When I hike or ski with 5 Points film festival founder and director Julie Kennedy, I love hearing about the films she screens for 5 Point. A wide variety of incredible footage come their way and she often mentions how hard it is to make the final selections.
Due to a last minute cancellation, I joined the jury for festival awards. Thrilled to be on the inside scene of my favorite event of the year, all I thought about was the fun and excitement ahead. Never did it dawn on me that the task would be near impossible. I can relate to the gal in Rowing the Atlantic (flic at the festival) who embraces her dream as an intriguing challenge and then, alone in the middle of the ocean with tendonitis, a broken Sat phone and busted oars, she realizes how intense the next 90 days will be.
Move over Academy Awards, dolled up 5 Point film festival jurors Lisa Dawson (left to right) Nick Waggoner and Michele Cardamone make the presentation Sunday afternoon at the festival.
A spring storm brought us four days of cold, cloudy weather, perfect for hunkering down to watch movies. Nick Waggoner, a rising star in the film making world, and photographer Michele Cardamone were my fellow jurors.
Delighted to have an opportunity to reconnect as friends, Michele and I sat together. At the end of the first evening, we were nearly speechless. How in the world were we going to do this? Film after amazing film. We wished we could give an award to each.
After hearty debates and careful deliberations, the following awards were presented:
Best Adventure Sport: Second Nature
Finalists: Dream Result, Kranked
Most Inspiring Story:The Fall Line (defunct link removed 2015)
Finalists: Rowing the Atlantic, Gum for my Boat
Best of Festival: First Ascent-Patagonia Promise
Finalists: 180 degrees South, First Ascent–Brothers Wild (can’t find trailer)
Jury Special Mention: 180 Degrees South
Finalists: Wild Water (teaser), Border Country (my favorite and one of Lou’s as well)
Best Cinematography: Scattered Flurries
Finalists: Kranked, As It Happens (defunct link removed 2015)
People’s Choice: Gum for my Boat
WildSnow Girl, Lisa Dawson, is the luckiest girl in the world. Also known as Mrs. WildSnow.com, she tests whatever gear she wants. She gives the WildSnow family of websites the feminine voice.
