The film documentary ‘Desert Padre – In Search of Gareth Hughes’ made by Burry Port resident Kelvin Guy has won a major International Film Award.

The film won Best Documentary – UK, at the recent International Film Festival South Africa.

The film traces the long journey of Kelvin Guy in tracking down still living individuals who remembered his relation, Gareth Hughes – Wales’ very first Hollywood Movie star.

Three years in the making and capturing interviews with surviving Native Americans and discovering lost relations in the United States, the film is both a personal memoir and an important historic document.

See link for all winners:

http://www.amritsa.com/eiff/08/winners.htm

The Jury, were impressed by the huge research undertaken by Mr. Guy and the fact he had never previously made a film.

‘This film is an outstanding achievement and an important piece of work’.

In November a plaque commissioned by Mr. Guy to mark the birthplace of Gareth Hughes will be unveiled in Llanelli.

To finds out more about this remarkable film go to:

www.desertpadre.co.uk

Summary:

November 2008 marks the Madison debut and Milwaukee rekindling of “99 Bottles Documentary,” a documentary film that explores the history, culture, and brew making processes of craft brewers in Southeastern Wisconsin. Contributions from the founders and brewmasters of 16 unique Wisconsin breweries and brewpubs along with interviews from local historians culminate in a timely and relevant celebration of Wisconsin’s worst kept secret - Beer! The tour starts with four shows in Milwaukee from November 6-9, 2008 at the Times Cinema in Milwaukee. Tickets are $8, with half of the box-office sales going to help sponsor the Kiwanis Club of Metropolitan Milwaukee Nights’ November 7th “Brew Fest” event.  Next stop is a series of four shows in Madison at The Orpheum Theatre from November 13-16. Attendees that arrive a half-hour before all shows can taste samples of beer from the breweries that are covered in this film.

Detail:

“99 Bottles Documentary” explores the history and culture of the craft brewing industry in Southeastern Wisconsin. A collaboration between Wisconsin-based Mutant Barmonkey Productions, LLC and Haptic Vision, “99 Bottles Documentary” began over a pint at Wolski’s Tavern. Producers Glen Popple and David Oplinger, in partnership with director Jason Williams, set out to explore what it takes to make great beer in their own backyard. Otto Dilba of Ale Asylum in Madison commented, “It was a great excuse to have a beer and reminisce about the origins of Ale Asylum, and was the most legal fun we have had with our pants on.”

Over the course of their travels, one common theme has emerged: ‘free beer’ is not free. With the single-minded purpose of a master chef, the men and women that bring you pint after refreshing pint strive to survive ever-toughening legislation, worldwide resource shortages, and an ever-growing public demand for excellence in their product.

The filmmakers’ quest took them all over the state of Wisconsin, from Mount Horeb’s tiny award-winning brewpub, the Grumpy Troll, to the glimmering halls of the New Glarus Brewing Company’s newest stainless-steel beer mecca. “Mark and I enjoyed being interviewed for this worthwhile project. Coming from a small village in Wisconsin, we are honored to be part of a project that allows us to showcase our award winning beers…”, said Douglas M. Welshinger, The Grumpy Troll Restaurant and Brewery.

In addition to researching the rich pallet of breweries, the filmmakers ambushed average people and beer aficionados alike. From Comet Café’s “Beer School” to the Milwaukee Public Museum’s “Food and Froth” fundraiser, they polled the public inquiring: “What one question would you ask a brewmaster if given the opportunity?”

With centuries-old brewing traditions of European families that settled the Midwest, it seemed only fitting that the trials and successes of their descendants should be explored. The rigors of this emerging market, the time-honored traditions that they uphold and the daily regiment of sweat equity necessary to meet the bottom line make for a fascinating expose of one of Wisconsin’s worst kept secrets: Beer.

Portland, Ore – October 14, 2008 – The very nature of a two-party system encourages separation. It’s nothing new. However, the difference today is the acute and almost exclusive attention devoted to our differences in contemporary campaigning. Whereas in the past, campaigns battled to sway voters in the middle, these days it’s about exciting the base. One film is aiming to change all that.

“America has gone from the politics of persuasion to the politics of mobilization. To successfully mobilize your party’s base, you focus on the issues it holds dearest. These are often the most divisive ones. And what we get now are battles over abortion and gay marriage because it works so well to excite both sides of the political aisle,” said Jeff Beard, producer of “Split: A Divided America.”

“Split: A Divided America,” a recent political documentary by Portland native Jeff Beard, son of Beard’s Framing founder, Terry Beard, is a concerned citizen’s unbiased look at the partisanship that dominates American politics today. The film explores why civil discourse has disappeared from our day-to-day lives and how polarization has risen to control our political experience.

Not your typical documentary, “Split: A Divided America” is a non-partisan film. It balances candid discussions with people all across the country and commentary from some of the sharpest minds analyzing government and society today, including conversations with former MSNBC anchor Tucker Carlson, civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson and political dissident Noam Chomsky. In fact everyone interviewed was asked the same six questions.

