Darius Goes West
Encyclopedia
Darius Goes West: The Roll of his Life is a documentary
by Logan Smalley about Darius Weems, a teenager afflicted with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
who embarked during the Summer of 2005 on a 7,000 mile road trip
across the United States
to promote awareness of the fatal disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy
, and to raise money for research into a cure.
After reading a copy of a letter Darius had penned to MTV's
show Pimp My Ride
in which Darius had asked them to consider refurbishing his wheelchair, Smalley organized a cross-country trip for Darius to Los Angeles, which to the group became known as the 'Darius Goes West Project'. After having previously been to the Cannes Film Festival
, Smalley recognized the opportunity and importance of documenting the trip. The 7,000 mile, 25-day trip resulted in 300 hours of video.
According to DVD Talk
, "including Weems, over half of the documentary team was under the age of 20, including Smalley's younger brother Ben, 18. The oldest person on the crew was Daniel Epting, 24. The group not only handled the camera and sound equipment, they cared for Weems, helping him with day-to-day tasks like using the bathroom."
The documentary was dedicated to Darius's brother, Mario, who also had Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Mario died at age 19.
. In the summer of 2005, with the help of eleven young friends, 15-year-old Darius embarked on a road trip
across the United States
, with the goal of reaching Los Angeles
in the hopes of appearing on MTV's
show Pimp My Ride
in order that Darius's old and worn-out wheelchair
might be customized on the hit show. The group traveled in an RV
and tested wheelchair-accessibility in America
during the course of their trip.
. The group also made a stop in New Orleans. They celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act in the bat caves at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
in New Mexico
and were very impressed by the wheelchair-accessibility of the old caves. Darius also got to see the Grand Canyon
, his most anticipated site before they had embarked. Darius's favorite stop, however, was Las Vegas
. In Temecula, California
, he experienced a hot air balloon
ride. While in San Diego, Sam and Jason received commemorative tattoos, and the group visited Sea World
. He also visited the zoo in San Francisco, California
. In the end, Pimp My Ride
denied the request for Darius's wheelchair to be 'pimped out'. But near his hometown of Athens, Georgia, a local car customizing dealer created a new design for Darius's wheelchair, which included a television, speakers, and connection for an iPod
, among other things. The most symbolic part of the new wheelchair was wheel spinners, as spinners were the one thing Darius wanted most, because they would keep spinning even if he stopped.
wrote "Certain to stir hearts -- as proven by its aud award at the Santa Barbara Fest -- and primed to raise awareness of a debilitating form of muscular dystrophy, Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life lovingly records 15-year-old Darius Weems' odds-defying cross-country U.S. trek. A rare case of an almost purely amateur film that has a solid shot of cablecasts after a certain roll through the fest circuit, pic makes up in authentic feeling what it lacks in documentary skill.
David Cook of The Chattanoogan
made note of the compassion shared by the eleven friends toward Darius, writing "Teenage males are so often viewed as unemotional and stoic, as young Rambos in training. But this film highlights the deep love these friends had for each other, and for Darius." Cook also commended the care and consideration of the eleven when he wrote "Unable to move most of his body, he [Darius] depended on his comrades as they lifted him into bed each night, carried him into the Gulf as he touched the ocean for the first time, sat together on the edge of the Grand Canyon, held on as they wheelchaired down Lombard Street in San Fran, advocated and fought against the lack of wheelchair accessibility in the US, and wept in the face of Darius’s crippling disease and impending death." He praised them further when he wrote "They were as graceful and compassionate caregivers as I have ever seen, and if you are looking for role models or hope in dark times, look no farther than this film and these men."
Martin Bashir
of ABC News
Nightline
reported upon meeting Darius at the Santa Barbara Film Festival
in 2007, that he felt like he was interiewing his own brother Tommy, who had also been born with DMD: "The shape of his head and torso were identical. The chubby cheeks and sneaky smile were the same. And the endless attempts to shift his bulbous arms, and get comfortable in his wheelchair, were an exact replica of Tommy. But this wasn't my brother. Sadly, Tommy passed away in January 1991. This was Darius Weems from Athens and this is what Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy does to the body." He called the documentary "remarkable" in how it "records a journey that is full of happiness and heartbreak", and in recalling his reactions to other documentaries, concluded "when I watched Darius Goes West something altogether more profound happened. I saw my brother again - and for that alone, I always shall be grateful."
