Friends Film Festival
The ninth Friends Film Festival is themed "Occupational Drama", as chosen by FFF8 winner Bill Calabrese and will take place in January 2025
Compliation by Nick Schiarizzi
#FFF 8 - Heist
FFF8, took place on June. 21, 2024 and was themed "Heist", as chosen by FFF7 winner Phil Echinauer.
Bang!
DIRECTOR
Kevin + Wesley
Found guilty of Pathological plagiarism and disorderly editing with intent to disturb the peace
Best chase scene involving, but not limited to, a car and/or horse
Audience Award Winner!
Viscoso y Verde
Director
Bill Calabrese
Found guilty of Extra virgin larceny, Guilty of mishandling of Nut Thins – and also Murder
The James Beard Award for gourmet theft
Heists
DIRECTOR
Bráulio Amado
Found guilty of Gross gastrointestinal malfeasance
The Jonestown Award for scatological fever dream
POST DEADLINE SUBMISSION
Heist within a Heist
DIRECTORS
Sam and Chelsea
5 D's of Deception
DIRECTOR
Harish Bhandari
Found guilty of CCW, PIP, B&E and, last but not least, SPF
The Karl Marx Award for use of sunscreen to undermine capitalism
Anne's Award:
The Bad Influence Award
IPhones are bad and should be stolen and destroyed
Director
Nick Schiarizzi
Found guilty of wrongful and wanton destruction of technology
The Sheryl Crow Literacy Award for the Endowment of the Written Arts
Hot Ones
DIRECTOR
Courtney Wagner
Found guilty of: 5 counts of prolonged petty puppet perjury
Outstanding Achievement in children’s programming
Grant's Award: The ACAB award for excellence in puppetry
POST DEADLINE SUBMISSION
LIFT THE LIGHT
DIRECTOR
Phil Eichenauer
Make it Rain
DIRECTOR
Jon Grenon
Found guilty of Blaspheming and Besmircher-y of the lord’s good name
The Pop of Color Award goes to Jon Grenon
Randall's Award:
The Mel Gibson Award for Cutie Patootie Jesus
FauxceansEleven
Director
Francesca Greggs
Found guilty of A-list criminal collusion and mis-contextualization of a liquid lunch
The best in show for Film Titling award
Cloon Time
DIRECTOR
Emma Zurer & Johnny Sagan
Found guilty of Wilful tomfoolery in a Party City and reckless misappropriation of a wig
The Wiggly Wig Award
Johnny's Award: Excellence in Serving Musical Supervision
#FFF8 Judges
District Attorney Ali Gitlow has served at the 69th precinct of the Port Authority for the past 47 years. She has seen it all, and is not impressed. She thinks art books are a waste of money, but sometimes enjoys a good beach read. In her spare time, she cultivates her true love of camping in the great outdoors with her many children and pets. In 1994, she appeared as an extra on the television show NYU: SVU.
Nick Shea is a disgruntled legal clerk interning at the law offices of Greenberg, Blueberg & Flergberg. Beyond a somewhat patchy comprehension of the law, he has a keen interest in graphic design, and remains hopeful that he will be chosen to create the firm’s 2024
nondenominational office holiday card.
#FFF 7 - Telenovela / Soap Opera
California Caliente
Audience Award Winner
DIRECTOR
Phil Eichenauer
Best Soap Acting Award (Tie!)
PASIONES
Grant Worth
Best Dick Miracle at a Wedding Scene Award
Fresh Pond Road
DIRECTORS
David Orton & Nikolai Samsonov
Art Imitates Life Award, and Special Distinction: Best Face Swap for Russian Peasant Daughters Award
Te Escucho
DIRECTOR
Francesca Greggs
Best Editing Award, Special Recognition: Annual FFF “Most Avuncular”
Soap Opera
DIRECTOR
Jon Grenon
Best Soap Acting Award (Tie!)
Mayo Diciembre
DIRECTOR
Courtney Wagner
Best Erotic Burrito Eating Award
Our Large Mansions
DIRECTOR
Nick Schiarizzi
Best (Chest) Hair, (Smeared) Makeup, Costume Design Featuring Statement Necklaces, Most Wigs Used Award
Will & Fate
DIRECTOR
Kevin Saunders
Best Acting with Interruption on Set Award, Best Fight Scene
Families
DIRECTOR
Bráulio Amado
Best “Oops I Slept with My Brother and Now We’re Going to Have an Unattractive Baby Unless I Kill Myself and It” Award
FFF 7 Judges
Jean Chen Ho
Jean is the author of Fiona and Jane, and a visiting assistant professor of Creative Writing at Skidmore College.
