• Narrative Competition • New Directors Competition • Documentary Competition •
• Music Films / Music City Competition • Short Films Competition • Awards •
NARRATIVE COMPETITION presented by 
Dan Butler, a renowned actor, writer, director, and activist is a Ft. Wayne, Indiana native who studied acting at the American Conservatory Theater. Perhaps best known as Bulldog on “Frasier,” Butler’s career has taken him from Broadway, to films like SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and LONGTIME COMPANION.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Joe Leydon has been film critic for The Houston Press, the San Francisco Examiner, and The Houston Post. He currently writes for MovieMaker Magazine, is a regional correspondent for Variety, and communications director for Cowboys & Indians magazine.
Nathaniel Rogers was born in Florida, raised in Michigan, but became who he is today in the neighborhood movie theater. He is the creative force behind TheFilmExperience.net – an influential movie blog and long-running site. He is also a critic for the website Towelroad.com.
NEW DIRECTORS COMPETITION presented by 
Darris Hatch began her career at ICM where she repped screenwriters JJ Abrahms, Callie Khouri, and Ted Tally. Moving to Columbia Pictures, she developed such hits as GROUNDHOG DAY. As a producer, her credits include SOUTH OF HEAVEN, WEST OF HELL. She is currently a producer on CMT’s hit comedy “Working Class”, starring client Melissa Peterman.
David Moscowitz is a professor of communication and cultural studies and director of film studies at the College of Charleston. Formerly a board member for the Indianapolis International Film Festival, he received a grant from The Humanities Council of South Carolina to enhance film-related programming in Charleston.
Born in a city that evokes a great film (FARGO), Jane Rulon directed the Indiana Film Commission for 12 years, helping to provide assistance to producers of over 230 feature films. During her tenure, MovieMaker named Indianapolis three times in their rankings of “10 Best Cities in North America for Independent Moviemakers.”
DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION presented by the 
Dorothy Henckel is currently the Director of Acquisitions for the Documentary Channel and is an award-winning producer of several short films. Trained as a chemist, her career path has led her from Roche Diagnostics, to Board President of the Indianapolis Int’l Film Festival and now into television at the Documentary Channel.
Jane Julian was a founding member and director of the Durango Film Society, which inspired the creation of the Durango Independent Film Festival. She is currently the programming director of the Port Townsend Film Festival in Washington state.
Joe Pacheco is the award-winning filmmaker of AFTER THE FALL (NaFF 2010), and an Emmy-nominated cinematographer. His photos have been published in the New York Times and exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art. He is also the founder/program director of the Brooklyn Independent Cinema Series.
MUSIC FILMS / MUSIC CITY COMPETITION
presented by
Shaun Cassidy is an award-winning musician, actor, and film producer. He is known for his roles in such TV hits at “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries” and several Top 10 hits, including “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Morning Girl.” Recently he has been producer of such shows as “American Gothic” (along with Sam Raimi) and CBS hit “Cold Case.”
Named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film, Kimberly Reed is a documentary producer and director. Her film PRODIGAL SONS won multiple awards on the festival circuit (including NaFF 2009), and upon its theatrical release, landed her a spot on the “Oprah Winfrey Show.”
Matthew Socey is host of two radio shows - “The Blues House Party” and “Film Soceyology” - in Indianapolis. He also serves as a special contributor for “The Art of the Matter” and a contributing writer for NUVO Newsweekly and Down Beat magazine.
Brad Horvath is the producer of the short documentary THE BOOK LADY (NaFF 2009) among other films, and is presently Head of Acquisitions for Ouat Media, North America’s largest distributor of international short films.
Jamie Travis has completed six short films, all of which have premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (including NaFF 2010 winner THE ARMOIRE), and has established himself as a director of precise vision. Called “one of the most original voices in Canadian cinema” by The Toronto Star.
Richard Waterhouse is an actor (credits include COURAGE DOESN’T ASK and KARL ROVE, I LOVE YOU) and maker of short films, including YOUNG, SINGLE, & ANGRY and RESPECT FOR ACTING, a selection of the 2010 NaFF.
• Feature Awards • Additional Feature Prizes • Shorts •
FEATURE AWARDS:
Bridgestone Grandy Jury Prize
Southwest Airlines Audience Award
Naxos Award for Best Film Music
Narrative Competition Best Actor / Best Actress
New Directors Competition Grand Jury Prize
New Directors Competition Best Actor / Best Actress
Gibson Impact of Music Award
The Documentary Channel Grand Jury Prize
The Documentary Channel Audience Award
Special Thanks:
ADDITIONAL PRIZES FOR FEATURES:
Ground Zero Tennessee Spirit Award
Best Tennessee Feature
NAHCC Award for Best Hispanic Film
Best GLBT Film
NPT Human Spirit Award
Women in Film & TV Prize for Best Film by a Woman Director
FMSMF Prize for Best Director / Composer Collaboration
Special Thanks:
SHORT FILM AWARDS:
Best Narrative Short (Academy Qualifier)
Best Animated Short (Academy Qualifier)
Best Documentary Short
Best Experimental Short
Ground Zero TN Spirit Award - Narrative
Ground Zero TN Spirit Award - Documentary
Vanderbilt Golden Opportunity Award
Watkins Young Filmmakers Award
Special Thanks:
Print-friendly
Send to a friend