The Rosebud Film and Video Festival - 1997 Nominees & Winners

1997 Best of Show

Dark House
14 Mins.
Philip K. Davis, Cockeysville, MD

In a child's eye the car windshield becomes a theater screen. In search of the father he never knew, the filmmaker discovers his true paternal influences. "A deeply moving personal quest." "Powerful, honest, poetic."

1997 Rosebud Winners

Alaska
14 Mins.
Annette Apitz, Washington, DC

A teenage runaway hitches a ride with a woman. A friendship develops until the accident. . . "A sensitive and multi-layered portrait of human vulnerability." "Very well-acted."

Spare Change
3 Mins.
Capital Children's Museum Media Arts Program, Washington, DC
With Josh Douglas (VA), Matthew Flemming (VA), Jason Gottlieb (MD), and Robert Hogans (DC); Producer/Mentor: Tewodross Williams (MD).

A claymation laugh at a familiar street scene, with a surprise! "Blows stereotypes away" "A witty, good- natured look at an often emotionally charged subject."

Thoughts in the Cellar
3 Mins.
Zoltan Szallasi, Washington, DC

An encounter with a one-legged girl makes a rat rethink his whole life. "Rare rodent reality!" "Beautiful and imaginative."

Game Face
25 Mins.
Michael Day, Chevy Chase, MD

On the day of his son's first nationally televised college football game, a father faces the truth about his own life. "Good drama, dialogue, acting, and shooting." "A richly textured exploration of how men cope with their feelings of powerlessness."

Honorable Mentions

Outside/Inside
3 Mins.
Serena Lin, Baltimore, MD

The visual patterns we intuitively seek serve as models for virtual environments. "Introspective and engrossing use of sound, light and imagery in a study of personal space."

Tota Pet
6 Mins.
Alan Price, Baltimore, MD

Ever wonder what your pet does while you're away? An exploration in softimage 3-D animation by a former ROSEBUD Winner. "TOTA fun!" "Delightful, clever. A technological feat from a master of his craft!"

Mouthpiece
4 Mins.
Bill McKenna, Washington, DC

While reviewing old film footage, the narrator reminisces about the photographer. "A dream, a vision, the story's out there waiting. . ." "Perception shapes human reality; the photographer is only the conduit."

In Washington's Backyard: Roots of a Rebellion
34 Mins.
Farzin Illich & Martha Sipple, Washington, DC

Re-examines the 1991 disturbances in DC's Mount Pleasant/Adams Morgan neighborhood. Culled from 140 hours of original and televised footage and background interviews. A follow-up to 1992 ROSEBUD winner District of Chaos. "A slice of DC reality from voices rarely heard. . ." "Three cheers for this insightful social commentary on those seeking refuge from violence in their past and present homelands."

1997 Rosebud Nominees

Dark House
14 Mins.
Philip K. Davis, Cockeysville, MD

In a child's eye the car windshield becomes a theater screen. In search of the father he never knew, the filmmaker discovers his true paternal influences. "A deeply moving personal quest." "Powerful, honest, poetic."

Spare Change
3 Mins.
Chris Beutler, Capital Children's Museum, Washington, DC
Synopsis: A claymation laugh at a familiar street scene, with a surprise! "Blows stereotypes away" "A witty, good- natured look at an often emotionally charged subject."

Thoughts in the Cellar
2 Mins.
Zoltan Szallasi, Washington, DC

An encounter with a one-legged girl makes a rat rethink his whole life. "Rare rodent reality!" "Beautiful and imaginative."

Game Face
25 Mins.
Michael Day, Chevy Chase, MD

On the day of his son's first nationally televised college football game, a father faces the truth about his own life. "Good drama, dialogue, acting, and shooting." "A richly textured exploration of how men cope with their feelings of powerlessness."

Tota Pet
5 Mins.
Alan Price, Baltimore, MD

Ever wonder what your pet does while you're away? An exploration in softimage 3-D animation by a former ROSEBUD Winner. "TOTA fun!" "Delightful, clever. A technological feat from a master of his craft!"

Mouthpiece
4 Mins.
Bill McKenna, Washington, DC

While reviewing old film footage, the narrator reminisces about the photographer. "A dream, a vision, the story's out there waiting. . ." "Perception shapes human reality; the photographer is only the conduit."

In Washington's Backyard: Roots of a Rebellion
34 Mins.
Farzin A. Illich & Martha Sipple, Washington, DC

Re-examines the 1991 disturbances in DC's Mount Pleasant/Adams Morgan neighborhood. Culled from 140 hours of original and televised footage and background interviews. A follow-up to 1992 ROSEBUD winner District of Chaos. "A slice of DC reality from voices rarely heard. . ." "Three cheers for this insightful social commentary on those seeking refuge from violence in their past and present homelands."

Da Way It Is
36 Mins.
Theodore R. Smith Jr, Washington, DC

A group of inner-city young people explore the reality of their lives by making a movie. "Strong and full of raw emotion." "Probes at the roots of our troubles."

Christmas in New York
10 Mins.
Mark Millhone, Arlington, VA

A comic encounter with a down and out writer, a beautiful journalist and a purse-snatching Santa. "Witty one-liners you'll remember." "A skillful romp from a fresh new talent."

Pig Sanctuary
5 Mins.
Lisa Cathey, Arlington, VA

Dale Riffle provides lotsa mud and love to pigs in need, everywhere. An endearing story from a former ROSEBUD nominee. "An animal farm worth rooting for!" "Warms your heart!"

Everyday Skills
5 Mins.
Alice Perry, Washington, DC

10-year-old Sheila imagines her parents as characters in a '50s TV sitcom. But what is really going on here? "Intriguing and poignant." "Imaginative use of color conveys emotional tone."

The Staticose Chamber
7 Mins.
James Schneider, Washington, DC

How to manipulate images so they don't manipulate you! A mysterious institute uses sound and image to cure the cluttered mind. "Well-conceived, humorously dense." "A feast for your sense"

One Plus One Equals Two
2 Mins.
Winter Taekun Ahn, Ellicott City, MD

An examination of our memory of childhood and its inevitable disappearance. "Haunting imagery." "Delves into our very insides... where the light is...?"

Palindrome: Adam & Eve
6 Mins.
Evelyn C. Marren, Washington, DC

"Madam I'm Adam".. Can we reconstruct why Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden? "A textural tapestry." "Personal, uncontrived and poetic."

Restroom
7 Mins.
Brian Faiola, New Market, MD

Meet an unexpected cast of characters at the "Hollywood Bowl." "Quirky and imaginative" "Demonstrates an absurd humor!"

Compositions
30 Mins.
K. Wise, Washington, DC

An exploration of the dynamics of an abusive relationship. "Beautifully acted reflections of a love gone bad." "Gorgeous, lush photography; the music highlights the emotional subtext."

The Gentleman
27 Mins.
Sam Serafy and Jonathan Spottiswoode, Washington, DC

A comic look at 'Romance' in the 90's and the sometimes alarming accuracy of stereotypes. From a two-time ROSEBUD nominee and Honorable Mention winner. "Droll, dinner-party dialogue that will keep you laughing. . . and wincing."

Edge
90 Mins.
Brian P. Harty, Washington, DC

Four people searching for answers end up on parallel journeys to the "Edge." "Disturbing, haunting. Great acting all around!" "Tense external and internal drama."