Sam Martucci
Sam is an animator, game enthusiast, and film studies graduate of Bard College. He is 5'6.
Playlist of films
#FFF6 - Mockumentary
The sixth edition of the Friends Film Festival (#FFF6) took place on Friday, May 26 with a theme of mockumentary as picked by FFF5 audience award winner, Jon Grenon.
Playlist of FFF6 films
Synchronicals
DIRECTORS
David Orton & Nikolai Samsonov
Grey gardens award
The envelope please
DIRECTOR
Francesca Greggs
“and the winner is” Award
Ancient Alien Gaymines
DIRECTOR
Ben Tousley & Bráulio Amado
Best special effects as seen on tumblr award
A Statement
DIRECTOR
Stanhope Video Technologies
Social Justice Warrior Award
SDTG
DIRECTOR
Bráulio Amado
This bankrupted VICE award
We're Never WroNG
DIRECTORS
Phil & Andy
2009 The Lana del Rey Award
Rubella's revenge
Audience Award Winner
DIRECTOR
Kevin Saunders
God called and M. Night Shyamalan picked up Award
TTFN
DIRECTORS
Ali Gitlow, Nick Schiarizzi, Nick Shea, Grant Worth, Emma Zurer
The Slacker family award for reclaiming f slur Award
FFF 6 JUDGES:
Taylor Brophy
If she were to pick one item from the criterion closet it would be the Austin Powers Trilogy
Ryan Page
Ryan lives in Bushwick with his cat and studied over 500 hours of American Idol footage in one night to prepare for judging this film festival
#FFF5 - Commercial
September 9, 2022--David Orton audience award winner for FFF4, selected the genre of infomercial/commercial for FFF 5!
Playlist of all films
C'est Quoi Cette Odeur
DIRECTORS
Nick Shea & Ali Gitlow
The ExcellEssance Award for Product Design“Never Have I Ever Seen Such a Panning Queen”
Cali Swordsssss
DIRECTORS
Ion Furjanic & Cal Patterson
The WOW How Did You Land That Location Award“Cal’s the best…give him to me”
Vermont - A place all is own
DIRECTOR
Stanhope Video Technologies
The How To Sound Like John Wilson Award_“Like, seriously, does Bill know John Wilson because it really sounds like him”
_
Kween Of QVC
DIRECTORS
Emma Zurer & Johnny Sagan
The T-Boz Award for Best Crotch Shot_“Incredible tendril”
_
Athe Goth
DIRECTOR
Courtney Wagner
The Cindy Sherman Award for Contouring“You Can Also Snort It”
Clara’s Homemade
DIRECTORS
Jesse Laughter & Grant Helms
Most Like An Actual Infomercial And Also Totally Insane_“Holy shit the detail”
_
Coco Lopez
DIRECTOR
Nick Schiarizzi
The Don’t Be A Lonely Lopez, Put On Your Wig And Shine Award“Do they sell that at the Pantry? Gotta grab some on my way to the Meat Rack”
Audience Award Winner
Breaking My Silence
DIRECTOR
jon grenon
The Nothtalgia Award for Betht Lookth_“We know you thtill love printth, Jon Grenon”
_
Nibling STI
DIRECTOR
Harish Bhandari
The Did You Get Permission to Use Video of Strangers’ Dicks Award“Not that I mind”
Your Personal iPD
DIRECTORS
David Orton & Nikolai Samsonov
Best Foreign Film“Something something international fashion”
SEX CELLS
DIRECTOR
Phil Eichenauer
The Queen Elizabeth is Dead Award for Most Horny Straight People
Depression
DIRECTOR
Bráulio Amado
The I’m Not Sick There’s Just Something In My Butt Award“The question remains…how’d GEICO gecko get in there?”
FFF 5 Judges
Sara Taylor is a real go-getter. She works hard but plays harder. Everyone that meets her thinks, “wow, she really knows how to get. things. DONE!” She loves leaving the house, making huge amounts of money, and doing her taxes.
leon wong hails from the tiny island of rotuma (population 1600: check google maps it is literally tiny!), was raised in australia and now calls NYC home. on the professional front he represents directors and photographers. in his spare time he is a proud Gemini and is forever on the hunt for a husband and best desserts in town :)
#FFF4 - Sci-Fi
March, 4 2022--The fourth Friends Film Festival had the theme of Sci-Fi, selected by FFF 3 audience award winner Bráulio Amado.Congratulations to David Orton on his film Plutonius that was the audience award winner for #FFF4.
