University of Regina dominates the Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards
Posted: November 27, 2015 4:00 p.m.
Logan Vanghel celebrates winning the Best Actor award for his performance in "Queeny" with his girlfriend, Trenna Beauregard, a U of R Education student in her final year. Photo courtesy of Dana Beauregard.
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It’s two thumbs up for the University of Regina’s Film Department for a great showing at this year’s Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards, held at the Artesian on 13th Avenue in Regina.
“We're delighted that our students and alumni took home three of the four awards at the SIFAs, and that so many of our students were nominated,” says Mark Wihak, Head of the Film Department.
The three U of R winners are:
• Best Student Film - Candy Fox, "Backroads"
• Best Actor - Logan Vanghel, "Queeny"
• Audience Choice - Rhys Pugh, "Queeny"
Vanghel says he was absolutely stunned and ecstatic when he heard his name called out.
“It's a really cool feeling. For the rest of my life I can call myself an award winning actor, which is just surreal. It's awesome.”
Vanghel, who will be convocating next spring says taking the Film Program has been a great experience.
“It's a pretty tight knit community around here, so you work on a lot of projects with a lot of the same people, and without fail it's always a positive experience. The professors are always really open to discussion about any facet of filmmaking, whether it's the actual production, distribution after a project is done, or looking for grants and funding before it's started. They have a wealth of experience and they're really happy to share it,” he says.
Others with U of R connections who received nominations are Elise Beaudy-Ferland and Larisa Tardif (R.C.I. - best student film); Bryce Gamache (Home For The Weekend – best student film); Bernadette Mullen (R.C.I – best actor) and Ian Campbell, faculty member in the Film Department (The First Engine – best film).
Wihak says the awards are “nice recognition of the quality of the work coming from our students, and the range of work they produce. There were documentaries, comedies and suspense films among the nominees, and all of the films reflect the personalities of the people who made them,” Wihak says.
The mission of the University of Regina’s Department of Film is to teach, research and provide community service in the disciplines of film, new media, and interactive media and performance.
The Best Film award went to "Dreams and Spaces In Between" by John Graham.
“The Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards are a really great initiative, and we're really grateful for all the work put in by Saskatchewan Filmpool Staff, board members and volunteers,” Wihak adds.
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