After interviewing Jonathan Silverman and Alan Cumming about their upcoming films screening at the 2006 Vail Film Festival, I was pleased to learn both Laura Smiles and Sweet Land were honored at the closing awards ceremony as indicated in the press release below.  

VAIL, Colo., April 5, 2006 – The Vail Film Festival, along with presenting sponsor Best Life magazine, presented eight awards at this past weekend’s awards ceremony on the top of Eagle’s Nest Mountain in Vail, Colorado. The Festival, which just completed its third year, screened 75 films from around the world, including 20 feature films, 16 world premieres, as well as 55 documentaries, short films, animated films, action sports, student films and television pilots.

“The 2006 Vail Film Festival was a huge success, bringing together some of the year’s best independent films, along with a tremendous community of filmmakers,” said festival co-founder and director Scott Cross. “We reviewed more than 1,000 film submissions this year, and we are excited to honor these great films and filmmakers with our 2006 awards.”

The 2006 Gold Summit Award for contribution to film was presented to actor William Forsythe whose film Jam screened at the 2006 Festival. Forsythe has appeared in over 75 feature films working with such notable directors as John Frankenheimer (Dead Bang), Walter Hill (Extreme Prejudice), Paul Schrader (Patty Hearst), Michael Bay (The Rock), Warren Beatty (Dick Tracy) and Edward James Olmos (American Me).  His other film credits include Things To Do in Denver When You’re Dead with Andy Garcia, The Lightship with Robert Duvall, Virtuosity starring opposite Denzel Washington, Duece Bigelow: Male Gigolo opposite Rob Schneider, Weeds with Nick Nolte and City By the Sea, again opposite Robert DeNiro. Most recently, Forsythe appeared with critical acclaim as Sheriff Jack Wydell in Rob Zombie’s 2005 box office success, The Devil’s Rejects, and just wrapped 88 Minutes, also starring Pacino and directed by Jonathan Avnet.

The award for Best Dramatic Feature Film was presented to Laura Smiles by Best Life Publisher Mary Murcko and Editor in Chief Stephen Perrine, who served as a member of the Feature Film Jury. Laura Smiles, directed by Jason Ruscio and starring Kip Pardue, Petra Wright, Jonathan Silverman, Ted Hartley, Mark Derwin, Scott Chernoff and Stephen Swan, is the story of one woman’s attempt to reinvent her life after a tragedy. However, her life spirals out of control through a series of sexual encounters, as she tries to return to a time when love was real.

The Best Documentary Award was presented to Off Road to Athens, directed by Jason Berry. The documentary covers the tumultuous path taken by eight athletes hoping to make the U.S. Mountain Biking Team headed to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

The Best Comedy Award was presented to The OH in Ohio, directed by Billy Kent and starring Parker Posey, Paul Rudd, Mischa Barton, Miranda Bailey, Liza Minnelli and Danny DeVito. The film follows the wild journey of Priscilla Chase after her husband unexpectedly leaves her, ultimately leading her to satisfaction and love in the most unlikely of places.

The Best Short Award was presented to Spin, directed by Jamin Winans, which features a mysterious DJ sent to mend a series of chain reactions that occur in our everyday lives. The film stars Johnny Hayz II, Raymond Andrew Bailey and Megan Heffernan.

The Best Television Pilot Award was presented to The Sperm Donor, directed by Amanda Bearse and starring Maggie Wheeler, David DeLuise, Richie Keen and Lauren Schaffel. The Sperm Donor follows a mother’s struggles when her 13 year-old daughter meets her anonymous sperm donor father.

The award for Best Student Film was presented to Celamy, directed by Julie Anne Meerschwan and starring India Ennenga, Autumn Manche and Taylor Patterson. The film follows the rise and fall of a friendship between a little girl and her imaginary friend.

The 2006 Audience Choice Awards were presented to two films. Sweet Land won the Audience Choice Award in the Best Feature category. The film was directed by Ali Selim and stars Alan Cumming, Ned Beatty, Elizabeth Reaser, Tim Guinee, Lois Smith, Alex Kingston, Paul Sand, John Heard and Patrick Heusinger. Set in 1920, Sweet Land follows Inge’s travels from Norway to rural Minnesota to meet the man destined to be her husband. Bureaucracy and social morality cause major complications. As Inge buries her husband on their Minnesota farm in 1968, we relive her story as she tells her grown grandson about her life as a postal bride and the obstacles she overcame in order to marry.

One Per Cent took the Audience Choice Award in the Best Documentary category. Directed by David Parker,  this film looks behind the ivy gates, past state-of-the-art security cameras, and down long private driveways, into the lives of the top one percent of America’s wealthiest people. Featured interviews include Russell Simmons, Rebecca Nanasi and Tyler Ellis.

The Vail Film Festival is produced by the Vail Film Institute, a non-profit arts organization that is dedicated to fostering independent cinema and creative filmmaking.

(Photo: Sweet Land, a La Salle Holland production in association with Beautiful Motion Pictures and Channel Z Films.)