Unfortunately, the wave of great films that rolled through Tucson for the 2nd Annual Arizona Underground Film Festival is gone. The great expanse of emotions stirred by this extraordinary group of films is going to be a difficult void to fill as the mall theater is just not going to provide the necessary nourishment for the mind. Tucson is however very fortunate to have The Loft Cinema, Crossroads Grand Cinemas, The Screening Room, Beowulf Alley Theater, and other venues that are committed year round to screening independent and local films. So with the end of the festival comes time to reflect on what were some of the things that made it so special. The festival has also today released its list of award winners, some of which this writer agrees with, some not so much. But that’s the fun of these things, a little fervent but respectful debate, which in the end, it is all just a matter of taste.

Saturday at the Arizona Underground Film Festival was just packed with great films and great camaraderie among the filmmakers and film lovers in attendance. The ultimate highlight though came at the Loft Cinema following the screening of horror classic The Devil’s Rejects. Hollywood legend William Forsythe was in attendance for a Q & A and autograph session and he was just superb. He shared graciously with the fans, he was funny, informative, eloquent, and honestly, not like the image one generally has in their head of a celebrity; he was just a guy who is a great actor, writer, and filmmaker who loves is job and the adventures of life. Oh, by the way, William was kind enough to grant the Tucson Film Industry Examiner an exclusive interview, yes, that’s not a typo. Look for the piece on Wednesday where he spoke with me about many topics including some of his upcoming work. It was really great and it is exciting to be able to share this experience with you.

There were several other films that screened the final two days of the festival which deserve special pointing out here. Friday night brought a twin bill of horror films, but it was the opener, Someone’s Knocking at the Door, which changed this writer’s idea of what a horror film can be. Chad Ferrin’s film was not at all what was expected. It is incorrect to have felt that horror films were somehow incapable of being great films because this film was just that. It was thoughtful, unapologetic, and thrilling from the opening frame. On Saturday, there were two more films that were simply impossible to ignore, Doctor “S” Battles the Sex Crazed Reefer Zombies and Cigarette Girl. Bryan Ortiz’ effort, Doctor “S”, was such a revelation about the power of finding the driving force of a story and riding it. The film displayed a wealth of cinematic knowledge and awareness of the greats, it is obvious Ortiz knows film and is destined for great things as he embraces his craft. The film was followed by Mike McCarthy’s Cigarette Girl, which was previewed and McCarthy interviewed by this writer here. Cigarette Girl was frankly the most professional and polished film of the festival. McCarthy is certainly a talented and experienced filmmaker who has honed his craft into an intelligent and cinematically stunning style other filmmakers must be envious of. These three films mentioned in this paragraph will all be reviewed in this space spoiler free over the course of this coming week. Please check back for these as these are three films you will want to try and find and see.

And the winner is…

Jury Awards
Narrative Feature
Modern Love is Automatic Dir: Zach Clark
Not too much to quibble with as this film would fall in the top four films for this writer. You can find an unfortunately, much apologizes spoiler laden review here. Good if you have seen the film. Yes, nobody’s perfect.

Narrative Short
My Cousin’s Keeper Dir: Tom Woodruff Jr.
No argument here. My Cousin’s Keeper told the story of a mentally challenged man and his cousin who are working as drug dealers. The interplay between the men was both disheartening and touching at the same time. The power of film is in full display here. Special mention here four Sour Krauts by Jake Hames. Really enjoyable, had the theater really going good. Great stuff.

Horror Feature
Evil Angel Dir: Richard Dutcher
This was perhaps the least favorite of this writer from the horror films. This is not to say the film was bad, because it was actually pretty good. It just was not as unique and interesting as either Doctor “S” Battles the Sex Crazed Reefer Zombies or Someone’s Knocking at the Door. Review of Someone's Knocking at the Door can be found here.

Horror Short
Kagamiko Dir: Mathieu Arsenault
This one was perhaps a bit over the head, you know. It didn’t really resonate, which happens sometimes. This writer would have gone with Le Chat Noir which was a French short by Tristan Convert that reimagines The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe. Poignant, disturbing, and bizarre, just what short films need to be simply because of their inherent nature. Being short, they have to get you right away and throughout. Maybe the wacky Acadian guys in Blood Shed deserve a mention as well.

Exploitation
Run! Bitch Run! Dir: Joseph Guzman
Absolutely, positively correct selection here. This flick has redefined the exploitation film, maybe for the better, maybe the worse, but it has done something most films never will do. You can read further about this film and this writer’s feelings on it here.

Documentary Feature
Oh My God! It’s Harrod Blank! Dir: David Silberberg
Quirky, eccentric, talented artist Harrod Blank is a perfect documentary subject. The subject matter made this film a fairly easy choice.

Documentary Short
Severing The Soul Dir: Barbara Klutinis
Intriguing use of found footage and interviews to weave the story of a lobotomy procedure performed on Rosemary Kennedy in 1941. Again, subject matter simply too interesting and unique to ignore.

Experimental
The Soil’s Soft Horizon Dir: Adam Petke
Beautiful black and white imagery, creepy emotion stirring hands, and it certainly fits the category, which is what it should do. Well done.

Animation
Seven Corners Dir: Todd Hemker
Not a bad choice, as there was a plethora of quality animated pieces to choose from. But in these dark days, humor always trumps for this writer, and no film had the room laughing and in utter enjoyment more than the short The Random Axe. But Seven Corners is certainly a fine choice.

Music Video
Everything Burns Dir: Aram Kouyoumdjian
Yeah, this is a no brainer. This filmmaker has a bright future as he combined many elements like puppeteering with live action and quality music. His work will be all over the place soon it would seem based on the skill shown here.

Best of Fest
I’ll Do It Til The Day I Die! Dir: Dale Peterson, Coleman Weinberg
This is certainly a quality short documentary on the band Mog Stunt Team, the bizarre occurrences surrounding their death, and an unhealthy infatuation with the alien nature of John Tesh.  But not sure it deserves best of fest.  Either Modern Love is Automatic, Cigarette Girl, Someone's Knocking at the Door, or Doctor "S" Battles the Sex Crazed Reefer Zombies were the choice here.

Audience Award
La Funcionaria Asesina a.k.a. The Slayer Bureaucrat Dir: Sergio Kardenas
This John Waters esque film by Kardenas certainly had the most boisterous crowd of the festival, as well as the nice turnout by the cast for the film and Q & A session following the film.

Special Jury Award
Someone’s Knocking at the Door Dir: Chad Ferrin
This film is one of the top four films of the festival for this writer. Check back for a review later this week.

Honorable Mention
Doctor “S” Battles The Sex Crazed Reefer Zombies Dir: Bryan Ortiz
This film is one of the top four films of the festival for this writer. Check back for a review later this week. Can you see a pattern developing here?

Director’s Choice Awards
Cigarette Girl Dir: Michael McCarthy
This film is one of the top four films of the festival for this writer. Check back for a review later this week. That’s right, but if you need more now, you can go here for an interview done with McCarthy by this space.

Yes, these last three films in this list and Modern Love is Automatic were the top films of the festival in this humble writer’s opinion. Please check back all week as there will pieces on the films of the festival almost every day. Also remember Wednesday will be the exclusive William Forsythe interview from the festival. Don’t miss it!

For more info: 
Arizona Underground Film Festival
The Loft Cinema
William Forsythe on IMDB
The Screening Room
Crossroads Grand Cinemas
Complete coverage of Arizona Underground Film Festival