Karen Day of Los Angeles Times
wrote "Thanks to Smalley's editing and Darius' star quality, the documentary and its back story through development and disease make Darius Goes West play more like a hip indie film. Smalley, who also composed and plays the piano soundtrack, and his gang bankrolled the $70,000 film by selling on-screen credits for $10 each and having a hometown barbecue fundraiser." She praised the film by calling it comical and poignant tale that was equal parts Animal House and Stand by Me
.
David Walker of DVD Talk
called the documentary "a collective labor of love, put together by a dedicated group of people committed to changing the world," writing that "Film at its best has the power to engage us emotionally and spiritually", and that "that is what makes the documentary Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life not only a great film, but the best film of 2007." He concluded that "the film is an amazing celebration of life" and "one of the most life-affirming films you will ever see".
In May 2009, Darius was selected for $10,000 award from DoSomething.org, and in June, he and the filmmakers were honored at the Do Something
Awards celebration held June 4 at Harlem
’s Apollo Theater
. Weems has donated all monies to 'Charley's Fund'.
A supporter of the film established 'The Darius Weems Scholarship' in December 2008, to support an incoming freshman at Yale University
.
The Athens, Georgia
Junior League
presented Logan Smalley with the 'Spirit of Athens Community Service Award.
WXIA-TV
presented Logan Smalley with the '11 Alive Community Service Award'. Their coverage of the film received an Emmy Award
nomination.
Darius Weems and Logan Smalley were invited to speak at the 2009 TED Conference Fellowship.
In April 2009, the Council for Exceptional Children presented Darius Weems with their 2009 'Yes I Can Award'
it was the only film chosen by Robert DeNiro to screen at his children’s school during the festival. Among the awards won at film festivals are:
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
by Logan Smalley about Darius Weems, a teenager afflicted with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy, which results in muscle degeneration, difficulty walking, breathing, and death. The incidence is 1 in 3,000 boys. Females and males are affected, though females are rarely affected and are more often carriers...
who embarked during the Summer of 2005 on a 7,000 mile road trip
Road trip
A road trip is any journey taken on roads, regardless of stops en route. Typically, road trips are long distances traveled by automobile.-Pre-automobile road trips:...
across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to promote awareness of the fatal disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy, which results in muscle degeneration, difficulty walking, breathing, and death. The incidence is 1 in 3,000 boys. Females and males are affected, though females are rarely affected and are more often carriers...
, and to raise money for research into a cure.
Background
Logan Smalley was a counselor at a 'Project REACH' camp, a facility is set up to give the experiences of being at 'camp' to children with disabilities, when he met Darius Weems. He had first met Darius' brother Mario, who was himself suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Mario had asked Logan to "look out for my little brother", and Logan took that promise to heart.After reading a copy of a letter Darius had penned to MTV's
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
show Pimp My Ride
Pimp My Ride
Pimp My Ride is a TV show produced by MTV. Each episode consists of taking one car in poor condition and restoring it and customizing it.The original United States version was hosted by rapper Xzibit...
in which Darius had asked them to consider refurbishing his wheelchair, Smalley organized a cross-country trip for Darius to Los Angeles, which to the group became known as the 'Darius Goes West Project'. After having previously been to the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, Smalley recognized the opportunity and importance of documenting the trip. The 7,000 mile, 25-day trip resulted in 300 hours of video.
According to DVD Talk
DVD Talk
DVD Talk is a website for DVD enthusiasts founded in January 1999 by Geoffrey Kleinman when DVDs and DVD players were first beginning to hit the market.The site started as an online forum, an email newsletter, and a page of DVD news and reviews...
, "including Weems, over half of the documentary team was under the age of 20, including Smalley's younger brother Ben, 18. The oldest person on the crew was Daniel Epting, 24. The group not only handled the camera and sound equipment, they cared for Weems, helping him with day-to-day tasks like using the bathroom."
The documentary was dedicated to Darius's brother, Mario, who also had Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Mario died at age 19.
Storyline
The film revolves around Darius Weems, a teenager with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who, because of his disease, had never left his hometown of Athens, GeorgiaAthens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. In the summer of 2005, with the help of eleven young friends, 15-year-old Darius embarked on a road trip
Road trip
A road trip is any journey taken on roads, regardless of stops en route. Typically, road trips are long distances traveled by automobile.-Pre-automobile road trips:...
across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with the goal of reaching Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the hopes of appearing on MTV's
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
show Pimp My Ride
Pimp My Ride
Pimp My Ride is a TV show produced by MTV. Each episode consists of taking one car in poor condition and restoring it and customizing it.The original United States version was hosted by rapper Xzibit...
in order that Darius's old and worn-out wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
might be customized on the hit show. The group traveled in an RV
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
and tested wheelchair-accessibility in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the course of their trip.
