Fairfield well represented among film award nominees

Fairfield residents been nominated for many awards, which they hope to receive Saturday during the Iowa Motion Picture Awards at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.

The event will include keynote speakers Ellen Chenoweth and husband Neil Brooks Cunningham, and will be emceed by Shawn Diddy, all from Fairfield. Diddy is a commercial actress, performer and Miss Iowa 1997. Chenoweth and Cummingham have nearly 50 feature and television films between them.

From his first role as a medic in the cult classic 'Alice's Restaurant” in 1974, to reprising a medical role as a doctor in 'Bourne Legacy,” Cunningham will regale the audience with stories of landing his numerous roles in films, and how he met Ellen Chenoweth when both were members of the Actors Studio in New York City.

Nominated 25 times in outstanding achievement in casting direction, Chenoweth has claimed three top honors in her storied career for 'A Serious Man,” 'No Country for Old Men” and the 2010 remake of 'True Grit.”

The full day of the 28th annual Iowa Motion Picture Association awards kicks off with screenings of nominated films at 10 a.m. and goes throughout the day. Later in the day there will be networking with filmmakers and red-carpet interviews. Rounding out the day are a banquet dinner at 5 p.m., awards ceremony at 7 p.m., followed by an after-party with live music in the arts center's atrium.

Ceremony ticketing is $20 at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center. Day of event tickets are $25.

The 28th annual Iowa Motion Picture award nominees include film makers from all over the state, but here's a sneak peak of films, shorts, and documentaries with a Fairfield connection.

' In the category 'documentary/web series,” Luke Stenger has been nominated for creating and hosting educational and entertainment web series on YouTube (the steng) covering everything from cars to shooting on 35mm film.

' Ashia Freeden is nominated for her short documentary showcasing the unique written art style of Chad Starling, and the profound ideas behind his illustrations. She is nominated in the college student production category.

' Maharishi University of Management faculty member Cody Olivas's medium length film 'Apotheosis” will compete in the live action entertainment category. In the film, the character Lucy taps into her artistic expression by using Theo as her muse, until they collide.

' Student in the David Lynch MFA in Screenwriting program Shawn Maus was selected in the category of corporate and community marketing. Maus's 'Agency Promotional Video” was written, directed and produced for The Children's Home of Cincinnati, Ohio.

' Edward Sovago-Royal was selected in the category of unproduced screenplays. Sovago-Royal's screenplay is about an interracial girl who is dumped by her mother on the doorstep of her white uncle after the death of her grandmother. The girl's uncle is a down-on-his-luck detective, broke and struggling. After she blows his cover during a stakeout, he enlists her help, and teaches her how to be a private investigator. If not, they'll lose the money needed for the rent and be homeless.

' Dick DeAngelis's 'Heroes of Fairfield” series is nominated in four categories: Fair Field Productions, for best documentary; Dick DeAngelis, for long form direction (60 minutes-plus); Tim Britton, for soundtrack audio mix; and Amine Kouider, for editing long form.

'Heroes of Fairfield” brings to life several stories of ordinary citizens who did extraordinary things to make a difference in their community and their world. In this second film in the Fairfield History Series, historians and noted authors uncover stories about local heroes.

' Lauren LeBritton is an undergraduate student at MUM. Her film 'The Playhouse” has been nominated in the categories of college student production and original music score. She used mostly MUM students as actors and crew.

The film is about a teenager who directs her student-run theater company when it's forced to organize a plan to hold onto the property from an impending buyer. Despite their efforts, the buyer cunningly demoralizes the young thespians. A mentorship will bud where least expected, leading to a liberating resolution.