History Has Been Made at the 5th Annual I See You Awards!

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:

Facebook

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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!