Highlights
Darius felt the ocean for the first time Panama City Beach, FloridaPanama City Beach, Florida
Panama City Beach is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico coast. The city is often referred to under the umbrella term of "Panama City", despite being a distinct municipality from the older and larger inland Panama City to the east, making Panama City and Panama City...
. The group also made a stop in New Orleans. They celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act in the bat caves at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a United States National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. The primary attraction of the park for most visitors is the show cave, Carlsbad Caverns...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and were very impressed by the wheelchair-accessibility of the old caves. Darius also got to see the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
, his most anticipated site before they had embarked. Darius's favorite stop, however, was Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. In Temecula, California
Temecula, California
Temecula is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States with a population of 100,097 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it the lowest populated American city over 100,000 population. It was incorporated on December 1, 1989...
, he experienced a hot air balloon
Hot air balloon
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...
ride. While in San Diego, Sam and Jason received commemorative tattoos, and the group visited Sea World
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
. He also visited the zoo in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. In the end, Pimp My Ride
Pimp My Ride
Pimp My Ride is a TV show produced by MTV. Each episode consists of taking one car in poor condition and restoring it and customizing it.The original United States version was hosted by rapper Xzibit...
denied the request for Darius's wheelchair to be 'pimped out'. But near his hometown of Athens, Georgia, a local car customizing dealer created a new design for Darius's wheelchair, which included a television, speakers, and connection for an iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
, among other things. The most symbolic part of the new wheelchair was wheel spinners, as spinners were the one thing Darius wanted most, because they would keep spinning even if he stopped.
Charley's Fund
All proceeds from the film go to 'Charley's Fund', named for DMD sufferer Charley Seckler, and set up as a non-profit foundation investing in scientific research to help cure DMD. The filmmakers had originally hoped the film might raise $70,000 for DMD research, but by March 2009 they had raised $1.5 million, and by June of 2009 they had raised $2 million.Participants
- Darius Weems
- Andrew Carson
- Daniel Epting
- John Hadden
- John Harmon
- Jason Hees
- Sam Johnson
- Collin Shepley
- Ben Smalley
- Logan Smalley
- Kevin Wier
- Aidan McDonnell
- Charley Seckler
- Tracy Seckler
- Dr. Benjamin Seckler
- Maria McDonnell
- Felicity HuffmanFelicity HuffmanFelicity Kendall Huffman is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is known for her role as executive producer Dana Whitaker on the ABC television show Sports Night , which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination, and as hectic supermom Lynette Scavo on the ABC show Desperate...
- William H. MacyWilliam H. MacyWilliam Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
- Ethan McDonnell
- Dylan Wilson
- Tom Sandor
- Mark Johnson
- Stephen Bennett
Reception
Robert Kohler of VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
wrote "Certain to stir hearts -- as proven by its aud award at the Santa Barbara Fest -- and primed to raise awareness of a debilitating form of muscular dystrophy, Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life lovingly records 15-year-old Darius Weems' odds-defying cross-country U.S. trek. A rare case of an almost purely amateur film that has a solid shot of cablecasts after a certain roll through the fest circuit, pic makes up in authentic feeling what it lacks in documentary skill.
David Cook of The Chattanoogan
The Chattanoogan
The Chattanoogan and its website "Chattanoogan.com" is an online media outlet that concentrates on news from Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is published by John Wilson, previously a staff writer for the Chattanooga Free Press. The website was launched on September 1, 1999, and calls itself "one of the...
made note of the compassion shared by the eleven friends toward Darius, writing "Teenage males are so often viewed as unemotional and stoic, as young Rambos in training. But this film highlights the deep love these friends had for each other, and for Darius." Cook also commended the care and consideration of the eleven when he wrote "Unable to move most of his body, he [Darius] depended on his comrades as they lifted him into bed each night, carried him into the Gulf as he touched the ocean for the first time, sat together on the edge of the Grand Canyon, held on as they wheelchaired down Lombard Street in San Fran, advocated and fought against the lack of wheelchair accessibility in the US, and wept in the face of Darius’s crippling disease and impending death." He praised them further when he wrote "They were as graceful and compassionate caregivers as I have ever seen, and if you are looking for role models or hope in dark times, look no farther than this film and these men."
