Ear to the ground

“You need a life coach to successfully navigate some of those mazes.”

-A Durango skier commenting on the current state of some of Purgatory’s lift lines

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After hundreds of films, more than a dozen sold-out shows and packed awards ceremony, the credits rolled on the third annual Durango Independent Film Festival. The festival ran from Feb. 27-March 2 and included three screens showing features, documentaries and shorts; filmmakers’ salons; and several receptions and parties. At the closing moment of the five-day festival, awards were given in three categories: juror awards, audience awards, and the filmmaker award. The competition for top honors was tight.

 “We are so pleased with the caliber of all the films throughout the festival and are excited to give special recognition to a few outstanding selections,” Joanie Fraughton, festival coordinator, said. “We congratulate our winners and all of the filmmakers in this year’s festival.” 

The winners are as follows:

Juror Medals

n Best Family Film-“The Best of Jo”

nBest Live Action Short-“The Aviatrix”

nBest Animated Short-“Yours Truly”

nBest Documentary Short-“EMMY”

nBest Documentary Feature-“The Listening Project”

nBest Narrative Feature-“The Flyboys”

The Filmmaker’s Award

n“Hartslagan”

Audience Awards

nSchool Program-“Oil & Water Project”

nBest Family Film-“Zoologic”

nBest Short-“The Job”

nBest Documentary-“The First Saturday in May”

nBest Narrative Feature-“Raising Flagg”

The Durango Independent Film Festival also presented two special awards on March 2. “The Clown Children” received the Kodak Shot on Film Award, which included several reels of celluloid for the next venture. Chuck Norton, caterer to the stars, took home the DIFF Independent Spirit Award. More information can be found at: www.durangofilm.org