Top Films and Awards Named in 2017 “A Place Called Sacramento” World Premiere
Ten original films all about Sacramento made their world premiere Saturday (Oct. 7) in Access Sacramento’s 18th annual “A Place Called Sacramento Film Festival before a sold-out theater of more than 920 people at the Crest Theatre in downtown Sacramento.
(From left) Film Festival Director Gary Martin, Director Dwight Taylor, Access Sacramento Board Chair Don Henkle and Festival Mascot “Quentin Sacramento.”
In a vote of audience members, three of four acting awards and the “Audience Favorite” award went to “From the Mad Genius Mind of Devin” directed by Dwight Taylor whose story set at a middle school science fair creates some surprising results.
Best Actor Sean C. Stewart
Both of the top acting awards went to actors under age 18: Sean C. Stewart as Best Actor in his portrayal of Devin, a brilliant yet love-struck teen science fair competitor and Amber Busse for Best Actress as the target of Devin’s affection.
Best Actress (2nd from Left) Amber Busse.
Best Supporting Actress JaNine Romney (2nd from Left)
Best Supporting Actress went to JaNine Romney also from “The Mad Genius Mind of Devin.”
(From Left) Film Festival Director Gary Martin, “The Middle” Director Peter Bond, and Access Sacramento Board Chair Don Henkle.
The “Producer’s Choice” award went to “The Middle” directed by Peter Bond. The “Producers’ Choice” is a juried award selected by the festival’s 10 writer/producers, The award carried with it the prize of a $1,000 ladies diamond ring donated by Sharif Jewelers. Those 10 judges were the original scriptwriter-winners named last May in the festival’s launch, setting in motion 10 film production crews over summer and culminating in Saturday’s world premiere.
Best Supporting Actor Anton Clark
The Best Supporting Actor award went to Anton Clark from “Penchance” for his portrayal of a young man who learns of life and love on the advice of elderly Jewish mentor. “Penchance” was written by Adam Weber and directed by Laura Chick.
Best Director Narmandi Zaurice Parker
The Best Director award went to Narmandi Zaurice Parker for his work on “Regrets of a Dying Man,” written by Gricelda Ocegueda as the story of a young man battling through addiction as an escape from a trouble home life.
The movie “Postponed” by director Adam Chollet won the award for Best Cinematography by the film’s Director of Photography and lighting, Stephen Chollet. “Postponed” is the story of a young man who discovers an old letter from the 70s and delivers it to the rightful owner resolving a decades-old love story.
Film Festival Director and Access Sacramento Executive Director Gary Martin
Other winning writers and films whose films made their world premiere Saturday are: “Amy’s Baby” by Scott Slotterbeck, “Ethel Takes a Stand” by Michelle LeMay & Kay Neuenhofen, “The Script That Came in from the Cold” by T.L Cisneros, “See You When” by Sally Start,” and “Sole” by Maritza Flores, Jeanette Lim and Sam Manaoat.
Access Sacramento originated “A Place Called Sacramento” in the year 2000 as a way to showcase and celebrate local writers, actors and filmmakers and is the only festival with an All-Local requirement.
The entry deadlines for scripts in the 19th annual “A Place Called Sacramento” film festival will be announced in January, 2018 from the Access Sacramento website.
The festival stage presentations and showing of the films will air later on Access Sacramento, Comcast and Consolidated Communication channel 17 and AT&T U-verse channel 14.
Access Sacramento is a 501c3 non-profit with primary funding from the Sacramento Metropolitan Cable Television Commission.
For more information call 916-456-8600 or email postmaster@AccessSacramento.org.
