The 2nd annual MidWest WeirdFest wrapped this past Sunday, at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The festival again provided enthusiastic audiences a cinematic smorgasbord of all things fantastic, frightening, offbeat, and just plain weird. Today, MidWest WeirdFest announces the winning films of the 2018 event.
“MidWest WeirdFest was a blast, and winning the festival's Independent Spirit Award is an immense deal to us”, says Kevin Losani, who, along with Michael J. Widger, directed the incredibly ambitious super hero/comedy feature film OFFICER PIGSEY. “To stand out in a lineup consisting of such impressive, creative, and alternative films is major props! We always believed and hoped people would look beyond our film's budget restrictions and recognize all the other aspects that we think make it great. We feel this award honors that.”
An overview of the festival's other winning films follows:
Rob Cousineau Josh Cousineau and Chris Rosik (FUTURE) Photo by Luong Huynh.
Director Usher Morgan's stunning western/neo-noir hybrid PICKINGS was awarded “Best Film”. Amara Cash won “Best Director” for her visionary erotic drama DADDY ISSUES. The mesmerizing and chilling BORLEY RECTORY from British animator Ashley Thorpe captured the fest's award for “Best Documentary”. And “Best Screenplay” went to the darkly comedic time-travel tale FUTURE, written by Joshua P. Cousineau, Rob Cousineau, and Doug Kolbicz (directed by Rob Cousineau and Chris Rosik) .
Drew Krehel, Kyle Talley, Matthew Giordano, Andrew Melzer THE STREET WIZARD'S APPRENTICE
“Best Short Film” was won by the bloody hilarious LUNCH LADIES (directed by J. M. Logan). The monstrous comedy CRYPTO FORCE ALPHA (directed by Megan Kluck) was awarded “Best Animated Short”. While the unique and ambitious thriller MENTAL STATE: REVELATION (directed by Chris Page) took the fest's “Independent Spirit Award – Short Film”. The laugh out loud web series THE STREET WIZARD'S APPRENTICE (directed by Andrew Melzer, Matt Giordano, and Drew Krehel) snagged the fest's “Best Web/TV Content” award. And “Best Music Video” went to director Jed Schlegelmilch's video for HOT COFFIN - “WHISTLE, HAWK & SPIT”.
HOT COFFIN - "WHISTLE HAWK & SPIT" director Jed Schlegelmilch. (Photo by Luong Huynh)
Matt Erman writer, producer and cinematographer of MENTAL STATE: REVELATION (Photo by Luong Huynh)