The 2011 Surrey Film Festival concluded on Friday with huge crowds attending to see the top films in each category.
Filmmakers and guests walked the red carpet while photographers snapped photos and asked for interviews. Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade was the Master of Ceremonies for the second year in a row and welcomed the completely packed theatre.
Special guests included City Councillors Judy Villeneuve and Barbara Steele, as well as President of Lightyear Digital and Grand Prize Sponsor Robert Dominick.
The winners of the 2011 Surrey Film Festival were:
• Best Experimental Film: Washing Machine – Earl Marriott Secondary, Cast/Crew: Blake Davey, Julia Thrift, Josh Glen, Ben Avery, Ben Button, Brayden Hall;
• Best Public Service Announcement: A Choice – Enver Creek Secondary, Cast/Crew: Keith Grant;
• Best Music/Sports Video: Lunch Time Loop – Fleetwood Park Secondary, Cast/Crew: Stuart Brookes;
• Best Animation: Odday – Yale Secondary, Cast/Crew: Nikki Segovia
• Best Screenplay: Dear Emma – Fraser Heights Secondary, Cast/Crew: Jane Wong, Daniel An, Victoria Stevens;
• Best Short Film (High School): Ken – Earl Marriott Secondary, Cast/Crew: Brett McCrady, Ben Avery;
• Best Short Film (Post Secondary): Mandriod – Simon Fraser University, Cast/Crew: Dylan Innes,
• Best of the Festival: Washing Machine – Earl Marriott Secondary.
As grand prize winners, the Earl Marriott team not only received a trophy, but $500.
All the top films in each category will now be a part of the Emerging Filmmakers Forum in Beverly Hills, Ca. later this summer.
"This year's festival was definitely one of the best, we received some excellent films. For me, the most exciting part was getting to meet some of these filmmakers and just talking about making movies," says Glen Chua.
Robert Dominick also made the official announcement of Lightyear Digital's sponsorship for the Surrey Film Festival to become the Surrey International Film Festival in January of 2013 at the Surrey Arts Centre.
All the nominated and winning films can be viewed at www.surreyfilmfest.ca. Information about the upcoming Surrey International Film Festival can also be found there.