Scott Schirmer's "Found" wins Best Director and Best Actor at Winter Film Awards Indie Film Fest

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - March 9, 2014 - PRLog -- The Third Annual Winter Film Awards Independent Film Festival kicked off Wednesday, February 26 2014 with three full days of screenings and after-parties and came to a dazzling finish on Saturday March 1 with a Gala Awards Ceremony at the beautiful club 230 FIFTH in which 15 outstanding winners were announced.  This year's event offered something for everyone, highlighting the dynamic range of talent and storytelling capabilities the independent filmmaking community has to offer. Among the 61 films selected for screening was a diverse mixture of documentaries, shorts, features, animation, music videos and horror films, including 9 student films, 17 female directors and representation from over 20 countries.

Bloomington Indiana filmmaker Scott Schirmer's feature-length student film "Found" won the BEST DIRECTOR award and lead actor Gavin Brown won the BEST ACTOR award in front of a crowd of 500.  The awards show included live musical performances from Soleil J and Billboard artist Sessino and featured outrageous costume designs by Natasha Berezhnaya.

"Found" (http://www.foundmovie.net) tells the story of Marty, who loved horror movies… Until his life turned into one. Marty is the ideal fifth grader; he gets good grades, listens to his teachers, and doesn’t start trouble in class. But darkness is beginning to fall over Marty’s life. The kids at school won’t stop picking on him, his parents just don’t seem to understand him, and now Marty must grapple with a terrible secret that threatens to destroy life as he knows it – his big brother is a serial killer! Brotherly love is put to the ultimate test in this emotional coming-of-age story that descends into full-blown horror.

Scott Schirmer studied film and sociology at Indiana University, where he received grants for filmmaking and achievement in video art. He currently works as a commercial video producer and editor. In 2006, his supernatural drama The Day Joe Left became a top ten finalist in Triggerstreet’s online short film festival. Found is his first feature film.

The 2014 Winter Film Awards Judges Panel was comprised of 15 industry individuals with diverse points of view, including 20-year industry veteran Frank Calo, production executive of "The Believer", award-winning filmmaker Sam Borowski, Broadway and Hollywood composer Stephen Trask, cinematographer Mik Cribben, music personality Matt Pinfield, producer/writer/director Larry Rosen and Miss Albania Benardina Radi.

Winter Film Awards 2014 Independent Film Festival is proudly sponsored by GrayLine NY, B&H Photo, 20Grand Vodka, Coney Island Spirits, Cupcake Cartel NYC, Cyberlink, Fabric Mill, FearsMag, Final Draft Inc., Glidecam, Graphic Stock, Hunter Mountain, Indie Flix, Jo Malone London, JT Talent, Jungle Software, Pole Position Raceway, ProductionHub Inc, PS Print, Que Sabor Bakery, Ride of Fame, Rooftop Films, Sony Creative Software, SpotHero, Sweets First Bakery, Video Blocks, Viktor Koen, The Village Voice, Worldcast Inc and Ya Mastiha Liqueur,

Winter Film Awards (WFA) is a volunteer-run and operated celebration of the diversity of local and international film-making.  In addition to the annual Independent Film Festival, WFA hosts 4-6 events each year in New York City, including panel discussions, networking parties, a 48-Hour Film Challenge, archival cartoon screenings and other fun film-related events, and works with all local NYC film schools, colleges, arts high schools and many cultural societies.

For more information on WFA festival, sponsors, judges, and upcoming events
please visit http://www.WinterFilmAwards.com and find them on Facebook.