"WHERE IS MY SONG?" IN TUNE AS BEST FILM AT 168 FILM FESTIVAL

    ATLANTA, GA, November 07, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Producer Justin Manntai and Director John Lockmer's Speed Musical "Where is My Song?" won eight awards at 168 Film Festival including the Grand Jury Best Film Award and the lion's share of the $5,000 Peter Glenville Prize.

The Best Film Award was presented by eighty-six year-old Academy Award Winner, Best Supporting Actor in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and Emmy Winner in Roots (1977), Louis Gossett Jr., who received a standing ovation as he left the stage.

In "Song?," memory loss victim and Best Actress winner, Lindsey Newell, must find the one song and the words to win her freedom. The short film is the latest in a multi-year collaboration between Manntai and Lockmer, who have been friends since grade school.

In his acceptance speech, Lockmer thanked his team and said, "Most of all, my heart's intent is to give God all the glory, He alone is worthy of praise."

"Where Is My Song" also nabbed Best Speed Film. Hunter Cline and John Lockmer's story and lyrics won Best Screenplay and Best Scriptural Integration. The Best Director award went to John Lockmer, the Best Editor was David L. Rivera and Best Supporting Actress, Linzi Fenix as Bayley.

Dan Cathy of Trilith Studios and Chick-Fil-A congratulated the filmmakers with a video announcement from his appearance on Friday, Nov 4th. The entrepreneur also received the "169 Award," for service above and beyond in serving the goals of the 168 Film organization and faith friendly media. Also winning the 169 Award were Steve Puffenberger and David Puffenberger of Advent Media, Inc. for their service to 168 Film Project and Festival.

From Canada, Amir Shehata's "End Game" won for Best Animated Film, Best International, Best Alumni Film, Original Score, and Sound Design, Sofia Lasa, Composer. "End Game" was named Best Film-Runner Up, getting a share of the Peter Glenville Prize. Shehata has nearly perfected the Speed-Animation category, having won Best honors in 2021 for Animated, Alumni Film, Score and Sound Design for "The Spacewalk."

Emcee John David Ware said, "A truly amazing festival. I'm so proud of all of the filmmakers. And it was a thrill to be up there with such a beloved and respected artist, Louis Gossett Jr!"

The Best Actor is Joaquin Gonzalez who plays Ulises in "The Son of My Life," a film from Ecuador.

The Best Supporting Actor is Jerel Patterson as Father in "With You."

Honorable Mention in Acting goes to John Doss as Husband in "With You."

Honorable Mention in Acting goes to Mackenzie Gilligan as Judy in "Billy Rapture."

Honorable Mention in Acting goes to Kat Lee as Nyra in "Outlast."

The Green Plants Shop Best Production Design goes to Cami Bradford and Jacob Kaufman for "Outlast."

The Evangelista Award, which is the best tool for sharing the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ goes to "The Light of PIP" by Ken Meritt. "Billy Rapture" wins the Evangelista Comedy Award.

"Birthday Brash" by Susan Shearer and Christopher Shawn Shaw wins Best Comedy, and Screenplay Comedy (Darren Cogan).

The Best Cinematography goes to Spiike G for "Outlast."

"True Identity" by Rachel Lowry and Tim Lowry wins Best KidVid and Best Make-Up & Hair Award ( Anna Lowry and Danielle Lowry).

The Best Open Film Winner is "The Sprayer" ​​by Farnoosh Abedi from Iran.

There were two Audience Favorite awards and both resulted in ties.

The Friday winners are "The White Candle" by Natalie A. Meza and "As If It Were" by Elizabeth Powell and A Better Way Ministries.

The Saturday winners are "It's Not All About" Me by Billy Dickson and the Landmark Christian Film Class and "The Light of Pip" by Ken Merritt.

SPONSORS: Advent Media Inc, 8168 Productions, ENZO, Roush Media, The Funky Shack

Award Presenters Included:

