Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival: Round 4 Winners & Honorable Mentions Announced!

The day is finally here… We are thrilled to announce the winners and honorable mentions for Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival: Round 4!

2020 being what it was, D2D as a film festival necessarily had to morph in order to meet the new realities of the world. From a global pandemic, uprisings in response to systemic racism, the US election, gender and immigration rights, and so much more, the festival worked to accommodate these realities and created PANDEMANIA!– a made up word that we defined as encompassing all of the above and beyond, and as a condition that  frequently resulted in a heightened need for self-expression through movement.

Before going any further we have to thank our amazing, generous, and brilliant judges: Peter Chu, E. Moncell Durden, Kristy Edmunds, and Rosalynde LeBlanc Loo, who joined me in viewing and discussing a myriad of films. They could not have offered up more intelligent, prescient, and challenging talking points in our adjudication, and we thank them immensely for their expertise and acumen in helping choose these winning films! D2D received over 100 submissions from 19 countries: Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and of course the United States. Many, many more noteworthy films than awards exist and we wish we could honor them all.

We must also give ENORMOUS thanks to all of our generous donors, small and large, for coming to bat for us and making it possible for us to give cash awards to winning filmmakers.  And finally, we’d like to extend a very special thanks to Next Echo and Cultural Weekly for their support. Thank you all!!!

As is often the case, some of our award titles changed out of necessity in response to the nature of the submissions. Beyond the films selected for the six awards and the honorable mentions, additional films will be announced soon as Official Selections of our next live or virtual (TBD) Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival. Please stand by for announcements & more info coming soon or check our website: www.dare2danceinpublic.com

CONGRATS TO ALL!!!

Award Winners:

Best Interface of Dance & Camera: Train Train

    • Directed by Benjamin Seroussi, Cinematography by Quentin De Lamarzelle, Choreography by Damien Jalet, Danced by Amilios Arapoglou, Score by Koki Nakano, Country of origin: France

A low angle shot of the back of a man, standing in front of a high-rise, looking up.

Best Editing: Geister  

    • Directed & Edited by Tom McKenzie, Choreography by Paxton Ricketts, Danced by Sebastian Haynes, Score by Ludwig von Beethoven, Trio – Niklas Walentin, Jacob la Cour, Alexander McKenzie, Country of origin: Denmark

A man wearing white writhes on the floor in front of a piano.

Best Polished Film: Smokestack Lightning

    • Directed by Charissa Kroeger & Eric Schloesser, Director of Photography Ian Coad, Edited by Grant Shelpuk, Choreography by Charissa Kroeger & Eric Schloesser, Music by Chester Bernett, Country of origin: USA 

A split screen shot of a couple of dancers, one front view and one back view, dancing synchronized. He is wearing  green long sleeve top and black pants. She is wearing a beige blouse and red pants. They're both dragging stools.

Best Emerging Filmmaker: Proclamation

    • Directed & Edited by Sam McReynolds, Cinematography by Alex Laya, Danced by Shauna Davis, Choreography by Sam McReynolds with Shauna Davis, Music by Roberta Flack, Country of origin: USA)

An individual standing on the sand at the beach, inches from the water, legs spread apart with arms out to the side and bent at the elbows. The person is looking up.

Best Remote Collaboration: Alone Together

    • Directed & Edited by Brigitte Fässler & William Bejedi, Dance & Choreography by Roki Lionel Tanaka, Venance Gwladys, Gee aka “Lil Sniper”, Music by Olafur Arnalds, Countries of origin France, Germany, Switzerland

Most Daring Film: REwind 

    • Directed, Edited & Performed by Alessia Ruffolo, Country of origin, Germany

Honorable Mentions:

Earth Odyssey – Directed & Edited by Adi Halfin, Danced by Morgan Bobrow-Williams, Vinson Fraley, Mariko Kabazaki, Doug Letheren, Yiannis Logothetis, Rachel Osborne, Ian Robinson, Or Schraiber, Bobbi Jene Smith, Imre Van Opstal, Tom Weinberger, Leal Zielinska, Music by Asaf Avidan, Country of origin, Germany

Near Perfect Synchronization – Directed by Benjamin Seroussi, Danced & Choreographed by Amala Dianor, Music by Koki Nokano, Country of Origin, France

This Far Apart – Directed by T.M. Rives & Ana Maria Lucaciu, Danced by Ana Maria Lucaciu, Cinematography & Editing by T.M. Rives, Music by T.M. Rives, Country of origin, USA

Virus – Directed by Nauris Buksevics, Danced by Antonello Sangirardi, Max Day, Alexandre Bourdat, Océane Robin, Miguel Altunaga Jr., Amélie Olivier, Country of origin, United KingdoM

4thof Deny – Directed & Edited by Marta Renzi, Key Cast Herve Alexander & many others on the streets, Country of origin, USA

In the weeks ahead please stay tuned for more coverage on and to see more of the winning films and honorable mentions. Till then, please enjoy the judges vote for Best Emerging Filmmaker: Proclamation, directed by Sam McReynolds, danced by Shauna Davis, with choreography by both of them.

Congratulations Sam!!!

Enjoy & standby for more to come on all of the above.

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