Awards season continues and if it’s December, it’s time for the 13th annual Best of the Midwest Independent Film Awards, aka “The BMAs.”
If you are like Miriam and living on Mars and were not aware of the BMAs, the awards celebrate the finest in Midwest filmmaking, selected from an exceptional slate of films screened throughout the year at the Midwest Independent Film Festival.
Today, the festival announced that Chicago P.D. star LaRoyce Hawkins will host 2017 Best of the Midwest Awards tonight, the Midwest Independent Film Festival announced today.
READ ALSO: Best of the Midwest Awards nominations announced
“We are absolutely thrilled that LaRoyce Hawkins is the Emcee of the 2017 Best of the Midwest Awards! He nailed our run thru this afternoon, our BMA guests are in for a real treat! What a great way to wrap up the 2017 Midwest Independent Film Festival. We can’t wait to celebrate tonight with all the nominees and guests,” said Mike Kwielford, interim director of MIFF.
Other guests include veteran Chicago Fire and Oz actor, Eamonn Walker, Illinois Film Office Director, Rich Moskal, and Monica Raymund from Chicago Fire.
Leading this pack of nominees are the films The View from Tall, directed by Erica Weiss & Caitlin Parrish (writer, Supergirl), Signature Move, directed by Jennifer Reeder, and Tanya, a stunning directorial debut by Raymund.
The event will kick off with a Red Carpet and cocktail reception. The BMA celebration will take place at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark Street in Chicago. The awards begin at 8 p.m., followed by a 9 p.m. after party at in the Century Bar.
The BMA nominees
Best Music Video:
HOT SHIT, directed by Andre Muir for Towkio
LSD, directed by Sam Bailey for Jamilia Woods
PULASKI AT NIGHT, directed by Natalie Morales for Andrew Bird
SHAME, directed by Ashley Rockwood for Jess Godwin
SPECIAL MOMENT, directed by Max Moore for Post Animal
Best Short Film:
MIRIAM IS GOING TO MARS, directed by Michael Lippert
RAP SKOOL, directed by Nnamdi Ngwe
REKINDLED, directed by Erin Brown Thomas
STARVING ARTISTS, directed by Jeff Hadick
TANYA, directed by Monica Raymund
Best Actress
Amanda Drinkall, THE VIEW FROM TALL
Amy Pietz, HALFWAY
Ann Sonneville, MIRIAM IS GOING TO MARS
Fawzia Mirza, SIGNATURE MOVE
Kiah McKirnan, TANYA
Best Actor
Eamonn Walker, TANYA
Michael Patrick Thornton, THE VIEW FROM TALL
Nnambi Ngwe, RAP SKOOL
Patrick Blanton, PRONOUNS
Tim Lyons, GENTLE DAN
Best Editing
Benjamin May, THE LEGEND OF SWEE PEA
Felix Piniero, SIGNATURE MOVE
Jesse Roesler, FREEDOM RIDE
Michael Paulucci, PRONOUNS
Savannah Cannistraro, THE GOOD WORK
Best Cinematography
Austin Rink, MIRIAM IS GOING TO MARS
Christopher Rejano, SIGNATURE MOVE
Joel & Jesse Edwards, DUST TO DUST
Stephanie Dufford, THE VIEW FROM TALL
Tari Segal, TANYA
Best Animated Film
SENATAUR, directed by Alec Pinkston
DIE FLUCHT, directed by Carter Boyce
WHERE IT FLOODS, directed by Joel Benjamin
LINGUA ABSENTIA, directed by Kate Raney and Jeremy Bessoff
OPEN CARRY, USA, directed by Ron Fleischer
Best Screenplay
Ben Caird, HALFWAY
Caitlin Parrish, THE VIEW FROM TALL
Haroula Rose, LOST AND FOUND
Terrence Thompson, DRIVE SLOW
Tim Mason, DEJA VU
Best Director
Erica Weiss and Caitlin Parrish, THE VIEW FROM TALL
Jennifer Reeder, SIGNATURE MOVE
Michael Lippert, MIRIAM IS GOING TO MARS
Monica Raymund, TANYA
Samantha Bailey, BROWN GIRLS
Best Feature Film
DAVE MADE A MAZE, directed by Bill Watterson
HALFWAY, directed by Ben Caird
SIGNATURE MOVE, directed by Jennifer Reeder
THE LEGEND OF SWEE PEA, directed by Benjamin May
THE VIEW FROM TALL, directed by Erica Weiss and Caitlin Parris
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello10.