Martin Bashir
Martin Bashir
Martin Bashir is a British journalist and media personality, currently with NBC News as a contributor for its Dateline program, and an afternoon anchor for MSNBC, hosting Martin Bashir...
of ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
Nightline
Nightline
Nightline, or ABC News Nightline is a late-night news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. It airs weeknights, usually for 31 minutes. Created by Roone Arledge, the program featured Ted Koppel as its main...
reported upon meeting Darius at the Santa Barbara Film Festival
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a film festival and non-profit organization, established in 1985, that showcases independent American and international films. The SBIFF line-up includes 20 world premieres and 11 U.S. premieres, with newly expanded 11-day festival...
in 2007, that he felt like he was interiewing his own brother Tommy, who had also been born with DMD: "The shape of his head and torso were identical. The chubby cheeks and sneaky smile were the same. And the endless attempts to shift his bulbous arms, and get comfortable in his wheelchair, were an exact replica of Tommy. But this wasn't my brother. Sadly, Tommy passed away in January 1991. This was Darius Weems from Athens and this is what Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy does to the body." He called the documentary "remarkable" in how it "records a journey that is full of happiness and heartbreak", and in recalling his reactions to other documentaries, concluded "when I watched Darius Goes West something altogether more profound happened. I saw my brother again - and for that alone, I always shall be grateful."
Karen Day of Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
wrote "Thanks to Smalley's editing and Darius' star quality, the documentary and its back story through development and disease make Darius Goes West play more like a hip indie film. Smalley, who also composed and plays the piano soundtrack, and his gang bankrolled the $70,000 film by selling on-screen credits for $10 each and having a hometown barbecue fundraiser." She praised the film by calling it comical and poignant tale that was equal parts Animal House and Stand by Me
Stand by Me (film)
Stand by Me is a 1986 American drama film directed by Rob Reiner. Based on the novella The Body by Stephen King, the film takes its title from the Ben E. King song of the same name, which plays over the end credits.-Plot:...
.
David Walker of DVD Talk
DVD Talk
DVD Talk is a website for DVD enthusiasts founded in January 1999 by Geoffrey Kleinman when DVDs and DVD players were first beginning to hit the market.The site started as an online forum, an email newsletter, and a page of DVD news and reviews...
called the documentary "a collective labor of love, put together by a dedicated group of people committed to changing the world," writing that "Film at its best has the power to engage us emotionally and spiritually", and that "that is what makes the documentary Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life not only a great film, but the best film of 2007." He concluded that "the film is an amazing celebration of life" and "one of the most life-affirming films you will ever see".
Recognition
As a 'Quality of Life' 2008 finalist, Darius Weems received a $25,000 'Volvo for Life' Award, as well as a $15,000 'World of Children' 'Founders Youth Award', and a $2,000 'Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes'.In May 2009, Darius was selected for $10,000 award from DoSomething.org, and in June, he and the filmmakers were honored at the Do Something
Do Something
Do Something is a non-profit organization that motivates young people to take action around social changes through national campaigns and grants for projects that make an impact. The organization's CEO is Nancy Lublin, who founded Dress for Success in 1996.-History:The organization was co-founded...
Awards celebration held June 4 at Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
’s Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
. Weems has donated all monies to 'Charley's Fund'.
A supporter of the film established 'The Darius Weems Scholarship' in December 2008, to support an incoming freshman at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
The Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
Junior League
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
presented Logan Smalley with the 'Spirit of Athens Community Service Award.
WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV, virtual channel 11.1 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Atlanta, Georgia. Popularly known by its 11 Alive moniker, WXIA is owned by the Gannett Company in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WATL...
presented Logan Smalley with the '11 Alive Community Service Award'. Their coverage of the film received an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nomination.
Darius Weems and Logan Smalley were invited to speak at the 2009 TED Conference Fellowship.
In April 2009, the Council for Exceptional Children presented Darius Weems with their 2009 'Yes I Can Award'
Awards & nominations
As of June 2009, the film "has won an unprecedented 28 film festival awards", and at the Tribeca Film FestivalTribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
it was the only film chosen by Robert DeNiro to screen at his children’s school during the festival. Among the awards won at film festivals are:
- 2007, Won Audience Award for 'Best Feature' at AFIAmerican Film InstituteThe American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
Dallas International Film FestivalDallas International Film FestivalThe DALLAS International Film Festival, presented by DALLAS Film Society, is a film festival that takes place annually in the state of Texas, in the United States. It takes place in April of every year. The 2011 DALLAS International Film Festival will be held March 31-April 10, 2011... - 2007, Won Audience Award for 'Best Feature' at Atlanta Film FestivalAtlanta Film FestivalThe Atlanta Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying, international film festival held in Atlanta, Georgia. Started in 1976 and occurring every April, the festival shows a diverse range of independent films, including genre films such as horror and sci-fi...
