AFF2012: Competition Films & Scripts Awards

'Sparrows Dance'

Just announced: Sparrows Dance and Informant take top competition prizes at Austin Film Festival.  

Narrative film Sparrows Dance charts the unlikely romance between an agoraphobic actress and her musician-plumber. Documentary Informant (reviewed here) continues the investigation into the odd story of revolutionary turned FBI informant Brandon Darby.

The complete Film Competition award winners include:

Narrative Feature:
Sparrows Dance, writer/director Noah Buschel

Documentary Feature:
Informant, director Jamie Meltzer

Narrative Short:
"Asad," writer/director Bryan Buckley

Narrative Student Short:
"Hatch," writer/director Christoph Kuschnig, writer Karl Goldblat

Animated Short:
"Head Over Heels," writer/director Timothy Reckart

Documentary Short:
"See The Dirt," directors Chelsea Hernandez and Erik Mauck

Young Filmmakers Competition:
"Crumbs," director Nicco Vasquez, writer Keith Limon

Earlier today, winners of the annual screenplay and teleplay competition were announced. The jury members included Larry Doyle (screenwriter, Duplex, I Love Your Beth Cooper), Christopher Kyle (screenwriter, Serena, Alexander), Craig Mazin (screenwriter, The Hangover II), John J. McLaughlin (screenwriter, Hitchcock, Black Swan), Stephen Schiff (Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, True Crime), Herschel Weingrod (producer, Falling Down and screenwriter, Trading Places, Twins, and Kindergarten Cop), Noah Hawley (showrunner, My Generation), Kyle Killen (showrunner, Awake), and Nancy Pimental (Executive Producer, Shameless).

Drama Screenplay Award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East:
Jack Davidson,­ "Clouds of Sorrow"

Comedy Screenplay Award:
Dan Shea, "The P.A.N.D.A. War"

Enderby Entertainment Award:
Adeline Colangelo,­ "The Break-Up Nurse"

Dark Hero Studios Sci-Fi Award:
"The Domain" by Michael Raymond (This award is sponsored by Dark Hero Studios, a new production company co-founded by company President David Hayter)

One-Hour Teleplay Pilot:
"Horizon" by B.D. Flory

Sitcom Teleplay Pilot:
"Katie and Becca Grow-Up" by Leila Cohan-Miccio

One-Hour Teleplay Spec:
Dexter, "The Second Coming" by David Radcliff

Sitcom Teleplay Spec:
Modern Family,­ "Earthquake Party" by Abi Wurdeman & Phil Wurdeman