“By asking the same questions we could dispel the notion that we had a preconceived political agenda. This isn’t a Michael Moore-type documentary where a filmmaker goes out to find evidence to support his beliefs,” said Jeff Beard. “In many ways this film is a polite rebuke to that type of partisan documentary filmmaking.”

“Split: A Divided America” made its world premiere in April at the AFI Dallas International Film Festival. Since then, it has won three awards including Best Political Documentary Feature at the Connecticut International Film Festival, Audience Favorite Award for Best Documentary at the Riverside International Film Festival and Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature at the First Take Film Festival.

You can purchase a DVD at www.splitdoc.com for $14.99, or at iTunes for $3.99.

Contact:

amPR
Anthony Murillo, Managing publicist
323-988-5729
anthony@am-publicrelations.com

MILWAUKEE (May 22, 2008) — The premiere of “Victim,” a suspense film directed by Jason Williams and starring R. Michael Gull and Katie Shay, will headline opening night of the “10th Annual Milwaukee Short Film Festival” on May 30, 2008 at the Alchemist Theatre.

“Victim” represents the sixth short film selected for festivals nationally and abroad for director Jason Williams. This dark, suspenseful film was written and co-produced by R. Michael Gull, who also plays the role of Vincent. When not working on films, Gull is a nationally touring stand-up comic who has appeared in “Indefinite” (also co-directed by Williams), “Haunted,” and Tate Bunker’s short film “Perceval.” He also stars in the upcoming sci-fi feature film “Dust,” from Lightning Rod Studios, currently in production. Co-starring is Katie Shay, making her film debut in the role of Detective Cross.

“Victim” is the tale of a man — Vincent — whose concept of love is skewed. He could be your neighbor, that guy with the flat tire on the side of the road, or the one behind you at the ATM. He finds himself across the table from Detective Cross, given the opportunity to bare his soul about his obsession with what he considers the most intimate bond two people can share – the moment of death.

“Victim” also features Olivia Barash, who co-starred on the TV shows “Little House on the Prairie” and “Fame,” as well as the films “Tuff Turf” and “Repo Man.” She also wrote original music for and appeared in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors.” In “Victim,” Barash contributes the song “Are You Tired?” Local Milwaukee band Binky Tunny and The Farmland Chokehold wrote the film’s title track and Chicago artist and musician Brian Jones composed the score. Binky Tunny will perform at the opening night after-party immediately following the screenings.

The Milwaukee Short Film Festival will open with a 10th Anniversary screening of “The Dirty Job” by festival director Ross Bigley, followed by a select few of the jury-selected films and the party. The public is invited to attend.

The event starts at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 30, 2008, at the Alchemist Theatre located at 2569 S. Kinnickinnic. Tickets are $10, which includes the after-party. For more information about the festival or to purchase tickets, visit: www.alchemisttheatre.com. And for more information about “Victim,” including trailers, go to www.myspace.com/”Victim”2007.

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Haptic Vision is a production company founded by director/producer Jason Williams in Wisconsin. Williams’ previous credits include directing “Meniere’s Disease,” “Train to Forever,” and co-directing the award-winning “Ghost Hunting: Serious Business.”

ABOUT THE FILM

The film, tentatively titled I Am My Brother’s Keeper, takes us on a musical journey, as the hopes and dreams of Eric Nolan Grant are first crushed, then ultimately realized as he struggles to stay true to his music. Torn between his craft and the streets that raised him, Eric follows his dreams to places he never imagined. While on the rise in the local Cleveland music scene, Eric meets another struggling young singer by the name of Gerald Levert. They make a pact: “whoever reaches the top first will pull the other up.” Several years later when Eric loses everything, he learns the true bonds of brotherhood when Gerald, now an internationally known R&B singer, reaches back to pull him up. Eric is given an opportunity of a lifetime, when Gerald puts him in a position to become a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame trio, The O’Jays. At the same time, Eric pays it forward as he struggles to save his own brother Mitchel from a life of total self destruction. Thus learning that being your brother’s keeper is never just a choice, but a chance to make good on life’s promises.

Principle photography is slated to begin summer 2008. Della Reese and Clifton Powell have been cast to portray Eric Nolan Grant’s grandmother and father and Eddie Levert will make a cameo appearance. Fastlane Pictures is currently in discussions with established actors to portray Eric. In addition, an open casting call will be held for the actor who will portray Gerald Levert in the motion picture.

Fastlane Pictures, an Atlanta based company, was established in 2006 by Writer/Producer Sanedria Potter to develop TV/Film projects, and has now partnered with Michelle Kuykendall and Tanya Sanchez, of B Boy Entertainment to develop quality film and television projects. B Boy Entertainment has been managing talent since 2003 and is the management company of Eric Nolan Grant. The life story of Eric Nolan Grant was written for the screen by Sanedria Potter.