2018 Awarded Films and Nominations
Winning selections in bold.
Best Student Film
Films produced by current students and/or those under 23 years of age.
A.S. INC. – Antonio Dahl – 12:54 – New York, FL – Best Student
WORKING TITLE – Stephanie O’Brien – 18:51 – Bernardsville, NJ – Best Student
GOODBYE ADOLESCENCE – 8:01 – Patrick Burns – Muscatine, IA – Best Student
JANE – Mitchell Keeran – 10:35 – Forest City, IA – Best Student
Murder/Mayhem (The Infamous “M&M Award”)
Mature/graphic content Thrillers, Horror, Suspense, etc.
NO REPLY – Michael Huntington – 9:55 – Coralville, IA – M&M
LOW SELF ESTEEM – Mikeal Burgin – 3:25 – Mt. Vernon, IA – M&M
THE HATMAN – Charlie Gandez – 7:48 – Forest City, IA – M&M
GOODBYE OLD FRIEND – Rafael De Leon Jr. – 5:58 – Bronx, NY – M&M
Best Comedy
Humorous films that elicit laughter from the audience.
HU-BOT – Clint D’Souza – 5:13 – Canada – Best Comedy
FARTMAN – Siqi Xiao – 13:35 – Hollywood, CA – Best Comedy
WITCHES OF WONDER – John Gigrich – 6:33 – Minneapolis, MN – Best Short
SECRET LIVES OF TEACHERS – Aaron Seever – 11:52 – Mesa, AZ – Best Comedy
Municipal Connections Best Local Film
Films produced by a current resident of Muscatine Area (within 40 mile radius).Municipal Connections Best Local Film – Films produced by a current resident of Muscatine Area (within 40 mile radius).
SOUL MATES – TEAM FIIP – 7:30 – Iowa City, IA – M&M
I AM HERE – Nick Busch – 3:00 – Davenport, IA – Best Shot
MUTUAL FRIENDS – Nick Austin – 30:00 – Wilton IA – Web Series
GOODBYE ADOLESCENCE – 8:01 –Patrick Burns – Muscatine, IA – Student
Best Iowa Made Short Film
Filmmakers who currently reside in the state of Iowa are eligible for this award.
I AM HERE – Nick Busch – 3:00 – Davenport, IA – Best Short
VIEWER – Maria Jackson – 11:41 – Des Moines, IA – Best Short
MORRIS – Michael Helgens – 12:50 – Cedar Rapids, IA – M&M
HOW I SAW IT – Rob Erwin – 23:09 – Bettendorf, IA – Best Short
Best Documentary
Non-Fiction/Documentary films
EGG CREAM –Nora Miller – 15:12 – New York, NY
HOW I SAW IT – Rob Erwin – 23:09 – Bettendorf, IA – Best Short
THROUGH MY EYES – Keaton Fuller – 28:40 – Iowa City, IA – Best Doc
MARIEKE – Thomas Johnson – 7:15 – Decorah, IA – Best Doc
Distinctive Achievement Certificates
(Categories may include Cinematography, Music/Sound Design, Screenplay, Iowa Filmmaking/Acting,1st Time Filmmaker, Micro-Short, & Student Filmmaking.)
MICROSHORT FILM MAKING (Under 4min: 1) I AM HERE – Nick Busch – 3:00 – Davenport, IA
48 Hour FILMMAKING: 1) SOUL MATES – TEAM FIIP – Carl Busch
1st TIME FILMMAKING: ENEMY TERRITORY – Matt Wagner – Oskaloosa, IA – MUTUAL FRIENDS – Nick Austin – Wilton, IA
IOWA ACTING: Dylan Jaeger (“Morris” & “No Reply”) / Lora Adams – “Man In Purple” / Ben Rollins
STUDENT FILMMAKING: 1) “JANE” – Mitchell Keeran 2) “SCATTERGOOD” – Connor Aden
SCREENPLAY WRITING: David Lane – Screenwriting – Man In Purple
CINEMATOGRAPHY: THE HATMAN – Charlie Gandez – 7:48 – Forest City, IA
Best Short Film—Best of Show
The MIFF screening panel’s best short film based on cinematic criteria.
BETTER ANGELS – Malcolm Clarke – Quebec, Canada
HU-BOT – Clint D’Souza – Canada
A PATRIOT ACT – Yousef Assabahi – Los Angeles, CA
MORRIS – Michael Helgens – Cedar Rapids, IA
Best Short Film – Grand Jury Prize
The attending panel of judges will vote on their favorite short film.
WITCHES OF WONDER – John Gigrich – 6:33 – Minneapolis, MN – Evening Short Film Block
BEAR – Josh Cisewski – 15:00 – Carver, MN – Evening Short Film Block
THE SECRET LIFE OF TEACHERS – Aaron Seever – 11:52 – Mesa, AZ – Evening Short Film Block
LITTLE TEXAS – Marissa Vonn – 16:04 – San Francisco, CA – Evening Short Film Block
THE GHOST IN HER – Michael White – 13:37 – Wayne, NE – Evening Short Film Block
Viewer’s Choice
The audience voted on their favorite film from this year’s festival.
- Goodbye Adolescence
- Man In Purple
- Enemy Territory/Working Title