Congratulations to filmmaker J.R. Poli for winning the Love Your Shorts Film Festival’s 2019 Best of the Fest award for his film Marcus.

The film also won the Drama block to advance to the final judging for the top award in Sanford.

The other 2019 block winners of Monroe Awards were:

Opening Night

Guest of Honor
Lisa Belcher, USA, 11:52 (Drama)
A married couple struck by tragedy goes ahead with their anniversary gathering.

E for Everyone

Game Changer
Aviv Mano, USA, 2:40 (Animation)
A macho arcade prize fights to keep a young girl from winning enough tickets to take him home.

Animation

iRony
Radheya Jegatheva, Australia, 7:53
The relationship between people and technology – told from the perspective of a phone.

Documentary

The Boachabela String Orchestra
François Verster, 27:24
At the Musicona musical training center in Bloemfontein, South Africa, which was established during apartheid, a radical project has been taking place in recent years.

Comedy

Pauly
Sam Stephenson, USA, 7:18
A man meets his girlfriend’s son for the first time and gets tied up in a situation that’s out of his control.

Sci-Fi/Horror

Genesis
Dale Metz, USA, 9:48
Anticipating a nuclear holocaust on Earth, the Genesis mission was launched with four women and thousands of fertilized eggs.

Drama

Marcus
J.R. Poli, USA, 9:59
After spending the past decade in turmoil, Marcus resorts to one last option in an attempt to end his situation. He sits inside his vehicle across the street from a bank, hesitating and waiting.

Florida Flavor

83 Days
Andrew Paul Howell, Jacksonville, 29:19 (Drama)
What happens when the moral compass of the law is tainted by political pressure and racism, and when those in power struggle to challenge it?

2019 Screener Awards

Chosen by the LYSFF screening panel:

Best Cinematography

Too-Tash
Dariusz Sipowski, Poland, 14:47
In the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan, an old nomad tells a tale about past times, when people and ghosts used to live together. The ghosts are not so common to see now, but nomads know they are still living beside them.

Best Musical Score

I Just Want You to be Happy
Erin Laine, USA, 14:38
A singer/songwriter risks her dreams for her husband’s.

Best Male Actor

Marcus
Owen Miller in lead role, USA, 9:59
After spending the past decade in turmoil, Marcus resorts to one last option in an attempt to end his situation. He sits inside his vehicle across the street from a bank, hesitating and waiting.

Best Female Actor

Jax in Love
Rakefet Abergel in lead role, USA, 20:00
Jax, a lonely wanderer, is searching for a human connection when her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Will she make it out of the desert alive?

Best Director

Marcus
J.R. Poli, USA, 9:59
After spending the past decade in turmoil, Marcus resorts to one last option in an attempt to end his situation. He sits inside his vehicle across the street from a bank, hesitating and waiting.

Best Screenplay

Guest of Honor
Lisa Belcher and Lukas Hassel, USA, 11:52
A married couple struck by tragedy goes ahead with their anniversary gathering.

Best Scene

I Just Want You to be Happy
Confrontation in the kitchen, USA, 14:38
A singer/songwriter risks her dreams for her husband’s.