Twelve productions have made the Best of Festival (Grand Prix) shortlist in the 2015 US International Film & Video Festival. Nominees represent Corporate, Documentary, Education and Entertainment productions and come from 10 countries; Japan and Germany have two nominees each.
Chosen in Corporate
"UKAI "Legend"" from Wizard Films, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Wizard Films also was the production company. The entry was done for UKAI restaurants’ 50th anniversary and displays the preparation and serving of artistic and beautiful food dishes.
"Celebrating a Renovated Building," an in-house production by Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark, offers a humorous look at how employees adjusted to being relocated to tight quarters in the basement of a building being renovated. A senior vice president narrates the film from a comfortable office elsewhere while appearing to share the difficulties of the employees who did the work.
"Legimus Talboëcker" was produced by Pophunters Film & TV AB, Uppsala, Sweden, for client Myndigheten for Tillgangliga Medier, Johanneshov, Sweden. The entry uses an undertone of humor to show the varied uses of Legimus Talboëcker's audiobooks at home and while traveling.
Nominated in Documentary
"Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes" was entered by the National Gallery of Art, Landover, Md., USA. This film traces the vast influence of founder Serge Diaghilev on the Ballets Russes from 1909-29 and the company’s efforts to fuse art, music, dance and fashion. “Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, 1909–1929: When Art Danced with Music” was on exhibit at the gallery through October 2013.
"Gutenberg in the Cyberstorm," from Deutsche Welle, Berlin, Germany, peruses the value of books in the digital age, "when the book is reading you." Several commentators share thoughts on the way books and culture are changing as the digital age sweeps in. Executive Producer is Rolf Rische, and Author and Director is Susanne Lenz-Gleissner.
"The Way of the Warrior: FIA WEC 6h of Fuji 2014," from Kemper Kommunikation GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany, relates seven precepts of the warrior lifestyle to the outstanding performance of the Porsche auto racing team in the six-hour race in Fuji last year. Bee Film GmbH, Frankfurt, produced the entry for Dr. Ing. H.c.F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart.
Nominated in Education
"Mimicries," entered by NHK Corp, Tokyo (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), teaches colors, shapes, patterns and behavior as seen in nature. The film was produced by NHK Educational Corp., Tokyo, and features a group of young students interacting with nature and graphics.
"Summiteers," done for client Schweizer Salinen, Basel, Switzerland, by Seed Audio-Visual Communication, Zurich, is an introduction to salt production and salt’s vast number of uses.
"PCYC NSW Traffic Offenders Intervention Program," from Good Eye Deer, New Castle, NSW, Australia, graphically portrays the effects of thoughtless decision making while driving and the impact on both those who cause accidents and those who are killed or maimed. It was done for Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) NSW, Sydney, Australia.
Nominated in Entertainment
"Olive Green," entered by SuperMemo World sp. z.o.o., Poznan, Poland, was produced by Ekstasy Ltd, Harrow, United Kingdom. Olive Green combines film, game and education and was to "learn English like never before," in this case through video suspense fiction in which the learner participates.
"Boat to the Moon" portrays the relationships of a young couple who just met and a couple who has enjoyed many years of marriage. It was produced by CBC Television CO., LTD., Nagoya, Japan, for TI Com Net, Sapporo.
"Cricket World Cup 2015 Host City Destination Video," from Omnicron, Auckland, New Zealand, features former NZ cricketer Simon Doull hosting a colorful travelogue of Auckland and the surrounding area for visitors attending the 2015 World Cup.
Information about the nominees and all winners of Gold Camera, Silver Camera and Certificate for Creative Excellence can be found at www.filmfestawards.com. Best of Festival winners will be announced June 23, 2015.