Cameron Arnett, Actor/Director, known for I Still Believe and Overcomer, winner of the 2020 ICFF Actor of the Year, and founder of Christ Over Career.
Chris Brewster, Director and Stunt/Fight Coordinator on Black Adam, Loki, Daredevil, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Chris Cibelli and Tatia Cibelli, Editors on Panama, Rectify, The Mentalist, Reverie, The Enemy Within
Wynn Everett, Actress from HBO's Newsroom, HBO's Doom Patrol and Marvel's Agent Carter
Wilbur Fitzgerald, Producer and actor on On A Wing And A Prayer with Dennis Quaid coming soon and the Lionsgate feature Are You There God?
Mark Fincannon, Casting Director, The Resident, Genius; The Wonder Years and The Blind Side
Shauna Galligan, Stunt Performer: Avengers Infinity War and Avengers End Game. Stunt coordinator: Chick Fight, Rogue Hostage
Louis Gossett Jr., Academy Award Winner: Best Supporting Actor in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Emmy Award winner in ABC television miniseries Roots (1977).
Victoria Jackson, Actress on UHF and Into the Spotlight and SNL Alumni comedienne
Wes Llewellyn, Director/Producer, The Moment After I & II, It's Supernatural with Sid Roth, The Farmer and the Belle
Amanda Llewellyn, Producer/Writer, The Moment After I & II, It's Supernatural with Sid Roth.
Eddie Matthews, Stunt Performer, Black Adam, Transformers, Jurassic World, stunt double for Mark Wahlberg, Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Anthony Hopkins.
Steve Puffenberger, Award Winning Producer,Changed on the Inside, technologist and 168 Film Board Member.
Yvette Sams, Award-Winning Director/Producer and the Writer of A Royal Surprise currently streaming on BET Network and 168 Film Board Member.
John David Ware, Director, Unbridled; Producer, Final Frequency; Founder and Director of the 168 Film Project.

The 168 Film Festival Jury 2022 included Cameron Arnett, Actor/Director, known for I Still Believe and Overcomer, winner 2020 Movieguide Most Inspiring Performance, and ICFF Actor of the Year; Brian Bird, Co-creator/Executive Producer, When Calls the Heart; Writer/Producer, The Case for Christ and Captive; Leilani Downer, Writer-Producer-Director who has worked on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; and Netflix's Julie and the Phantoms; Mark Fincannon, Casting Director, The Resident, Genius; The Wonder Years and The Blind Side; Gary Hall, Founder of Hollywood Impact Studios Prison Ministry, Writer/Producer, 21 Jump Street, and former Sr.VP 20th Century Fox Television Post Production; Yvette Sams, writer/director/producer with many projects in development including her family drama series, Edge of the South, and several Christmas projects. She wrote the film A Royal Surprise currently streaming on BET Network; John David Ware, Director, Unbridled; Producer, Final Frequency; Founder and Director of the 168 Film Project.

AWARDS LISTED:

Make-Up & Hair - Anna Lowry and Danielle Lowry for True Identity
Sound Design – Sofia Lasa for End Game - Canada
Original Score – Sofia Lasa for End Game - Canada
Production Design - Cami Bradford and Jacob Kaufman for Outlast
Screenplay - Hunter Cline and John Lockmer for Where is My Song?
Screenplay Comedy – Darren Cogan for Birthday Brash
Scriptural Integration - Hunter Cline and John Lockmer for Where is My Song?
Evangelista Award - The Light of Pip by Ken Merritt
Evangelista Comedy Award - Billy Rapture by Deborah Kay
Editor - David L. Rivera for Where Is My Song?
Cinematography - Spiike G for Outlast
Supporting Actor – Jerel Patterson as Father in With You
Supporting Actress – Linzi Fenix as Bayley in Where is My Song?
Actress – Lindsey Newell as Joanna in Where is My Song?
Actor – Joaquin Gonzalez as Ulises in The Son of My Life - Ecuador
Honorable Mention in Acting - John Doss as Husband in With You
Honorable Mention in Acting – Mackenzie Gilligan as Judy in Billy Rapture
Honorable Mention in Acting - Kat Lee as Nyra in Outlast
Director – John Lockmer for Where is My Song?
Audience Favorite - The White Candle by Natalie A. Meza
Audience Favorite - As If It Were by Elizabeth Powell and A Better Way Ministries
Audience Favorite - It's Not All About Me by Billy Dickson and the Landmark Christian Film Class
Audience Favorite - The Light of Pip by Ken Merritt
Best International Film – End Game by Amir Shehata - Canada
Best Alumni Film - End Game by Amir Shehata - Canada
Best Speed Film – Where Is My Song? by John Lockmer and Justin Manntai
Best KidVid – True Identity by Rachel Lowry and Tim Lowry
Best Comedy – Birthday Brash by Susan Shearer and Christopher Shawn Shaw
Best Open Film - The Sprayer by Farnoosh Abedi - Iran
168 Grand Jury Prize - Best Film - Where Is My Song? by John Lockmer and Justin Manntai
168 Grand Jury Prize Runner-Up – End Game by Amir Shehata - Canada
169 Award for Outstanding Achievement - Dan Cathy of Trilith Studios
169 Award - Steve Puffenberger of Advent Media, Inc.
169 Award – David Puffenberger of Advent Media, Inc.

The 168 Film Project (168) is a short filmmaking competition. Contestants create a short film during a (168-hour) week, based on foundational scriptures.

168 Film is a global community of artists focused on exploring life's most important questions via film and TV. 168 provides a proving ground for filmmakers, writers, actors, and artists to engage culture in the context of faith, values, and truth.

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