter and film director. Her feature documentary, Moms and Meds: Navigating Pregnancy and Psychiatric Medication, is available on Amazon, and her short film, Commercial for the Queen of Meatloaf, was funded by the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund in Film and Media at Johns Hopkins University and has screened at more than 15 festivals. She has also participated in Stowe Story Labs and a residency at Dorland Mountain Arts Colony for her feature screenplays. Dina has an MFA in film directing from Columbia University, and is an Associate Professor of Film and Moving Image at Stevenson University. She co-founded the Baltimore Chapter of Film Fatales, a national organization working towards gender parity in the film industry.

Jeffery Keilholtz is Artistic Director & CEO of Phenomenology, Inc., an innovative production model in Frederick, Maryland, with a mission to create opportunities that enhance the public exposure of local professional artists and technicians by producing compelling performing arts projects to showcase their gifts.  Acting resume includes: OFF-BROADWAY: Nightswimming, Balm in Gilead; Beirut Rocks; REGIONAL: Stupid F*cking Bird, American Buffalo; TELEVISION: The Sopranos; TRAINING: Lily Lodge (Actors’ Conservatory); Sergey Dreiden (Moscow Art Theatre); Andy Goldsworthy (apprentice, White Walls); PUBLICATION: Living Off-Stage: A Technique In Continuity, published in Stanislavski Studies, a peer-reviewed journal; FEATURED SPEAKER: on acting technique at 2014 International Academic Forum (Europe, USA).  www.phenoart.org

Grey Adkins is originally from western Maryland, and after 4 years on the USS Ponce (LPD-15) he left the military to pursue a degree in English at Towson University.  Using skills from the Navy and firefighting, he found a better fit for himself in Towson’s film program which tapped both his creativity and physicality.  After graduating TU he pursued a career in film in the lighting and grip department.  He’s had the opportunity and pleasure to work on many large productions in the area such as House of Cards, Wonder Woman: 1984, VEEP, RBG, and just finished his first feature film as a gaffer: LEDA.  He can summon squirrels in DC, tell you more than you’d ever want to know about Ken Kesey, and make a pretty decent omelet.  His favorite color is not gray.

Mark Burrier is a Frederick, Maryland-based designer and illustrator. As Director of Creative & Strategy for Enforme Interactive, he leads a design team with a knowledge of brand-building and user experience design. His diverse portfolio of work includes innovative websites and Internet applications, skateboard graphics and apparel, editorial and advertising illustrations, and comic books. Mark’s design and illustration work has received awards from Communication Arts, Print, HOW Magazine, STEP Inside Design, Graphic Design:usa, American Corporate Identity, Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, and the American Advertising Federation. His work is part of the Library of Congress archive and has been included in international traveling exhibitions.

Caoimhe (Key-va) Carty  is an Oakland-based Video Editor from Ireland, which explains the confusing name. She has worked on a wide range of projects, including Green Day’s feature film Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk, broadcast shows for Animal Planet and Science Channel, TV commercials, Short Docs, and more. When not working she enjoys sketching, boxing, and writing the plot outline for her detective show which she hopes to some day pass off to someone else who can actually write.

John Grove began his freelance career as a Cinematographer in Los Angeles following his graduation from Columbia College of Hollywood where he received a bachelors degree in Cinematography. Primarily a narrative Cinematographer, John Grove has been at the helm of features as well as music videos, TV shows, documentaries and commercials. His work is defined by his composition, use of color, camera movement and versatility to light and shoot all genres of projects. John decided to move back to the East Coast to pursue his dreams in his hometown near Baltimore, Maryland. Since John has been back home he has been a cinematographer on several local/national commercials, numerous corporate videos, music videos, documentaries, short films and two feature films.  John has worked with directors and producers on productions in Baltimore/ Washington DC metro area and on locations across the United States transforming director’s scripts, treatments or concepts into visual expression. He has over ten years of experience creating fabulous film & digital cinema productions.

Rona Mensah is an active Board and Company Member at Maryland Ensemble Theatre for over 20 years. Her work with MET has not only been on stage but behind the scenes as well. She is also a radio personality on 97.5 WKMZ, in Martinsburg, WV. Catch her mornings from 5am-10am as part of The Marco Nation Morning Show.  She loves being involved in the 72 Film Fest and always looks forward to the immense talents of the festival participants and creators.