Alien Booby Trap
DIRECTOR
Nick Schiarizzi
Un Bébéface
DIRECTORS
Wesley Bresette & Kevin Chan
Two Capybaras
E.T.O.T.O.
DIRECTOR
Phil Eichenauer
Tinsel Pictures
Tunnel
DIRECTOR
Stanhope Video Technologies
Ancient Galiens
DIRECTOR
Grant Worth
Jerkin' Off Cassiopeia (JOC) Productions
Plutonius
DIRECTOR
David Orton
Barrow Manor Productions
Chune
DIRECTORS
Nick Shea & Ali Gitlow
Moving Shitlows
Meta Time
DIRECTOR
Harish Bhandari
Soft Party
THE MIRROR
DIRECTOR
BRÁULIO AMADO
BAD STUDIOS PRODUCTIONS
Your Nosey Neighbor
DIRECTOR
K. Myles Saunders
Haunted Schoolhouse Productions
Marioneta En El Espacio
DIRECTOR
Courtney
Muppet Tears Productions
Silent Ping
DIRECTOR
Emma Zurer & Johnny Sagan aka SnowyWilderness
Send in the Clowns
Let’s Find Out About the Moon
DIRECTOR
Ben Tousley
Unforseen Plans
FFF 4 Judges:Hisham Awad
Andy Barwick
Rachel Castillo
FFF 3 - HORROR
Held on Nov. 5, 2021. Theme selected by Nick Schiarizzi, audience award winner of FFF 2.
Playlist for all the films:
BITCH SALAD
DIRECTOR
Nick Schiarizzi
I’m Sensitive Productions
AWARD
Scary Environmentalist Karen
Fergie Krueger
DIRECTOR
Danny, Mike & Julie
Come to My Window Production
AWARD
The Don't Tread On Elm Street Award
How to Halloween
DIRECTOR
Courtney Wagner
NIGHT BEFORE DEADLINE PRODUCTIONS
AWARD
The Adam Curtis Award For Documentary
Pray, Montana
DIRECTOR
Grant Worth
JOC the Ripper
AWARDS
The REI Award For Who Are These Seemingly Attractive Straight People
The Guest
DIRECTOR
Kevin Chan + Wesley Bresette
Two Capybaras
AWARD
“Ace Hotel Award” Furnished By “Apartment Therapy” And “Apartamento”
W.O.M.B
DIRECTOR
Emma Zurer & Johnny Sagan
Send in the Clowns
AWARD
The New Museum Sky Room Award
No Exit
DIRECTOR
David Orton & Nikolai Samsonov
Barrow Manor Productions
AWARD
Realest Nightmare on iPhone or AndroidThe Masha Gessen Award for Inequality
Return to Office
DIRECTOR
Stanhope Video Technologies
AWARD
Justice 4 Allison Fund For Puppeteering
Shoo Fly
DIRECTOR
Sara Taylor & Courtney Haines
Plotless Pansexual Productions
AWARD
Best Or Most Evil Laugh Shot On Iphone Or Android
Scaryoke
DIRECTOR
Phil Eichenauer
Tinsel Pictures
AWARD
Best, Saddest Addiction
The other guy
DIRECTOR
jongrenon
jonny4/7 productions
AWARD
The Wait, Should I Just Text My Guy - Just In Case We Need Some More 4 Later Award Sponsored By “The Bushwick Association For Fentaynl Related Psy-Ops"
THE COVETED HOOD
DIRECTOR
BRÁULIO AMADO
B.A.D. STUDIOS
AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER
The Duo-Lingo Award For Penis Envy
Watch Where You Step
DIRECTOR
Harish Bhandari
Soft Party
AWARD
The Metropolitan Transit Authority Award
Performance of the Year
Emma Zurer as the WITCH OF THE MOMA BATHROOM
Runner up: Kevin Saunders in THE COVETED HOOD
JUDGES
RICKIE RIX
Rickie Rix is a nationally renowned 90s-style lesbian currently queering the state of Idaho with her coffee-slanging skillz.
OMER_INTERNET
Omer was raised by lesbians in Pennsylvania and now has a PhD in Anthropology from Columbia University, where he is currently teaching.
FFF 2 - MUSICALS!
Held on May 15, 2021. Theme selected by Courtney Wanger, winner of FFF 1
This Year’s Best Musical
DIRECTORS
Kevin Chan + Wesley Bresette
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Two Capybaras
BEST Original Score Award
“Women laughing while eating salads all agree: makes us wet for watermarks!”
