Three productions have won Grand Prix awards in the 2018 U.S. International Film & Video Festival. A fourth production received the One World Award. Winners are from Russia, Hong Kong, Canada and Switzerland.
Best of Festival-Corporate went to "Destination Tobolsk" from LBL Production (FreeMotion Group), Moscow. The film was done for Sibur. ZapSibNeftehim, Tobolsk, Russia, a gas processing and petrochemical company. The film portrays Sibur’s problem-solving abilities during the construction of a plastics manufacturing plant in Siberia. This included vast difficulties in transporting very large pieces of equipment across the frozen wastes. Completion of the project meant Russia could independently produce enough plastics to serve the whole country. Producer was Sergey Murashkin; Directors were Pavel Menyailo and Petr Pchelnikov. Cinematography was by Artem Orlov and Aleksandr Savchenko. Pavel Menyailo served as Editor, and Galina Goldfeld was the Scriptwriter.
"Sports for All-Freestyle Football," from Radio Television Hong Kong, was selected “Best” in Entertainment. This film introduces freestyle football with an interview with Lyson Sze, a Hong Kong representative of this sport of difficult tricks and moves with a soccer ball. The sport encourages activity for youth and portrays Hong Kong in a positive light, both aims of the film. Producer was Shirley Lee; Director, Rex Cheung; Editor: Chan Kwok-shing, and Cinematographers Lam Kin-ming, Lai Yick-ho, Law Chit-fung, Poon Kin-Ho, Cheung Chi-lock, and Cheung Chun-shing. Sound was by Wong Wing-tai and Lam Kin-ming.
The Documentary winner, "The Tea Explorer," came from 90th Parallel Productions Ltd., Toronto, ON, Canada. It was done for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) with supportive help from the Canadian Media Fund. This film tells the story of a confessed tea junkie, Canadian explorer Jeff Fuchs. He is obsessed with mountains and tea and his travels and education on the ancient Teahorse Road in the Himalayas. His trips with the last of the region's muleteers makes for a sharply focused story. Andrew Gregg was director, screenplay author and producer.
"Lungie-A True Story" won the One World Award, given by the International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers (IQ) to a film that contributes to global understanding and international cooperation. The Rotary Foundation was the client for the film made to encourage fundraising for international NGO projects. It was entered by Goodlight Films, Zurich, Switzerland. The film features Lungiswa Nzube, a 14-year old orphan who has lost her mother and her only sister. It tells the story of how she overcame adversity and became a role model and source of inspiration for a new generation of students in Langa, Cape Town, South Africa. It was filmed on-site with local actors and local staff. The film was written by Alex Szombath and Bernie Forster, who also served as editors and directors. Production was by Goodlight Films. An additional credit went to Walder Werber, Uster.
“Lungie – A True Story” also received a Silver Screen Award. The Best of Festival winners all received Gold Camera awards. IQ members also selected the Best of Festival honorees. Learn more about IQ at www.iqfilm.org.
Visit www.filmfestawards.com for more information, including views of all general winners.
