From October 16 to 19, Prize Fest held its annual competition in Shreveport, and the winners have been announced.
The Film Prize Grand Prize winning film is “Sex Date,” directed by Michael Nicholas, who works primarily as an editor in Los Angeles.
Grand Prize Winner for Music Prize is Mia Borders from New Orleans, La.
Food Prize’s Battle for the Golden Fork Champion is Chef Melvin Nelson, and the Golden Shaker Champion is Ria Townsend from Bear’s on Fairfield.
Grand Prize Winner for Comedy Prize is Opey Olagbaju, from Washington, D.C.
"I mean, to have national people come to town and watch these bands, and see these movies, and hear these comedians, and taste this food, and see what we’re offering…," Sanders says. "I mean I really think that it helps inspire other people in Shreveport, and helps them feel like, “Okay, we are seen.” You know? And Shreveport is special. And there is something really happening here that’s worth people outside of our community taking a look at."
Mallori Sanders is a member of HAG, one of the two bands that won the Audience Choice award for Music Prize. She says she thinks Prize Fest reveals how much talent really lives in Shreveport.
"Events like Prize Fest and Music Prize showcase that there are people here who are so talented," Sanders says. "And as cheesy as it may sound, it sort of felt like “Man. We’ve been waiting 20 years for this. All of us are really involved in the community in one way or another. It just felt like this moment, like… Oh wow, our community really does see us. Like, they see us and they hear us, and they appreciate us."
Sanders is a Shreveport native, and she says that she is happy to have won the Audience Choice with another native Shreveport group: Rachard and Ouro Bear.
"You know, I have grown up with these people and we have all stayed here. We have all stayed active in the music scene. I wanted to cry on stage, like, looking at them, because it just felt like this bittersweet moment," Sanders says. "Like, maybe we didn’t win the grand prize, but we brought home the audience choice for Shreveport. And that felt like such an amazing moment to share with them, especially."
Chef Melvin Nelson says that he had fun at Food Prize, where local chefs can showcase their cooking talents and win the Golden Fork.
"It’s amazing," Nelson says. "I still am a little in shock, but I’ve had a very fun time with Food Prize."
Film Prize is the biggest event at Prize Fest, where filmmakers from all over the country submit short films to win a $50,000 prize. Chris Lyon is a director with Film Prize, and he says that Prize Fest tries to show the creativity that Shreveport houses.
"At the end of the day, what we’re trying to do is to highlight the beautiful, creative hub that is Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana, Lyon says. "And we’ve done that."
Lyon says that this year’s film prize was successful.
"This year’s Film Prize was one of the most incredible, in the sense that a really amazing, diverse set of filmmakers, both in demographic and in geographic origin," Lyon says. "We had so many people coming in from all over the country- and right here in our backyard- to tell these amazing stories that ended up on the screen. And more than that, the audiences really loved each one of these films. There’s something special about all of them. And, the way that we see our audiences get excited about that is indicative of how successful of a year it was."
He also says that this year’s Prize Fest excites him for next year’s event.
"After this year I was truly reinvigorated. You know, as we have come out of the pandemic, like many film festivals and many events, it has been really hard to find your feet again and to really bring some extra exuberance to your audiences," says Lyon. "But after this year, I was reminded exactly why we do Film Prize and Prize Fest ,and I’m really looking forward to continuing that energy in the next year."
This is Alaina Atnip with Red River Radio News
The full list of winners can be found here:
Film Prize:
- Grand Prize Winner - Sex Date (Directed by Michael Nicholas)
- Best Performance - Moriah Hicks (Three Sessions)
- Top 5 Films - Most Likely to Succeed (Directed by Ty Hudson)
Napoleonic Code (Directed by Michael Cusumano)
Sex Date (Directed by Michael Nicholas)
Three Sessions (Directed by Erica Michelle Singleton)
Toots (Directed by Chris Alan Evans)
- Founders Circle - Blood and Milk (Directed by Eve Crusto)
Connected (Directed by Melissa Goslin)
Miniature Life (Directed by Stevie Cavalier)
Most Likely to Succeed (Directed by Ty Hudson)
Plaid Skirts (Directed by Kat Durel)
Three Sessions (Directed by Erica Michelle Singleton)
Toots (Directed by Chris Alan Evans)
Music Prize:
- Grand Prize Winner - Mia Borders (New Orleans, LA)
- Second Place - Big Wy’s Brass Band (Austin, TX)
- Third Place - SUNKiSSED (Lafayette, LA)
- Audience Choice (TIE) - HAG (Shreveport, LA)
Rachard + Ouro Boar (Shreveport, LA)
Food Prize:
- Golden Fork Champion - Chef Melvin Nelson (Melvin Nelson Chef Services)
- Golden Shaker Champion - Ria Townsend (Bear’s on Fairfield)
Comedy Prize:
- Grand Prize Winner - Opey Olagbaju (Washington, DC