Terri Lee Chandler
Aug 30, 20213 min
History was made at the 5th Annual I See You Awards®! On Sunday, August 29, 2021, a group of very deserving independent filmmakers heard their names called as I See You Awards® winners and/or nominees!
We are also proud to have presented the first ever "In Focus Award" to Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor, co-founders of Hidden Empire Film Group, and the very first "Beacon Award" to legendary cinematographer Dante Spinotti. More on those awards below, but first: check out the list of 2021 winners below!
Student Film Winners
Best Director
Jarod D. Clark, Desuetude
Best Lead Actor
Dale Dobson, Desuetude
Best Supporting Actor
Dhinesh Raja Kannan, 4AM (Based on the play by Bob Krakower)
Best Lead Actress
Ashley Douglas, mama
Best Cast
4AM (Based on the play by Bob Krakower)
Best Original Screenplay
Delores M. Flynn, mama
Best Editing
Joshua Brockett, 4AM (Based on the play by Bob Krakower)
Best Soundtrack
Michael Hilgendorf, 4AM (Based on the play by Bob Krakower)
Best Cinematography
Jackson Stormer, Desuetude
Best Picture
Desuetude
Hottest Up-and-Coming Actor (Student Films)
Keanu Sousa Mendes, The Color of Hate
Hottest Up-and-Coming Actress (Student Films)
Madison Coates, mama
Short Film Winners
Best Director
Corey Milton, Without Grace (Michigan-made film)
Marcellus Cox, Mickey Hardaway (Proof of concept short)
Best Lead Actor
Daniel Jeffries, Without Grace (Michigan-made film)
Saj Hussain, Psyched!
Best Supporting Actor
Ammar Nemo, Project Horror (Michigan-made film)
David Chattam, Mickey Hardaway (Proof of concept short)
Best Lead Actress
Anca Vaida, Psyched!
Best Supporting Actress
Allyson L. Smith, Run Girl Run (Michigan-made film)
Nancy Van Iderstine, Velvet Crush
Best Cast
Without Grace (Michigan-made film)
Psyched!
Best Original Screenplay
Kelly Karam, Feminine Shadow (Michigan-made film)
Madhu R, Death Offers Life – last moments of Vincent Van Gogh
Best Editing
Rob E, Project Horror (Michigan-made film)
Pedro Gonzalez Kuhn, Velvet Crush
Best Original Score
Noah J. Teachey, Detroit Landmarks: Inspiration (Michigan-made film)
Jude Robins, Death Offers Life – last moments of Vincent Van Gogh
(Sound Design & Stereo Mixing)
Best Cinematography
Roger Haggart, Feminine Shadow (Michigan-made film)
Noushad Shereef, Death Offers Life – last moments of Vincent Van Gogh
Best Picture
Feminine Shadow (Michigan-made film)
Death Offers Life – last moments of Vincent Van Gogh
Hottest Up-and-Coming Actor
Tony Calabrese, A Basement Film (Michigan-made film)
Taylor Byron Barr, Pussie Control 2: Night at the Drive-in
Hottest Up-and-Coming Actress
Avery Bolt, A Basement Film (Michigan-made film)
Honorable Mention
Chin Yang, Without Grace (Michigan-made film)
Bryan Bostic, Pussie Control 2: Night at the Drive-in
Music Video
Best Music Video
Babylon: Ghetto, Renaissance and Modern Oblivion
Documentaries
Best Documentary – Short
Shade Guzzling
Best Documentary – Feature
We Are All In This Together
Feature Film Winners
Best Director
Paul Schneider, Just Another Dream
Best Lead Actor
Greg Finley, Downeast
Best Supporting Actor
Joss Glennie-Smith, Downeast
Best Lead Actress
Kayden Bryce, Just Another Dream
Best Supporting Actress
Kristy Swanson, Just Another Dream
Best Cast
Downeast
Best Original Screenplay
Jennifer Nichole Lee, Just Another Dream
Best Editing
Paul Schneider, Just Another Dream
Best Soundtrack
Aaron Bagley, Downeast
Best Cinematography
TJ Orrys, Just Another Dream
Best Picture
Just Another Dream
People’s Choice Award
Just Another Dream
Special Awards
As mentioned above, the I See You Awards' first ever "In Focus Award" was presented to Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor, co-founders of Hidden Empire Film Group, and the I See You Awards' very first "Beacon Award" was presented to legendary cinematographer Dante Spinotti.
As I See You Awards founder Terri Lee Chandler mentioned during Sunday's awards ceremony, Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor are not only trailblazing independent filmmakers, they're also wonderful examples of first-class independent filmmakers and supporters of independent and freelance film critics.
Cinematographer Dante Spinotti received the first-ever I See You Awards' "Beacon Award" for lighting the way for independent film. He has worked with the Taylor's on a number of their film projects.
Once again, congratulations to all of this year's I See You Awards nominees and winners! We see you!
For a complete list of this year's official selections and nominees, click here.
For more information on our special award recipients, click here.
The 2021 I See You Awards were sponsored by:
Casey Sign Company
Emagine Entertainment
Michigan Film & Digital Media Office
WWJ Newsradio 950
Additional partners:
ES Communications Agency
The Lee Group
Randazzo Formal Wear
The Film Production House
We'd like to extend a big "Thank You" to our sponsors who help make the I See You Awards® possible!
Heads Up Indie Filmmakers!
Now that the 5th annual awards are in the history books, you'll want to keep your EYES open for the 2022 Call for Entries! And the best way to do that is to join our email list (subscribe right here on our website) and follow us on social media to keep up to date and be notified when the call for entries goes out:
We see you! We support you! And we look forward to having a chance to recognize and reward your work at the next I See You Awards Film Festival and our one-of-a-kind Black Tie, Blue Carpet Awards Ceremony!