Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

The 2003 ELFF took place March 19 through March 23 at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center and on the beautiful campus of Michigan State University. A record number of people, over 8,500, attended the five-day film festival filling the theaters and the halls to near capacity. Ticket sales increased by 10 percent.

ELFF holds an AUDIENCE AWARD for the Best Feature Film, Best Documentary and Best Short Film by collecting ballots from the audience after the screening. The winner for Best Feature Film is BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM , a Fox Searchlight release, directed by Gurinder Chardra, about an East Indian in London who would rather play soccer than follow the traditional wishes of her family. The runner-up was BUBBA HO-TEP, directed by Don Coscarelli, the very funny film about the "true" Elvis (played perfectly by Bruce Campbell) who joins forces with Ossic Davis who thinks he's JFK to kill a mummy sucking the life out of people. The winner for the Best Documentary Film is RYAN'S WELL, directed by Lalita Krishna, an uplifting and inspiring story of one 7 year-old who single-handedly raised funds for a well in Uganda. The runner-up was the Grammy award-winning film, STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN, directed by Paul Justman, telling the story of the Funk Brothers who were the studio band for the Motown Sound. For the first time this year, ELFF is giving an Audience Award for the Best Short Film. The winner is the very creative, TOWER OF BABBLE, directed by Jeff Wadlow. The runner-up is BLACK PEOPLE HATE ME AND THEY HATE MY GLASSES, directed by Salamo Levin.

ELFF kicked off with a tribute honoring veteran Hollywood producer, Mike Lobell, with film clips from his many films including THE FRESHMAN, IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, and the recently released TEARS OF THE SUN. On stage at the Hannah Community Center, ELFF director Susan Woods interviewed the affable and fascinating Lobell who recanted about his experiences making films in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the event was not as well-attended as expected because the war with Iraq was announced that day. A delightful reception followed the Tribute in the Hannah Banquet Room.

This year, ELFF presented a record number of films: 13 features, 26 documentaries and 65 short films. The following films were either sellouts ( indicated by *) or near-sellouts with the number attending in parentheses: *BUBBA HO-TEP (600); *HORNS AND HALOS (260); *BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM(275)); *EVERYDAY GOD KISSES US ON THE MOUTH (120);*SHORTS PROGRAM 2 (250); *MAI'S AMERICA (250); *WEST BANK BROOKLYN(220); *PROMISES (200); *SHORT PROGRAMS 2 (240); *MICHIGAN'S OWN SHORT FILMS 1(250); MICHIGAN'S OWN SHORT FILMS 2(250); MICHIGAN'S OWN STUDENT FILMS 1(250); *TRIBUTE TO BRUCE CAMPBELL(480).

On Sunday, the enormous turnout for the Michigan's Own Film Competition and Showcase proved that interest in films made by Michigan filmmakers is sizable. This year's Michigan's Own had over 100 films submitted and the film competition judges had a difficult time narrowing down the following winners. First Prize for the best Feature Film and Best Documentary will receive a filming with a Panasonic Hi-Definition camera and editing on an Avid system package generously donated by Message Makers of Lansing. First Prize for the best Short Film and best Student Film will receive $500 worth of film processing by Film Craft Lab and $500 worth of film stock from Eastman Kodak Company.


FEATURE FILM:
1st place: CHINA, directed by Jeffrey C. Wray
2nd place: UNFORGETTABLE, directed by Mark Marabate
3rd place: TERROR AT BAXTER U, directed by Jeff Burton

DOCUMENTARY FILM:
1st place: IWO JIMA DIARY, directed by Michael Pfaendtner
2nd place: SILVIO: A STORY ABOUT ART AND PIZZA, directed by Matt Cantu
3rd place: SWARM & DESTROY, directed by Ken Dirkin and Jaaken Page-Wood
Honorable Mention: MAY TO REMEMBER, directed by Steven Maeder
SHORT FILMS:
1st place: I MEANT TO GIVE YOU THIS LETTER, directed by Jeff McPhee
2nd place: THE BOX, directed by Nathaniel Nose
3rd place: SLEEP, directed by Michael Dack & Christopher Dack

STUDENT FILM:
1st place: DIE VERABREDUNG, directed by Joel Dalley
2nd place: TANGLED WIRE, directed by Michael Postema
3rd place: HYPHAGOGIA, directed by Sam Finch


"This year's film festival was spectacular!!" exclaimed the film festival director, Susan Woods. "The films, the attendance, the staff and the volunteers were amazing! Everyone was commenting on the high caliber of films showcased this year!" The most notable changes in this year's film festival were the exciting tributes that bookended the festival, the increased number of directors and participants from around the country that attended, the special midnight screening of Bubba Ho-tep, and the improved overall organization of the film festival. "There were so fewer glitches with projection, ticket sales and crowd control," noted Woods.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Susan W. Woods
Release Date: March 25, 2003
517.336-5802