Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Announces 2008 Award Winners

Missoula, Montana – The 5th Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
is pleased to announce its festival award winners, each of which will
be screened during a special encore presentation Wednesday, February
20, 2008 at Missoula’s historic Wilma Theatre.

Best Feature:
JIMMY ROSENBERG: THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE TALENT, Directed by
Jeroen Berkvens

Best Short:
CONVICTION: THE TRUE STORY OF CLARENCE ELKINS, Directed by Mike West
& Bill Ward

Big Sky Award:
CLASS C, Directed by Justin Lubke & Shasta Grenier

Artistic Vision:
WHEN CLOUDS CLEAR, Directed by Anne Slick & Danielle Bernstein

About WHEN CLOUDS CLEAR, the Feature Jury writes, "The filmmakers
aesthetic choices – in cinematography and structure – create a
visceral sense of place and an intimate portrait of a strong
community unified in one common cause. With a fresh perspective on a
familiar story line, the film doesn’t give its subjects a voice as
much as let them speak for themselves."

Artistic Vision:
YA SHADAD, Directed by Keren Shayo

The feature winner will receive a $1000 cash prize sponsored by
Indiepix Films <http://www.indiepixfilms.com/>. The winner will also
receive a complimentary copy of Media 100 Producer Suite video
editing software, bundled with Boris Red, courtesy of Media 100/Boris
FX <http://www.media100.com/>.

The short winner will receive a full copy of Boris Red integrated 3D
compositing, titling, and effects application for Mac/PC operating
systems, courtesy of Boris FX <http://www.borisfx.com/>.

The Big Sky Award winner will receive complimentary Avid Media
Composer video editing software, courtesy of Avid
<http://www.avid.com/>.

One Artistic Vision Award winner will also receive complimentary Avid
Media Composer video editing software, courtesy of Avid
<http://www.avid.com/>.

Awards Night Screening Schedule:
All Screenings will be held in the Wilma Theatre, downtown Missoula,
Montana, Wednesday, February 20, 2008. Tickets are $7 available at
the box office starting Wednesday at 10 am or at the door before the
screening. Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes early for tickets at
the door.

6:15 pm –
CLASS C (Directors in-attendance)

8 pm –
CONVICTION: THE TRUE STORY OF CLARENCE ELKINS

9 pm –
JIMMY ROSENBERG: THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE TALENT

10:30 pm –
WHEN CLOUDS CLEAR

Feature Jury
Deborah Barkow – Documentary/TV Editor, Skylar Browning – Arts
Editor, Missoula Independent, Simon Kilmurry – Executive Director,
The American Documentary/P.O.V.

Short Jury:
Hart Perry – Filmmaker, Dana Heinz Perry – Filmmaker, William Marcus
– Director, Broadcast Media Center at the University of Montana

Big Sky Award Jury:
Danielle DiGiacomo – Head of Acquisitions/Indiepix Films, Brian Liu –
Founder and Creative Director, ToolboxDC

Contact:
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
131 South Higgins Avenue, Suite 307
Missoula, Montana 59802
(406) 541-3456
http://www.bigskyfilmfest.org