Matt Davies is a Supervising Sound Editor and the lead Foley Artist at Studio Unknown, a post production sound company in Baltimore, MD, Burbank and Hollywood.

Matt’s work can be heard on Netflix originals, Golden Reel Nominated documentaries and numerous indie horrors. Some of his most recent Foley and Creature Design work can be heard in the 2018 TIFF premiere hit film, The Wind. 

You can check out some of his Foley hijinks on Instagram – studio.unknown

Matt Edens: In more than two decades writing for television, Matt has scripted everything from Saturday morning cartoons to true crime documentary series such as A&E’s City Confidential, Snapped on Oxygen and Murder Comes to Town for Investigation Discovery. Currently, he is the head writer for Fatal Attraction on TV One.

PRODUCER’S NOTES:

Year 13 being related to Horror in some way was baked in years ago.  And it was decided early on to not do clues at all for Year 13 and just announce the theme outright.  Nickolas Jackson (THE BLACK HILLS NIGHT HIKE) met with Clark during the previous year and said “I assume you are doing horror for Year 13…”  That pretty much sealed the deal on it being too easy to guess. In lieu of video clues, Shae Yamrus once again did some postal letters to the teams, each letter representing a different FEAR or SUPERSTITION.  Shae also designed the poster around one of the Alfred Hitchcock Psycho posters, a hint at what was to come from Mikael/Doug in “The Thirteen”.

Horror, while a favorite genre for some of the producers isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, so we wanted to make sure all teams knew they didn’t have to produce a horror film.  We felt that participation may be down if it was restricted to just horror films, plus 40-50 horror films in one night may be a difficult thing to sit through for non-horror fans. The number of teams definitely shrank a little from the previous record breaking Year 12.  It was assumed early on that if Horror was NOT a requirement, then a lot of teams would forego the Horror element and do Comedy as a way of counter programming to try to stand out.  We felt most people would try to be different, and thus we’d probably have more comedies than ever.  Clark/Doug/Mikael felt comedic breaks probably wouldn’t be as needed this year, so we wrote a one location drama/thriller centered around therapy/performance anxiety with many hints and references to Alfred Hitchcock’s films. Sometimes we can read your minds… as with 40 films turned in, only a few horror films were made.

The judging was close this year, dare we say the closest it’s ever been…Yes we dare.  And as such the various awards were spread out amongst many different films.  Also, to further tweak you amazingly talented teams- multiple people in the Friday Night audience remarked that this year’s slate of entries had been their overall favorite in many years of attending, with the Student block in particular being one of the strongest first blocks ever.

Last Year’s- Year 12 – Mikael/Doug stuff was abandoned the day of the Fest, because it relied heavily on a stage performance that tied into the videos throughout the night.  When Doug hurt his leg the day of the Fest, Clark yanked out the entire storyline from Saturday Night’s programming as it wouldn’t have made much sense without the stage performance. The clue for Year 13’s FEARS had been planted within those videos, with Doug having a fear of what today’s woke audience may do to him while he was on stage. It would have climaxed on stage with something…controversial…probably tame by 2012 audiences, but 2017 audiences would have been so pissed, yo.  But alas, that never came to be, so some of this storyline was repurposed into Teasers for Year 13.

This year’s MIKAEL/DOUG started as a straight drama/thriller. Mikael, Doug and even Clark were to lay bare some relatable performance/artist fears in a real-ish therapy session with Nadia Helena. After editing half of it, Clark felt it was too claustrophobic, and wanted it to open up, and after a few rounds of brainstorming, half of the therapy session was cut, and Sam/Clark decided to insert Mikael and Doug into various Hitchcock films using combination of green screen and clever compositing … why not throw out the obtuse references and go right for the parody fair use.  Samuel Tressler IV, needing a break from LEDA post production, took the reins on compositing the various scenes. In it, Mikael and Doug (and even the Fest itself) is revealed to all be in Clark’s mind, and during therapy, Clark has been urged to “delete” Doug and Mikael and by extension the Fest. The storyline ends on a cliffhanger and will be continued during Year 14’s teasers and main content.

For some reason, Year 13 felt like an anniversary to us.  From early on, even more so than Year 10, nostalgia had set in.  This anniversary feel will most likely continue through Year 14 into the actual anniversary year of 15, as we will most likely be breaking 500 films being made for the Fest in Year 14, and have something fun and completely new planned for that occasion.