2008 Beverly Hills Film Festival Winners!

By:Veronica Viljoen Photos:Johnny Sims & Studio Viggio
"Bad Guys" Won 3 Categories


"Hole in the Paper Sky" Won 2 Categories


At the 8th Annual, Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) closing Gala Awards ceremony, April 13th, the pulp crime drama “Bad Guys,” directed by Rick Jacobson captured three awards, including the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film, Best Producer and Best Actor. “Hole in the Paper Sky” from Bill Purple and starring Jessica Biel (also a producer), won the Audience Award for Best Short Film and Best Screenplay. The first annual Beverly Hills Film Festival Living Legends Award was also presented to legendary photojournalist and Hollywood photographer Phil Stern by producer/director Brett Ratner (“Rush Hour” franchise).
Best Actor, Sherman Augustus "Bad Guys" & Best Actress, Andrea Melton "Time"

The event, which was held on Sunday night, April 13, 2008, at the Beverly Hills Hotel (9641 Sunset Boulevard), was attended by over 200 independent filmmakers, as well as City notables and industry VIPs. The five-day festival that featured premieres, parties and panels discussions kicked-off on Wednesday, April 9th with an Opening Night red carpet event at the Clarity Theater in Beverly Hills, featuring World Premieres of “Bad Guys” and Ondamax Films’ “Thunder Man: The Don Aronow Story,” directed by Andrew Wainrib and narrated by Andy Garcia. Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman came out to support the West Coast Premiere of producer Polly Walter’s “Cat Dragged In,” directed by Nils Tim, while “Hole in the Paper Sky” also had its West Coast Premiere the same night.
(L) Bill Purple & (R) Michelle Purple - "Hole in the Paper Sky" Best Screenplay

Sponsors included GQ Magazine, Mercedes-Benz and Proximity by Axe. The 2008 BHFF recipients were awarded with custom-made crystal, marble trophies, created by Society Awards.



2008 Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) Awards:Best Actress went to Andrea Melton for “Time” (World Premiere), which she co-directed with Don Lawrence.
Best Actor went to Sherman Augustus for his role in “Bad Guys,” directed by Rick Jacobson. Best Director went to Justin Lerner for “The Replacement Child.”
Best Producer went to Frederico Lapenda for “Bad Guys.”
Best Foreign Film went to the Brazlian feature, “Drained” from writer/director Heitor Dhalia.
Best Cinematography went to the short “Terres Noires,” by director Clement Gharin.
Best Editing went to “Persona” from writer/director Pac Arias.
Best Animation went to the CG short “PK-Granny” from director/producer Jo Meuris.
Best Screenplay went to writers Howard Kingkade and Bill Purple for the short film “Hole in the Paper Sky,” starring and produced by Jessica Biel.
The first annual ACE Award (Advancement of Creative Expression) was presented by Digital Evolution to the founders of MySpace.com.
The Golden Palm Award (best film in all categories) went to “Woman” (World Premiere), directed by Ziad Hamzeh. (L) Bob Love & (R) Jim White, "Butterbean" 1st runner-up, Golden Palm Screenplay Award


Filmmaker, Hector Cruz Sandoval, (L) who is creating a documentary on Stern's life called "Hollywood Big Shot", next to Phil Stern and Brett Ratner (R)


LA Councilman Tom LaBonge with Phil Stern


Bad Guys L-R: Tim Cogshell (writer), Frederico Lapenda (producer), Blaine McManus (co-producer) & Sherman Augustus (actor)


BHFF Founder, Nino Simone, (L) received proclamation from LA councilman, Tom LaBonge (M) while filmmaker Hector Cruz Sandoval (R) looks on
























Audience Choice Awards:
Best Short Film went to “Hole in the Paper Sky,” directed by Bill Purple, and starring and produced by Jessica Biel.
Best Documentary went to “Red Hot Chili Peppers: A Dutch Connection” (World Premiere), directed by Bram van Splunteren.
Best Feature Film went to “Bad Guys,” directed Rick Jacobson.

Special Jury Awards:
Best Feature Film went to “Shake Hands with the Devil” (LA Premiere), by director Roger Spottiswoode.
Best Documentary went to “Thunder Man: The Don Aronow Story” (World Premiere), from director Andrew Wainrib.
Best Short Film went to “The Replacement Child,” from writer/director Justin Lerner.

Golden Palm Screenplay Competition:
The Golden Palm Screenplay Competition Award went to Natashia Sanders for “The Spinning Wheel.” First runner-up is James Oliveros White for “Butterbean” and second runner-up is Eduardo Barraza for “Arcangel".
The Jury Jury members include Mark Amin, chairman of Lions Gate Films; Emmy Award-winning journalist, Laura Lucio; producer/director Hector Sandoval (award-winning documentary (“Kordavision”); journalist Daniela Busolini; Brazilian actress Daniela Escobar; producer Lawrence Kubik; and Steven Paul, CEO and president of Crystal Sky.
For more information on the festival, please visit http://www.beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com/
Heather Burgett HLB PR Los Angeles http://www.hlbpr.net/

(L) Heather Burgett, BHFF Publicist, wearing an Elvira Petri Designs necklace and earrings & (R) Andrea Melton, Best Actress Winner, "Time"