Up until now, fan films (specifically Star Trek fan films) had only one annual awards competition devoted exclusively to their sub-genre, and those were the BJO AWARDS. Now there are three. The SHOWRUNNER AWARDS will begin taking submissions next week for Star Trek fan films, with winners announced on September 8, 2022. But yesterday, the Fan Film DIRECTORS CHOICE AWARDS announced their winners and honorable mentions.
Launched by fan filmmakers DAN REYNOLDS and GLEN L. WOLFE of WARP 66 STUDIOS in Arkansas, creators of the fan series THE FEDERATION FILES, the Directors Choice Awards were open to fan films of any genre (not just Star Trek) released during calendar year 2021. The judges were the directors of those submitted films. In order to take part, a director had to cast votes in each category for a fan film other than their own or be disqualified from winning.
Submissions were accepted during the month of February, and Dan Reynolds had this to say about their early trepidations: “We weren’t really sure how the initial response to our inaugural launch of the Fan Film Directors Choice Awards was going to turn out, but we soon realized that we struck a nerve with the fan film community. We knew we were on the right track, and within a few short weeks after our announcement, we received over 30 entries.”
Glen Wolfe echoed Dan’s sentiments: “From its inception, we wanted to fairly honor those hardworking fan film producers with recognition directly from their peers. This experience has been extremely positive, and I think that the films entered and those winning awards should show that the Fan Film Directors Choice Awards was a success and has encouraged us to continue it indefinitely.”
Dan concluded: “I’m very happy with the diversity of fan films that were included this year. We had Star Trek, Star Wars, James Bond, Harry Potter, and Indiana Jones fan films entered this year, and we hope that expands in the coming years. I was also very happy that the winners were from all the represented genres.”
And speaking of winners, that’s the perfect segue into presenting the results of the very first annual Fan Film Directors Choice Awards…
BEST DIRECTOR
WINNER
THE LAST PADAWAN II – A Short Star Wars Story
Jesper Tonnes, Director
HONORABLE MENTION
INTERLUDE – A Star Trek Fan Production (Film Fest Version)
Victoria Fox, Director
BEST ACTOR
WINNER
INTERLUDE – A Star Trek Fan Production (Film Fest Version)
Warren Hawk as Captain Imari Jakande
HONORABLE MENTION
COSMIC STREAM – A Star Trek Fan Production
Tyler Dunivan as Captain Derek Mason
BEST ACTRESS
WINNER
A BLASTER IN THE RIGHT HANDS – A Star Wars Story
Kirsty McKenzie as Sirik
HONORABLE MENTION
STARSHIP VALIANT: “ANIMALS”
Presley Reese as Ellie
BEST ORIGINAL COSTUMING
WINNER
(This category is intended for original costumes,
not best reproduction or off-the-shelf uniforms.)
THE FEDERATION FILES: “NO GOOD DEED”
HONORABLE MENTION
SECRETS OF THE TRIALS: A Star Wars Fan Film
BEST MAKE-UP/HAIRSTYLING
WINNER
(This category is for best “beauty” make-up and hair.
A Separate category is available for “alien” make-up.)
THE FEDERATION FILES: “DOPPELGANGER”
HONORABLE MENTION
SECRETS OF THE TRIALS: A Star Wars Fan Film
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
WINNER
THE LAST PADAWAN II – A Short Star Wars Story
Anders Linved, Cinematographer
HONORABLE MENTION
INTERLUDE – A Star Trek Fan Production (Film Fest Version)
Josh Irwin, Cinematographer
BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC
WINNER
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE: A James Bond Fan Film
Kevin Croxton and the Parkview Music Club
HONORABLE MENTION
INTERLUDE – A Star Trek Fan Production (Film Fest Version)
Kevin Croxton, Music Composer
BEST AUDIO MIXING
WINNER
INTERLUDE – A Star Trek Fan Production (Film Fest Version)
Mark Edward Lewis, Sound Designer
HONORABLE MENTION
THE FEDERATION FILES: “NO GOOD DEED”
Dan R. Reynolds, Audio Mixing
BEST CGI FX
WINNER
A LONG WAY FROM HOME: A Star Trek Fan Production
Samuel Cockings
STARSHIP VALIANT: “ANIMALS”
Brady Foster
BEST GREEN SCREEN
WINNER
A LONG WAY FROM HOME: A Star Trek Fan Production
HONORABLLE MENTION
THE FEDERATION FILES: “NO GOOD DEED”
BEST FX MAKE-UP
(This category is for best “alien or other prosthetics” make-up and hair.
A Separate category is available for “beauty” make-up)
WINNER
SQUADRON – A Star Trek Fan Production
James Bond 007 Fan Film: I EXPECT YOU TO DIE
Jade Kiely
BEST LIGHTING
WINNER
LEVIATHAN: A Star Trek Fan Production
HONORABLLE MENTION
THE FAIR TRADE: A Star Wars Fan Film
THE FEDERATION FILES: “DOPPELGANGER”
BEST SCREENPLAY
WINNER
HONORABLE MENTION
RAINCROSS: A Star Trek Fan Production Vance Major
BEST PARODY
WINNER
HONORABLE MENTION
BEST FOREIGN FAN FILM
WINNER
SQUADRON – A Star Trek Fan Production
HONORABLE MENTION
THE LAST PADAWAN II – A Short Star Wars Story
BEST ANIMATED FAN FILM
WINNER
THE FAIR TRADE: A Star Wars Fan Film
MOST CANON FAN FILM
(This category is for the film which best replicates the look, feel,
and overall presentation of the original referenced work.)
WINNER
THE FEDERATION FILES: “DOPPELGANGER”
HONORABLE MENTION
A LONG WAY FROM HOME: A Star Trek Fan Production
BEST EDITING
WINNER
MIA WILSON AND THE SECRET SNITCH: A Harry Potter Fan Film
HONORABLE MENTION
STARSHIP FARRAGUT: “HOMECOMING”
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
WINNER
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE: A James Bond Fan Film
HONORABLE MENTION
BEST IN FEST
WINNER
SQUADRON – A Star Trek Fan Production
HONORABLE MENTION
THE FEDERATION FILES: “DOPPELGANGER”
And that’s it for the 2022 Directors Choice Awards. Come back next week for the announcement of submissions opening for the 2022 Star Trek Fan Film Showrunner Awards!
The more awards the better I say! Especially pleased for Squadron and Warren Hawk as I rate them both. Good to see Interlude has done well, but congratulations to everyone. And, dam it, it looks like I’m going to be spending my free time watching some non-Star Trek fan films too! 🙂
The “Fair Trade” Star Wars fan film was amazing! Watch that one first!
Congratulations on some well-earned awards.