WSTL Spring 2019 Winners

Spring 2019 TOP Winners

WSTL, in conjunction with WRPN.TV Entertainment News, offers a unique opportunity to 'expose your shorts' to a world-wide community of video fans from dozens of countries that filmmakers would not normally have access to, in the form of an optional PPV opportunity. The PPV option is currently being developed, and we will keep all filmmakers informed of the progress.
In order to insure that each film is studied and rated on an individual basis, WSTL has instituted a system where entries do not compete against each other, but instead are recognized for their own individual merits.
For all intents and purposes, they compete against themselves: each entry is judged on individual merits and scored on an inherent value system.

The judges focus is on your film when it is your turn to be evaluated, not on all the other films that are in cue: this insures that they will not have comparisons going on in their minds when they should be focusing entirely on YOU.

Judges score entries on a performance scale and winning entries are recognized and awarded not only for Best Of Show, but also for two Awards of Excellence levels, two Awards of Merit levels, a Kudos Endeavor Award, or no award.

Best of Show honors are granted to the top scoring entry/entries for each season; Awards of Excellence are granted to entries with truly exceptional artistic and technical achievements; and Notable achievements are recognized at the Award of Merit and 'Kudos' award levels.

The number of awards granted at any given level will fluctuate based on the total number of entries received for each competition deadline.


DRAMA	DOCUMENTARY
Tight Shorts (Domestic) "Grandpa" - Chris Niespodzianski (USA) -	Loose Shorts (Foreign) "THE NORMANS" - Maurice Micallef (Malta) - ADDITIONAL AWARDS
Chris Niespodzianski is a writer/director that was born and raised in the "Steel City", Pittsburgh, PA. He has always been a fan of the movies and as a child would make his own "films" with GI Joes and Star Wars figures, showing a strong imagination and thirst for storytelling at a young age. After taking some classes toward a degree in Film Production, he felt another calling to defend his country and joined the United States Air Force in 1993. After 4 years of meritorious service, he moved back home to Pittsburgh and concentrated on being a family man. After several years away from the arts, Chris found himself again and reconnected with his passion for storytelling. Along with his brother and producing partner, John Niespodzianski, he started to write and direct short films. One of which, "Green-Eyed" won Runner Up, Best Cinematography, and Audience Choice Award for the 2012 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project. Later that year he wrote and directed another award winning short film, "The Other Side". After winning the Pittsburgh Zombie Shorts Film Fest, and screening at multiple festivals, Chris and John decided to make The Other Side into a feature film, which is currently available through Gravitas Ventures on most major Video On Demand services such as Amazon Video, Vudu, iTunes, Xbox, Google Play, Verizon FIOS, Dish Network, and many other cable providers. His next short film "TRUCE" was a smashing success on the festival circuit, collecting multiple awards from festivals such as Atlantic City Cine-Fest, NYC Indie Film Awards, The Indie Gathering, Accolade Global Film Competition, and the Seneca Film Festival, among others. When not making films, Chris enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially his wife, Dannette, and their blended family of 6 children.	Award Of Excellence: Cinematography Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Research Award Of Excellence: Costume Design Award Of Excellence: Direction Award Of Excellence: Visual Special Effects Ferocious and devout. And Victorious colonisers. The Normans with their unbridled desire for power and Christian fervour used every weapon in their arsena l to reshape Northern France, the British Isles, Southern Italy and Sicily as far as the Holy Land. They were powerful rulers and state builders Their legacy, is unmistakably still evident. Our mission at CMM is to promote Maltese heritage and culture abroad through our documentaries.
SCI-FI	SOCIAL ISSUES
Loose Short (Foreign) "COMET" - Giorgio Messina & Stefania Simoni (Italy) - Max finds a message in a bottle that will change his life drastically and unexpectedly.	Loose Shorts (Domestic) "This Is What Democracy Looks Like" -Diane Burroughs- (USA)- A middle aged women's life changes when she attends her first March Ever: The Womens March in Washington. Director - Diane Burroughs
INSPIRATIONAL DRAMA
Tight Shorts (Domestic) "Awesome Gal" -Frank M. Calo (USA)- ADDITIONAL AWARDS Award Of Excellence: Lead Actor, Cameron Ring * An abused teen from the hollers of West Virginia and a horse abused by the cruel method of soring meet by chance and heal their broken lives. Based on a true story. * FMC Productions was founded by Frank M. Calo, a New York independent film producer. Mr. Calo brings more than 20 years of industry in a broad range of capacities. His critically acclaimed "The Believer" starring Ryan Gosling won the 2001 Sundance Festival along with many other awards. Mr. Calo has directed reality TV shows such as Pay it Forward and Taxi Wars. He also presents production seminars.