The Best of the Midwest Awards promises to be an unforgettable evening on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023, at CineCity! The annual capstone event of the Midwest Film Festival celebrates the outstanding work of Midwestern filmmakers.
The night will kick off at 7:00 pm with a networking reception, where you can connect with fellow industry professionals and film enthusiasts. Enjoy the groovy tunes, an open bar, and delicious lite bites while mingling with old friends and making new collaborations.
At 8:00 pm, the awards ceremony hosted by Erica Duffy and NK Gutiérrez will begin. Be captivated by clips from each nominated film and witness the announcement of the winners by special guests from the Chicago film community. Filmmakers will take the stage to deliver heartfelt acceptance speeches, adding a touch of inspiration to the evening.
Don’t miss out on this glamorous affair! Dress your best, bring your dancing shoes, and be prepared to celebrate the best of Midwest cinema. The Best of the Midwest Awards is not just an event, but a night of connection, celebration, and honoring the exceptional film treasures created by our talented Midwestern filmmakers.
Thursday, November 2nd, 2023
Best of the Midwest Awards
7 PM Networking Reception
8 PM Awards Ceremony hosted by Erica Duffy and NK Gutiérrez
CineCity
1414S Western Ave
Chicago, IL
THE NOMINEES ARE:
Best of the Midwest Award – Grand Prize
Having A Nice Day by Jesse Rothenberg and Zo Zosak
Fraser Syndrome and Me by Kyle Anne Grendys
ROAD HEAD by Allison Torem
Exquisite Things by Jessica Watson
Best Director
Allison Torem for ROAD HEAD
Jessica Batson for Exquisite Things
John Mossman for GOOD GUY WITH A GUN
Samuel-Ali Mirpoorian for Greener Pastures
Best Cinematography
Christopher Rejano for Argus
Edward Tran for Life After Her
Christopher Behnen for Eaten
Nathan Salter for Ghosts of the Void
Best Editing
Jim Vendiola for Argus
Ben Kurstin for The Sleight
Griffin A Sauter for Mousetrap
Charlie Klipp for The Great Wake
The Empowerment Award
Fraser Syndrome and Me by Kyle Anne Grendys
Greener Pastures by Samuel-Ali Mirpoorian
for the crib by Lawrence Agyei
JOE by Noah Rogers
Best Actress
Allison Torem as Lou for ROAD HEAD
Tiffany Bedwell as Tess for GOOD GUY WITH A GUN
Tedra Millan as Jen Wilson for Ghosts of the Void
Natalie Santoro as Anya in The Prize
Best Actor
Elan Maier as Isaac for ROAD HEAD
Michael Reagan as Tyler Wilson in Ghosts of the Void
Rikki Lee Travolta at Ron in The Sleight
NNAMDÏ as Melvin and The Crawdad in The Crawdad
Best Sound Design
Max Markowitz and Dylan Shanahan for Mousetrap
Joel Benjamin and Noisefloor Ltd for Hibernation
Max Busch for little canoe (there’s enough room for everyone)
Brett Rossiter and Katie Campos for The Dog and the Dentist
Best Production Design
Maegan Batson for Exquisite Things
Diego Beltran for Life After Her
Tipper Newton for The Dangerous Type
Judy Febles for Something Like Intimacy
Best Wardrobe
Abigail Searls and Taylor Zielinski for Exquisite Things
Andrew Paul Davis for Eaten
Krista Henderson for Something Like Intimacy
Kelsey Denvir and Catherine Woods for Ghosts of the Void
Each ticket includes 3-hours of open bar service and is generously sponsored by CineCity Chicago.
ALSO READ: Two Chicago-made films make it into AFI-FEST 2023
