Festival Laurels (screenwriting categories + nomination laurel)

End of 2016

• Best genre piece

Winner: Balloon by Mitchell Slan

Balloon is a fairly gross little horror flick. Reminiscent of Eli Roth produced scarer ‘Clown’, with a touch of ‘In Treatment’, this one’s got all the right moves and scares to keep your appetite popping!

• Best technique

Winner: New Genius by Rob Reeves

Comedic at times, and otherwise quite thrilling, this feature screenplay seems to ring a tad familuar with the current trend of horror films – angst, revenge, and a whole bucket full of sarcasm.

• Best micro budget material

Winner: Stanley’s Take by Rebin Zangana

With its balance of locations and cast, Stanley’s Take is a well oiled machine ready for shooting on a low budget.

Late Summer 2016

• Best genre piece

Winner: Chiku San by Mark Bousfield

With a darker take on the whole ‘Lost In Space’ (1998) vibe, ‘Chiku San’ is a great genre piece. The ending is both dramatic, and reminiscent of ‘The Last Days On Mars’ (2013), which is a sure winner.

Runner up: Bad News Pairs by Matt Clifford

• Best technique

Winner: The Morality Game by Ed Vela

Though it isn’t by any means a spy thriller, it reads with the same slick conviction as a Tom Clancy novel. Its a big jargon of a piece, full of research and a steady handling of the film’s narrative pace. 

Runner up: Bad News Pairs by Matt Clifford

• Best micro budget material

Winner: Bad News Pairs by Matt Clifford

It might be a dialogue heavy, but Bad News Pairs is a great micro budget script. Its affordable, shootable and immediately lovable on account of its pot boiling ensemble.

Runner up: Inside The Pages by Ian Adema