Oil Valley Film Festival winners and wrap up

From staff reports

Thirty-three films were screened at the fourth annual Oil Valley Film Festival held Sept. 6-9 in Oil City.

The annual festival was comprised of competitive sections for American and international narrative and documentary films, both feature-length and short, a block of women and minority filmmakers, and a festival director-curated block.

“I was stunned by the quality of films that not only screened at this year’s festival, but also the quality and artistry of everything that was submitted this year,” said Matt Croyle, director of the festival.

“It was the best lineup we’ve ever had,” he said.

Following is a list of winners from festival:

Feature film

Best actor – Sarah Booth, “Last Call”

Best supporting actor – Roxanna Redfoot, “This World Won’t Break”

Best cinematography – Seth Wessel-Estes, “Last Call”

Best editing – Tim Cash, “The Astronot”

Best director – Ekaterina Tarasova, “A Black Letter Day”

Best picture, documentary – “Making Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story”

Best picture, narrative – “This World Won’t Break”

Short film

Best actor – Adrian Ross-Jones, “Still Young”

Best supporting actor – Igor Shugaleev, “A Black Letter Day”

Best cinematography – Jose Martin Rosete, “Minor Key”

Best editing – Sunghwan Moon, “Scrap”

Best director – Leena Pendharkar, “Scrap”

Best picture, documentary – “Outspoken”

Best picture, narrative – “Ways to Look at the Moon”

Other awards

Outstanding achievement in directing awards were awarded to Alexey Frenkel for “Moth,” Josh David Jordan for “This World Won’t Break” and Gavin Michael Booth for “Last Call.”

Screenwriting competition awards were given to David Keogh for “Think Forward” (feature), Dan LaTourette for “Homefulness” (short-length) and Elena Lockleis for “Almost” (TV pilot).

“Last Call” was the audience favorite feature film, earning it a $1,000 prize.

The 2019 Oil Valley Film Festival was presented in partnership with InkTip, Oil City Library, Oil City Civic Center and Bridge Builders Community Foundations.