October 17, 2002

"THE LEAST OF THESE"
MAKES THE MOST OF DAMAH & CHRIS AWARDS

Filmmaker Contact: Rik Swartzwelder 863-602-5796
Press Photos for Download: www.oldfashionedpictures.com/the_least_of_these.html
Damah Film Festival: www.damah.com
The Chris Awards: www.chrisawards.org

Filmmaker Rik Swartzwelder’s controversial 35mm short, THE LEAST OF THESE, recently added to its growing list of accolades by garnering two more major honors.

Before a packed crowd at the Seattle Art Museum in Seattle, Washington, Swartzwelder was presented a statuette for Best Short (15-30 minutes) at the Damah Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday, October 12. He was presented the award by film critic and author Michael Medved, who was also one of the festival’s jurors. Other acclaimed jurors for Damah include film director Tom Shadyac (DRAGONFLY, LIAR LIAR, PATCH ADAMS), producer Ralph Winter (PLANET OF THE APES, X-MEN, STAR TREK IV & VI), producer Howard Kazanjian (RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, RETURN OF THE JEDI), producer Stephen Simon (SOMEWHERE IN TIME, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME), and writer Janet Scott Batchler (BATMAN FOREVER).

Swartzwelder and Bethesda, Maryland-based producer Ed Baxter will also be recognized at the upcoming 50^th Columbus International Film & Video Festival (The Chris Awards) on Saturday, November 16, in Columbus, Ohio. This is the oldest, non-theatrical film and video competition in North America. THE LEAST OF THESE will be receiving The Silver Chris Award (Best of Division, Entertainment). Only one Silver Chris Award is given in each division and Swartzwelder’s film was competing against shorts, features, and television specials from around the world.

Other 2002 honors for THE LEAST OF THESE include a Crystal Heart Award (Dramatic Short) from the Heartland Film Festival, three ITVA-DC Peer Awards (Best Short, Best Cinematography, and Best Actor), and a Best Director Honorable Mention for Swartzwelder by the ITVA-DC Peer Awards as well. Additional screenings include the Marco Island Film Festival, Breckenridge Festival of Film, and Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Swartzwelder earned his M.F.A. in Motion Picture Production from The Florida State University Motion Picture Conservatory, grew up in New Philadelphia, Ohio, and now commutes between Washington, DC, and Lakeland, Florida. For more information on Rik Swartzwelder, THE LEAST OF THESE, or Old Fashioned Pictures please visit www.oldfashionedpictures.com.

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