- 2007, Won Audience Award for 'Best Documentary' at Palm Beach International Film FestivalPalm Beach International Film FestivalThe Palm Beach International Film Festival is a film festival in the United States held in Palm Beach, Florida which showcases over 120 films annually in April for over 20,000 attendees...
- 2007, Won Audience Choice Award for 'Best Feature' at Santa Barbara International Film FestivalSanta Barbara International Film FestivalThe Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a film festival and non-profit organization, established in 1985, that showcases independent American and international films. The SBIFF line-up includes 20 world premieres and 11 U.S. premieres, with newly expanded 11-day festival...
- 2007, Won 'Best Film' at Cleveland International Film FestivalCleveland International Film FestivalThe Cleveland International Film Festival, first held in 1977, is the largest film festival in Ohio. The 2010 festival featured over 300 films. Since 1991 the festival has been held at Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland.-Roxanne T...
- 2007, Won 'Standing Up Film Competition' at Cleveland International Film FestivalCleveland International Film FestivalThe Cleveland International Film Festival, first held in 1977, is the largest film festival in Ohio. The 2010 festival featured over 300 films. Since 1991 the festival has been held at Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland.-Roxanne T...
- 2007, Won Audience Award for 'Best Feature' at Independent Film Festival of BostonIndependent Film Festival of BostonThe Independent Film Festival of Boston is a not for profit film festival in Boston, Massachusetts.- History :The Independent Film Festival of Boston was created in 2003 by the non-profit organization the Independent Film Society of Boston. The festival takes place each April in the Boston area's...
- 2007, Won Audience Award for 'Best Feature' at Oxford Film Festival
- 2007, Won 'Best Documentary' at Oxford Film Festival
- 2007, Won Audience Choice Award for 'Best Feature' at Jackson HoleJackson HoleJackson Hole, originally called Jackson's Hole, is a valley located in the U.S. state of Wyoming, near the western border with Idaho. The name "hole" derives from language used by early trappers or mountain men, who primarily entered the valley from the north and east and had to descend along...
Film Festival - 2007, Won 'Cowboy Award' for 'Best Documentary' at Jackson HoleJackson HoleJackson Hole, originally called Jackson's Hole, is a valley located in the U.S. state of Wyoming, near the western border with Idaho. The name "hole" derives from language used by early trappers or mountain men, who primarily entered the valley from the north and east and had to descend along...
Film Festival - 2007, Won Audience Award for 'Best Documentary' at OmahaOmahaOmaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
Film Festival - 2007, Won Jury Award for 'Best Documentary' at OmahaOmahaOmaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
Film Festival - 2007, Won Grand Jury Award for 'Best Documentary' at Solstice Film Festival
- Emmy AwardEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nomination - 2008, Won 'Grand Prize' at The ChristophersThe ChristophersThe Christophers are a Christian inspirational group that was founded in 1945 by Father James Keller. The name of the group is derived from the Greek word "christophoros", which means "Christ-bearer"...
Student Film Competition - Won Jury Award for 'Best Documentary' at Real to Reel International Film FestivalReal to Reel International Film FestivalThe Real to Reel International Film Festival is held annually in Kings Mountain, North Carolina at the Joy Performance Center. It was founded in 2000...
- Won Audience Choice Award at East Lansing Film FestivalEast Lansing Film FestivalThe East Lansing Film Festival is one of the large film festival in the state of Michigan. It screens over 100 films in five days, including several shorts programs. It is held yearly, usually in late March...
- Won Jury Award for 'Best Documentary' at Longbaugh Film Festival
- Won Jury Award for 'Best Feature' at Sunscreen Film Festival
- Won Audience Choice Award for 'Best feature' at Sunscreen Film Festival
- Won Jury 'Merit Award' at Superfest International Disability Festival
- Won Audience Choice Award at Berkshire International Film FestivalBerkshire International Film FestivalThe Berkshire International Film Festival was founded in 2005 by Kelley Vickery inGreat Barrington, Massachusetts. The four-day festival features independent films for filmmakers and film aficionados, with showings of features, documentaries, shorts, and animation—as well as panel discussions and...
- Won Jury Award for 'Best Documentary' at Sidewalk Film Festival
- Won Audience Choice Award at Sidewalk Film Festival
- Won Audience Choice Award at Ojai Film Festival
- Won Youth Jury Award for 'Best Documentary' at Viewfinders International Film Festival for Youth
- Won 'Runner Up' 'Best Documentary' at BiNational Film Festival
- Won Jury Honorable Mention for 'Best Documentary' at Picture This Film Festival