Nineteen-year-old actor and filmmaker Aaron Himelstein led the winners at the Midwest Independent Film Festival’s inaugural Best of the Midwest Awards.
Best of the Midwest bestowed Shelle Awards in 12 categories for films made in the Midwest or by Midwest filmmakers, which had screened at the MWFF’s monthly event at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema.
A Buffalo Grove native who played young Austin Powers in “Goldmember,” Himelstein’s drama “Sugar Mountain” took the Best Picture and Best Drama awards.
Producer Kent Smith accepted the awards for the Indianapolis-shot “Sugar Mountain,” praising Himelstein as “an incredibly talented young guy and a great joy to work with.” Himelstein is at work on his feature directorial debut, “To the Raccoon.”
