JUNE 9, 2008 --

Greg Segal’s PictureStart Film Festival was held at Retreat, 37 W. 17th Street, in Manhattan, June 2 and 3. Of 200 short films considered, nine were shown the first evening and six the second.

LPR attended the second evening and was impressed by the quality of the films. Jury award for best film went to Carissa, directed by David Sauvage, a documentary about a woman who turned her life around after being a child prostitute.

The audience award for best film went to Busted Walk, directed by Steven Tanenbaum.

The jurors awarded best actor to Benoit Thevenoz, for his role as a tragic lottery player in La Combinaison, and best actress to Sara Jaye, for Leave You in Me.

The jury consisted of Guy Jacobson, producer of Holly, Terry Leonard (producer of Hound Dog), and writer-actor Jayce Bartok.

For the complete list of PictureStart winners, please go to the PictureStart website: www.picturestartfilmfestival.com

PictureStart jurors Guy Jacobson, Terry Leonard and Jayce Bartok (l-r)

Part of the PictureStart audience, June 3

John Mattiuzzi, Irina Patkanian, Michael Patrick Kelly and David Sauvage. (l-r) The four participated in a recent  film festival  in Danbury, Connecticut where Kelly won best feature for Operation Lysistrata. Mr. Mattiuzzi will soon be screening his La Americana, a Spanish film.  The three were on hand so see Mr. Sauvage's Carissa.