AWARDS mav·er·ick adj. 1. Being independent in thought and action or exhibiting such independence. 2. One who refuses to abide by the dictates of a group.
The fiercely independent Woodstock Film Festival The Honorary Maverick Award is pre- took the name for its award–The Maverick–from sented to an individual whose life the original Woodstock arts colony of the early and work is the very definition of the 1900s, where the first of many Maverick festivals word “maverick.” Past recipients took place each summer. These festivals celebrated include Mira Nair, Woody Harrelson, Tim Robbins, D. A. Pennebaker and independence, social responsibility, and good Chris Hegedus, and Les Blank. times, all in honor of the creative spirit. Mira Nair accepts 2004 Honorary Maverick
THIS YEAR’S HONOREES /Trail-blaz-er/: an innovative 2005 HONORARY leader in a field; a pioneer MAVERICK AWARD JOHN SLOSS RECIPIENT The 2005 Woodstock Film Festival inaugural STEVE BUSCEMI Trailblazer Award will be presented to Steve Buscemi’s acting resume groundbreaking entertainment attorney/ includes Jim Jarmusch’s Mystery Train, executive producer/producer John Sloss. for which he received an IFP Spirit Mr. Sloss clearly represents the award’s pur- Award nomination; Alexandre
S pose in honoring a distinguished industry Rockwell’s In the Soup; Martin D Scorcese’s New York Stories, the Coen R member who, through his pioneering
A approach, has carved new and uncharted Brothers’ Barton Fink, the Academy W
A territories in the film world. To give this award to someone on the Award®-winning Fargo and The Big Lebowski: Stanley Tucci’s
K legal and business side of filmmaking says much about the out- The Imposters; Con Air; Armageddon; Tom DiCillo’s Living in C I Oblivion; Escape From L.A., Desperado, Domestic Disturbance, R side-the-box, forward thinking of Mr. Sloss.
E John Sloss is principal in Sloss Law Office, and the Things To Do in Denver When You’re Dead, Somebody to Love; V
A founder of Cinetic Media, a consulting firm specializing in the Robert Altman’s Kansas City and Buscemi’s IFP Spirit Award- M entertainment and media industries. He is also a partner in winning performance as Mr. Pink in Independent Digital Entertainment (InDigEnt), an innovative Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. production company dedicated to making digital features in col- Buscemi made his feature film laboration with established filmmakers and actors. directorial debut with Trees Lounge, Mr. Sloss has served as executive producer for more than in which he also performed and 40 feature films, including Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Waking wrote the screenplay. His second Life, Far from Heaven, the Academy Award®-winning The Fog of War, Tadpole, Session 9, Lone Star, and She’s the One. directing effort, Animal Factory, He has orchestrated several of the most notable distribution starred deals in the last decade, including Napoleon Dynamite, Super Size W illem Me, Control Room, Capturing the Friedmans, and The Station Agent. Dafoe and Films produced by Sloss in association with InDigEnt, Edward include Campbell Scott’s Final, Ethan Hawke’s Chelsea Walls, Furlong. In Rebecca Miller’s Personal Velocity, which won the Grand Jury 2000, he was nominated for an Prize and the Cinematography Award at Sundance 2002, and Emmy and a DGA Award for directing Pieces of April, which earned Patricia Clarkson a Golden Globe the Pine Barrens episode of HBO’s nomination. Soon-to-be-released InDigEnt titles are Alan The Sopranos. His most recent film Taylor’s Kill the Poor, Greg Harrison’s November, Mark Lonesome Jim, Liv Tyler and Casey Christopher’s Pizza, and Wim Wenders’ Land of Plenty. Affleck will be released by IFC Films.
The Maverick and Trailblazer Awards are handcrafted by Steve Heller, a self-taught artist who works in wood, found metal, and Cadillacs from the 1950s. He shows at his gallery, Fabulous Furniture, in Boiceville, NY.
WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL 2005 96 AWARDS JURY MEMBERS Maverick Awards FEATURES: STUDENT SHORTS: sponsored by Markertek Sponsored by Lowel-Light Handcrafted trophies and prizes are awarded for Best Feature Peter Saraf Jeremiah Newton Narrative, Best Feature Documentary, Best Short (Producer,Little Miss Sunshine,Everything (industry liaison,New York University) is Illuminated,The Agronomist,Adaptation, Documentary, Best Short, and Best Student Film. Other The Truth About Charlie, Storefront Amy Devra Gossels awards are presented for cinematography, animation and edit- Hitchcokc,Ulee’s Gold) (Casting Director / Producer, Solidarity,The Picture of Dorian Gray,Wrigley,Young ing. An audience award is presented for feature narrative and Anne Walker-McBay Americnas,Mile and Honey,Broken,Rising documentary. (Producer,Have You Heard?,A Scanner Low,Mercury in Retrograde,Zen and the Darkly,Before Sunset,Tape,Walking Life, Art of Landscaping) Past recipents include Down to the Bone, Assisted Living, The Newton Boys,SubUrbia,Before Wendigo, Recoil, The Dreamcatcher, Interview With the Assassin, Sunrise,Dazed and Confused) James Rasin, (filmmaker,screenwriter) (features) Double Dare, A Boy’s Life, Spellbound, Passages and Freestyle, (doc- Fisher Stevens umentaries). In competition finalists–all first or second time feature film- (Actor,Producer,Director,Slow Burn, ANIMATION: Factotum,Yes,Just a Kiss,Famous,Pinero, Bill Plympton (see bio) makers– are selected by a committee headed up by Ryan Werner, head of Swimfan,Uptown Girl,Sam the Man) Signe Baumane (see bio) theatrical distribution at Wellspring, and Tom Quinn, Magnolia Pictures. DOCUMENTARIES CINEMATOGRAPHY: sponsored by A&E Indie Films & sponsored by Kodak Docurama Haskell Wexler (see bio) Nancy Abraham (Vic President of HBO / Cinemax EDITING: The Haskell Wexler Award Documentary Films) Sabine Hoffman for Best Cinematography (Editor,Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela, David D’Arcy The Ballad of Jack and Rose, Saving Face, (Film and Entertainment Journalist) Brother toBrother,Ferry Tales,Personal This is presented by Haskell Wexler, A.S.C. (Bound for Brett Morgan Velocity,The Last Party,Sam the Man, (director, The Kids Stays in the DesertBlue,Hurricane Streets) Glory, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Coming Home, Who’s Picture,On the Ropes) Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Secret of Roan Inish). Wexler is a James Lyons SHORT DOCS: (Editor,Imaginary Heroes,Ghostlight, five-time Academy Award nominee and a recipient of a star on Hollywood’s sponsored by A&E Indie Films & Far From Heaven,Prozac Nation,The Walk of Fame. Docurama Virgin Suicides,Velvet Goldmine,
Leon Gast Strawberry Fields,Poison) A
(Academy Award winning filmmak- W The 2004 Award was presented to Xavi Gimenez for The Machinist. Peter
er,When WeWere Kings,One Love, Sabine Krayenbuhl A
Robertson received the award in 2005 for Song For a Raggy Boy. Hells Angels Forever,The Grateful (Editor, Mad Hot Ballroom,My R
Dead Movie,B.B.King:Live in Africa) Architect:A Son’s Journey,Heartbreak D
Hospital,15 Months in May) S Michael Cristofer (Writer/director,Fade out,Original Sin, Gia,Mr.Jones,The Bonefire of the Vanities, The WFF Maverick Award for Best The Witches of Eastwick;Director, Original Animated Film Sin,Gia,Body Shots,Candida) This is presented by Bill Plympton and Signe Baumane. SHORTS: Bill Plympton is recognized as one of America’s foremost Sponsored by Lowel-Light Gill Holland illustrators, cartoonists, and animators. His highly success- (Producer,Shooting Vegeterians,Sweet ful short films have won countless prizes and have Land, Loggerheads,Bluegrass Journey, appeared with frenzied frequency at film festivals, on Pagans,The Fittest,Greg the Bunny, Martin television, and online. His 2004 short film Guard Dog &Orloff,Revolution # 9.Snow Days, Spring Forward,Hurricane Streets) was nominated for an Academy Award. Morgan J. Freeman Signe Baumane is an independent animator origi- (Director,Just Like the Son,Dawson’s nally from Latvia, now living in and working in Creek,Desert Blue,Hurricane Streets) Other Award Sponsors: Jungle Software NYC. Her films include Dentist, Woman, Natasha, Debra Granik Showbiz Software and Love Story. (Director,Down tothe Bone,Snake Feed) New Award The Woodstock Film Festival and grant- Student Short” to honor films that are vivor in a large experimental treatment maker Lowel-Light will support, promote vibrant, life-affirming and created by film- group. Against the odds and medical and reward the next generation of inspired makers filled with energy, creativity and advice, she gave life to and raised a son filmmakers with an annual cash/in-kind passion. Three other in-kind awards will and a daughter. She passed away on Feb awards valued at $10,000. be presented for “Best Feature,” “Best 27, 2004 from respiratory complications In memory of Diane Seligman, a Documentary,” and “Best short doc.” caused by the radiation that had originally beautiful person who celebrated life in the Diane Seligman: Diane was a lov- helped to save her. Diane lived in the way she lived, and for all those who knew ing, and giving person who touched and moment, in the flow, in harmony with the Diane and in whom she still lives, the inspired all who knew her. As a teenager in life force & source, with grace and dignity. DIANE SELIGMAN AWARD is presented the 1960s, she was diagnosed with She was grateful for every day. to the “Best Short Narrative” and “Best Hodgkin’s disease and was the lone sur-
WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL 2005 97