Pictured Winners: Graham Whitworth, THE LANTERN BEARER, ATTENTION DEFICIT, TOUCH, HOME (Clockwise from Top)
(September 19, 2021 | Memphis, TN) Indie Memphis is pleased to announce the award-recipients from the 6th Annual Youth Film Fest. The ceremony was held virtually during the afternoon of September 19, following screenings both online and in person of 37 student-made films over the weekend.
“We have always been fortunate to have great, up-and-coming filmmakers in our Youth Film Fest. But this year felt particularly special because of the obvious challenges that were presented to these students over the last year plus,’ said Director of Artist Development & Youth Film Joseph Carr. “It’s already hard enough to make a good film, but for these filmmakers to overcome everything that the world has thrown at them and remain committed to their projects is so deeply inspiring. The future of Memphis filmmaking, and beyond, is in great hands.”
Awards were presented by festival staff -- as well Janay Kelley, 2018 and 2019 Grand Jury Prize and Production Package Recipient. During the presentation, Janay took a moment to address this year’s featured filmmakers: “Receiving the production package award impacted how I saw myself as a creator and as a filmmaker. One thing that I would like to say to you all [youth filmmakers] is that every single last one of you is a filmmaker NOW. You don’t have to wait until you get a big expensive camera, many of you have shot on your phones, you are a filmmaker NOW.
“Regardless if you’ve won an award or know all the filmmaking jargon, you will become an even better filmmaker in the future. As you build towards your artistic future make sure that you are catering and nurturing yourself as a person. When I first started making my films I was trying to make things that I thought other people wanted to see and not the films that I wanted to make. So make sure that every time you are making art, that you are essentially doing it for yourself and that you are putting out the stories that you want to put out. These are the things that you are giving the world so treat them as a gift because you all are a gift.”
This year’s jury awards were selected by Jon-Carlos Evans (Berlin-based filmmaker), Dan Hudson (Executive Director - NFFTY), and Kiwi Lanier (Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema). On this year's Memphis Youth Jury Award Recipient Paul Coffiled, ”we [the jury] saw a few films from him that we really liked, and one film in particular [THE LANTERN BEARER],” said Hudsom.” We’re really excited to see what he does next.” Paul also won the CrewUp Mentorship Audience Award alongside his fellow mentees Asher Crouch and Nyx Love, through the guidance of their mentor Joshua Cannon.
Among this year’s winners is filmmaker Graham Whitworth, who received the VIA Productions sponsored Production Package award (valued at $5K)Graham, a 2021 graduate of White Station High School, is one of the more prolific young filmmakers with three different projects screening at the Youth Film Fest. His awarded project, BURNING BRIDGES, was chosen by former Youth Film Fest winners turned jurors, Janay Kelley and Vivian Gray, from a number of applications. Graham will now receive hands-on professional guidance and crew support from VIA Productions and Indie Memphis for his next short film project.
Full list of the 2021 Indie Memphis Youth Film Fest award-winners is included below.
2021 Indie Memphis Youth Film Fest Award-Recipients
Jury Awards
Awarded by Jon-Carlos Evans (filmmaker), Dan Hudson (Executive Director - NFFTY), and Kiwi Lanier (Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema)
Memphis Competition Jury Award ($500): The Lantern Bearer by Paul Coffield
CrewUp Jury Award ($600): Attention Deficit by Rachel Ellis, Sam McElroy, Jacobian Taylor, with Mentor Robert Bear
$5K Production Package Award sponsored by VIA Productions: Graham Whitworth for his upcoming project, Burning Bridges
Special Jury Award ($250): Touch by Georgia Carls
Audience Awards
Memphis Youth Audience Award ($300): Touch by Georgia Carls
CrewUp Mentorship Audience Award ($300): Navesmire by Asher Crouch, Paul Coffield, and Nyx Love, with Mentor Joshua Cannon
National Youth Audience Award ($300): Home by Michelle Saguinsin
Staff Awards
Rising Filmmaker Award: Anaya Murray (The Pen Pal)
Indie Youth Spirit Award: Ethan Torres (Crumbling Down)
Media Contacts
Director of Artist Development & Youth Film
Joseph Carr
joseph@indiememphis.com