Grease 300
DIRECTOR
Nick Schiarizzi
PRODUCTION COMPANY
I'm Sensitive Productions
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER
The Triple Threat Award
“The choreography, make-up, art direction, hairpieces, squat thrusts, core strength, wet pavement, broken violins, love, romance, and ANNE PATTERSON…this musical has everything!”
Church of Sondheimology Presents: Possessed by Sondheim
DIRECTORS
Emma Zurer + Snowy Wilderness
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Send in the Clowns
Sondheim Sex Dungeon Award
“Pippin, eat your heart out!”
Chernobyl: The Techno Musical
DIRECTOR
Jon Grenon
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Radon Rave, LLC
It Was Better Than CATS Award
“I’ve never wanted so badly to smack my bitch up!”
Clock of the Body
DIRECTOR
Kevin Saunders
PRODUCTION COMPANY
The Haunted Schoolhouse
Objectophilia Award
“Busy, and aspirational…in a Kafka-esque kind of way.”
MINARI 2
DIRECTOR
WWC
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Stanhope Video Technologies
Cross Pollinator Award
“The most push-ups without being a musical.”
My Time of the fiLe
DIRECTORS
Grant Worth
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Joggers On Cetammstein (JOC)
The Ketamine Stargate To Eternal Swayze Consciousness Award
Overheard at the VIP Watermelon Lounge after party: “It’s nice to see that his sobriety isn’t affecting his Art.”
What A Party
DIRECTOR
David Orton
Lifetime Achievement Award
Now That’s What I Call Faggy
DIRECTOR
Bráulio Amado
PRODUCTION COMPANY
BAD STUDIOS
The Vaxxed, Waxed, Relaxed Award
“It’s the post pandemic, pre-party playlist for the people to get the peen poppin’. Gets straight to the point, and gets me in the mood…just not necessarily in that order.”
Order in the Court
DIRECTOR
Phil Eichenauer
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Roll Credits Productions
Historical Re-enactment Award
“I feel like I’ve seen it before.”
Envoyer Les Clowns
DIRECTOR
Courtenay
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Steven Sondl'chaim Pictures
The Nightmare Fuel Award
“These have always brought me clowns.”
The Judges
Destiny Pierce, Matty, Trever Illingworth, Scott T. Leiendecker
FFF 1 - NOIR
The inaugural Friends Film Festival took place on February 6th 2021.
Missive
DIRECTOR
Kevin M Saunders
PRODUCTION COMPANY
The Haunted Schoolhouse
Most Suspenseful
Jury Prize: Cinematography"I Liked that you were playing two characters."
Edwina
DIRECTOR
Emma Zurer
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Send in the Clowns
Cinematography and Editing by Snowywilderness
Best Face Acting"Is it poison?"
March 21st, 1967
DIRECTOR
Bráulio Amado
PRODUCTION COMPANY
BAD STUDIOS
Most Romantic
Jury Prize: Screenplay"So many Nicks."
A Musical Interlude
DIRECTOR
David Dodge
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Bumble Bunny Productions
Best Leading Man"I can't believe it's starting all over. I liked the piano."
Untitled
DIRECTOR
Nick Schiarizzi
PRODUCTION COMPANY
I'm Sensitive Productions
Most Avuncular"I loved that it was 47 seconds and I liked that the lightbulb had eyes."
The Bigger the Hair, The Bigger the Turban
DIRECTOR
Johnny O'Clock (JOC)
PRODUCTION COMPANY
TURBANS X TURBANS X DOLPH
Best Noir"I love that there were different endings."
Who is She?
DIRECTOR
Courtney
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Rachel Green Productions
Best Femme Fatale
Jury Prize: Directing
Audience Award"I liked that they were all mannequins. This is my favorite shot (the last shot)."
It's Over
DIRECTOR
Phil Enichenauer
C’est Les Femmes
DIRECTOR
jongrenon
Best Snugglebait"I like how it turned black & white."
LEAU
DIRECTOR
William Calabrese
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Stanhope Video Technologies
Best Existential Themes"You are the water?"
You Said You Loved Me
DIRECTOR
David Orton
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Barrow Manor Productions
The MOST"Why are you a doll? Why are you using the word bitch?"
Festival Jury:
CHERYL FURJANIC
Emmy-nominated filmmaker and professor of documentary production at NYU’s Culture & Media Program. Director of the upcoming film, Adventures in Miscarriage.
DREW JOY
Production sound mixer. Credits include Bravo's Backyard Envy, Season 2, and the Haunted Schoolhouse's Large Rascals
ANNE PATTERSON
LCSW & actor, Large Rascals