The Briefing Room

(L) Royal Flush Festival Film Programmer Jim Muscarella & (R) “Automorphosis” Director Harrod Blank

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, October 21, 2009 – The Royal Flush Festival, an independent film, rock & roll, and underground art festival that took place October 15-19, handed out its custom-made “Skullie� Awards Monday night at Lower East Side burlesque hot spot The Slipper Room. The Slipper Room Dancers presented filmmakers with awards for the Jury and Audience award competitions, with live music by Fisherman’s Burlesque. These awards included the “One of a Kind� Award, which included unique art from Artists Ron English, Frank Kozik, Linsdey Kuhn & Tara McPherson.

The jury awarded Harrod Blank the best documentary prize for “Automorphosis� and best feature narrative to Gorman Bechard for “Friends With Benefits.� The Audience Award for best documentary went to Merle Becker’s “American Artifact� and for best feature narrative, Dean Bajramovic’s “Gangster Exchange.�

The Royal Flush Festival esteemed panel of film jurors comprised of independent media producer and nonfiction film blogger Pamela Cohn (Still in Motion), U.S. Director of Shooting People Ingrid Kopp, acclaimed director of photography and one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces 2009, Jody Lee Lipes, The 7th Floor producer Jesse Scolaro (“The Cake Eaters� & “Manito�), and New Filmmakers curator Bill Woods.

And the winners are:

Best Documentary
AUTOMORPHOSIS
Directed by Harrod Blank

“The jury awards Harrod Blank’s AUTOMORPHOSIS with the Best Documentary prize for its moving portrayals of the ‘outsiders’ in our world, and for its unabashed celebration of the artist and dreamer in all of us. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable ride,” said Pamela Cohn, Ingrid Kopp and Jody Lee Lipes.

Best Feature Narrative
FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS
Directed by Gorman Bechard

“Friends with Benefits tackles the story of six friends and the blurring lines between lust, love, and friendship. The film is an excellent showcase of its young talent (most notability Alex Brown and Margaret Laney) director Gorman Bechard (and co-screenwriter Ashley McGarry), delivering an honest and sensitive portrayal of young love in the city,� said Bill Woods.

Best Horror Feature
PIG HUNT
Directed by Jim Issacs

Audience Award – Feature Narrative
GANGSTER EXCHANGE
Directed by Dean Bajramovic

Audience Award – Documentary
AMERICAN ARTIFACT
Directed by Merle Becker

One of a Kind Award
THIS IS BERLIN, NOT NEW YORK
Directed by Ethan H. Minsker

Best Screenplay
BREAKING UPWARDS
Written by Peter Duchan, Daryl Wein & Zoe Lister Jones

“’Breaking Upwards’ goes in the opposite direction of relationships as a young New York couple strategizes their own break up. Filmmaker Daryl Wein and co-writer Zoe Lister-Jones bring an intimately heartfelt dissection of taking ‘days off.’ A good supporting cast (Julie White, Pablo Schreiber and the lovely Andrea Martin) have their moments,â€? said Bill Woods.

Best Cinematography
WAR AGAINST THE WEAK
Cinematographer Jay Silver
Directed by Justin Strawhand

Best of NYC
STANLEY BARD
Directed by Sam Bassett

Best Short Film
ALFRED
Directed by Leonardo Guerra Seragnoli

Best Animated Short
PRAYERS FOR PEACE
Directed by Dustin Grella

Best Music Video
THIS OLD SONG AND DANCE
Directed by Ronni Thomas

Best Horror Short
SCISSU
Directed by Tom Bewilogua

Best Student Short
DAMN YOUR EYES
Directed by David Guglielemo

Best Short Comedy
MAN OF THE PEOPLE
Directed by Gary Waldinger

Submissions for the 2010 Royal Flush Festival will open next Wednesday, October 28, 2009

For more information on the Royal Flush Festival, visit www.royalflushfestival.com.