NEW YORK, NY – The Windsor Foundation for Arts in Film has awarded its first annual Windsor Prize to a short film entitled “Comic Belief” from Executive Producer and Writer Sarit Catz. “Windsor is all about the next step,” notes Foundation director Robert Sanders, “What’s on the cutting edge of technology and storytelling in film. ‘Comic Belief’ was right in there with our priorities.”
“Comic Belief” is a hybrid of animation and live action, and tells the story of a young man, his friends, his work, his life, and his doodles. When Justin doodles, he creates a superhero comic world, where every character in his real life has an alter ego. In the “Team Freedom” adventures, Dr. Justice always comes out on top; in his real life, Justin does not. According to filmmaker Sarit Catz, “We all have to strike out on our own at some point, and the challenge of doing that inspires Justin and his comic belief, if you will.”
“Not only did Sarit and her team use great technique,” raves Sanders. “They integrated them in a seamless and organic way which made the overall film extremely entertaining and appealing.” “Comic Belief” was selected from over 500 entries for the honor and accompanying $1,000 cash prize.
Having once written and produced hits like “Full House,” “Coach,” “Soul Man” and other television series, Catz has been spending her time in recent years as an independent filmmaker and professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Filmmaking. “You know,” Catz quips, “those who can do, those who can’t teach.”
The Windsor Prize will continue to be awarded annually to independent films that use innovative techniques to tell engaging stories. Sanders adds, “Media is changing and will continue to develop, merge, meld and shift. It’s a very exciting time to be in independent film.”
