Chicago Filmmakers Win Award in Accolade Global Film Competition

CHICAGO - June 27, 2016 - PRLog -- Local filmmakers Mike Pusateri, Richard Diaz, Erin Breen, and Jennifer Cudahy have won a prestigious Award of Merit from The Accolade Global Film Competition. The award was given to the filmmakers for their captivating comedic short film, ELLA GETS A PROMOTION?, which takes a humorous look at duplicitous behavior in today's corporate America. ELLA GETS A PROMOTION? features an exceptional story line with brilliant performances by the actors. The film was shot entirely on location at Chicago's Merchandise Mart.

"On behalf of our little ensemble, we're very proud to win an Accolade and to have our work recognized by such a prestigious organization," said Mike Pusateri who wrote, produced, and co-directed the film. "Having spent several years in The Land of Cubicles, I know the inanities and frustrations faced by so many people each and every day. We wanted to skewer that a little bit and make a fun film that feels relatable. As the audience watches, we want them to be laughing of course, but we also hope they sort of shift uncomfortably in their seats while they see this situation unfold."

"When Mike shared his script with me last year, I loved it and told him immediately I wanted to do it. Having worked in a corporate setting myself, I found the material hilarious and relatable in a nuanced sense," said Erin Breen who plays ELLA and recently recurred on HBO's SILICON VALLEY. "I knew Mike has been influenced by Mike Judge's work and you could definitely see that in the writing. This film was a fabulous team effort, which makes winning the award that much sweeter."

Joining Breen in the all-female cast was Jennifer Cudahy, who plays JILL. "Working on ELLA was such a blast," says Cudahy. "I've known Mike for years, but I've never worked with Erin or Richard before. I love that we were able to work and play so well together as an ensemble to bring this story to life. And to have our efforts recognized with an Accolade is sensational."

Rounding out the team was Richard Diaz, who co-directed the film and served as its cinematographer and editor. "It's just a good feeling when a team like ours comes together so well and we create something we're all proud of," said Diaz. "So much time and effort goes into creating any film, and for the Accolade Global Film Competition to recognize us in this way is very rewarding. I can't wait to see what the future holds for ELLA!"

The Accolade recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry. Information about the Accolade and a list of recent winners can be found at www.accoladecompetition.org.

In winning an Accolade, these Chicago filmmakers joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including the Oscar winning production of The Lady in Number Six by Malcolm Clarke, the very talented Dave Bossert of Disney for his short documentary, The Tunes Behind The Toons, Hollywood industry veteran Ron Howard for When You Find Me and Highwire Films Australia for their popular ABC TV series twentysomething. Rick Prickett, who chairs The Accolade Global Film Competition, had this to say about the latest winners, "The Accolade is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. The Accolade helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptional high quality of entries. The goal of The Accolade is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve."

For more information, please visit www.ellagetsapromotion.com.