A Guide To The 2020 Dam Short Film Festival Winners

The 16th Annual Dam Short Film Festival film returned February 13-16 at the Boulder Theatre in Boulder City, Nevada. Categories at this year’s festival included Drama, Comedy, Documentary, Sci-Fi/Horror, Animation, Student, Music Video, and Nevada Filmmaker. This year the festival also featured a retrospective on 40 years of The Residents.

The five-day festival featured 146 short films, up from the 133 that were screened in 2019. .

The 2020 Winners: Best Animation: Grab My Hand: A Letter to my Dad by Camrus Johnson and Pedro Piccinini. Railroad Pass Best Nevada Filmmaker: Rainshadow by Kari Barber. Best Comedy: Demand Curve by Austin Bragg and Meredith Bragg. Best Documentary: Fraser Syndrome & Me by Kyle Anne Grendys. Best Music Video: Sonia Barcelona - Violent Water by Danny Chandia / Desert Cactus Films. Best Sci-Fi / Horror: The Interview by Nate Duncan. Best Drama: Lila by Maj-Britt La Cour. Best Student Film: Father by Law by Maria De Sanctis. Leslie Paige Award for Excellence in Filmmaking: A Million Eyes by Richard Raymond. Movie Magic© Best Screenplay: Ladies Most Deject by Martha M. Elcan. Audience Favorite: 3 Normandy Lane - Movie by Brenda Strong.

Check out our guide to this year’s festival winners below.

2020 Winners:

Best Animation:
Grab My Hand: A Letter to my Dad

In this retelling of his dad's relationship with his best friend, GRAB MY HAND is Camrus Johnson's gift to his grieving father and a message to all to cherish every second you have with the ones you love while you still can. Stars Camrus Johnson, Maaliyah Papillion, and Eric R. Williams. The short film previous wins include a Jury Award for Best Animated Short at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) in 2019 and winner for Best Short Short at the St. Louis International Film Festival.

Directors: Camrus Johnson and Pedro Piccinini

Writer: Camrus Johnson

Official Site: Grab My Hands Film

Railroad Pass Best Nevada Filmmaker: 
Rainshadow

Rainshadow, a documentary about a high school for at-risk students, is threatened with being taken over by the state for low test scores, but the school's art teacher and principal have one last shot to save the school that has saved so many kids.

Director: Kari Barber

Best Comedy:
Demand Curve

Offended by his kidnappers' low demands, a university professor uses basic economic principles to increase his ransom and get in on the action. This 2018 short crime comedy stars Nick Cassidy, William Castrogiovanni, Jono Eiland, Jonathan Galettok, and Chris Mathieu.

Directors: Austin Bragg and Meredith Bragg

Writers: Austin Bragg and Meredith Bragg

Best Documentary:
Fraser Syndrome & Me

Filmmaker Kyle Anne Grendys, is only the 75th person to be born with the rare, recessive gene disorder called Fraser Syndrome. Having always felt alone in the world, she sets out on a journey to find her community and finally meets others just like her.

“From the moment I could hold a camera, I knew I would grow up to make this film. Making "Fraser Syndrome & Me" gave me the opportunity to give to others what I needed growing up. I needed to know that I wasn't as alone as I felt. My family needed to know that there were others out there going through the same journey. That yes, it is going to be a long and sometimes difficult road, but there is hope. After all of my traveling, I can honestly say that the individuals I met who have Fraser Syndrome are some of the best people. Everyone would enjoy hearing their stories and have the pleasure of knowing them. It is clear that these individuals have experienced a lot of hardships but they choose to be loving and kind. Parents that have endured these hardships continue to fight and believe in their child when the world does not. I started this journey feeling utterly alone. But now, I can't believe how lucky I am to be a part of this beautiful family.”

Film by Kyle Anne Grendys

Music By: Boris Skalsky

Official website: Fraser Syndrome & Me

Best Music Video:
Sonia Barcelona - Violent Water

It started with a #Kickstarter that got funded featuring Sonia Barcelona who was recently named 'The Best Emerging Voice of 2018' by the Las Vegas Weekly. "With a looper and guitar, Las Vegas musician Sonia Barcelona is making waves. Disenfranchised with years of studying accounting, the up-and-coming musician ditched the debits and credits at 19 and picked up her ukulele because she knew making music was her calling. She describes herself at that time as being shy and quiet.”

Song: Sonia Barcelona

Director/Editor: Danny Chandia

Producer: Rachel Johnson https://desertcactusfilms.com

Backdrop Paintings: Matthew Murphy

Filmed at SPCKRFT Studios in Las Vegas

Official website: http://www.soniabarcelona.com

Best Sci-Fi / Horror:
The Interview

The 2019 short drama stars Writer / Director Nate Duncan, Shawn Kathryn Kane, and Christina July Kim. The film past awards include Best Supporting Actress for Shawn Kathryn Kane by Action on Film International Film Festival and winner of Best in Show at the Albany Film Festival. The film was also a finalist for the HBO Short Film Competition at Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival 2019.

Director: Nate Duncan

Writer: Nate Duncan

Best Drama:
Lila

Lila gets awful news from her doctors and starts distancing herself from her daughter, grandson, and life. A chance encounter gives her a new perspective on the little time she has left. This 2018 short drama from Denmark stars Christina Bach, Ernesto Piga Carbone and Solbjorg Hojfeldt.

Director: Maj-Britt La Cour

Writers: Signe Vaupel, Maj-Britt La Cour

Best Student Film:
Father by Law

A father attempts to reconnect with his daughter on her wedding day. The 2019 short drama stars Mike Bash, Jacquie Cardinale, and Claire Chapelli.

Director Maria De Sanctis

Writers: Maria De Sanctis, Geoff McFarlane

Leslie Paige Award for Excellence in Filmmaking:
A Million Eyes

A gifted young photographer, grappling with his mother’s alcoholism, sets out to capture something he loves. The short film stars Joe Morton, Katie Lowes, and Elijah M. Cooper

Director: Richard Raymond

Movie Magic© Best Screenplay:
Ladies Most Deject

A short drama about a young girl who struggles to protect her siblings and finds refuge in a surprising way. The movie stars Sofia Adams, Pepper Binkley, and Martha M. Elcan.

Director: Martha M. Elcan
Writers: Mark Salyer and Conner Wharton

Official website: Ladies Most Deject

Audience Favorite:
#3 Normandy Lane

Army wife and young mother, Sarah Winston’s life is inextricably altered when a series of visitors arrive on her doorstep. The 2019 short drama stars Scottie Thompson, Alix Angelis, and James Bane. Previous awards include Best Actress, Best Narrative Short, and Best First-TIme Filmmaker by the GI Film Festival San Diego.

Director: Brenda Strong

Writer: John Farmanesh-Bocca

MORE CULTURE: