Central Florida Film Wins At Mexico City Fest
(released
8/31/2006)
By greenroomwire
Dudley and the Toy Keeper's Chest recently added a new trophy to its award shelf. After winning The Family Award at the 2005 USA Film Festival in Dallas and the Space Coast Film Commission's Excellence in Florida Filmmaking Award at the Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival, the short made its international debut at the 11th Festival Internacional de Cine para Niños (...y no tan Niños) in Mexico City. The festival's mission is to bring the best in children's cinema from all over the globe to the niños and niñas of Mexico City. Dudley was one of only four films from the United States selected to screen and went on to win the Audience Award for Best Short Film, based on the votes of the children who attended the film's four screenings.
Dudley was written and directed by POEM Pictures' Patrick Algermissen, Grand Prize Winner of Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair Challenge, a national directing contest sponsored by Mr. Spielberg in 1996. Algermissen and Emmy Award winning Cinematographer Thomas Mumme of Blue Juice Films, Inc. traveled down to Mexico City for the fest.
"Mexico City is a wonderful place, and it was a great opportunity to see films from many different cultures that transcend the language barrier," says Algermissen in a prepared statement about the festival. "I was very honored that the children of Mexico loved Dudley so much and responded to it so well. I can't wait to bring my next film there."
The 14-minute storybook fantasy tells the tale of Dudley the lamb, the only toy ever created by the world's finest toy mender. Dudley's nemesis, the evil wooden wolf Silas, has been terrorizing the store where they live. When Silas turns his menacing teeth toward Dudley's creator, the little lamb must defend his home.
POEM Pictures and Blue Juice Films, Inc. are currently seeking financing for Algermissen's first feature film, The Little Dream Engine.
Print this article
|