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Newcomer takes grand prize at Teen Film Festival

Posted by: Stephanie De Pasquale on March 26, 2009 at 10:36PM CST

Shelby Bargren wore a red sparkly dress to the Teen Film Festival and red carpet screening of her movie “Lots of Character” at the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre.

The newcomer to the festival entered a movie that begins in black and white, only to make the leap to technicolor when the main character, played by Shelby, opens a book at the library.

The short movie is filled with characters from Shelby’s favorite books including “Peter Pan,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

“I just wanted to show people that by reading a book you can be so many different things,” Shelby said. “You can just be anything really and show how many characters you can really be just by reading a book.”

To Shelby’s surprise she took home two awards for Best Original Film and the coveted Librarian's Choice, which came with a $100 prize.

Shelby pulled a Kate Winslet by asking her parents to stand during her acceptance speech so she could thank them for driving her to the library too many times to count in order to finish the film.

The other grand prize of the night, the Viewers’ Choice Award, went to Gavin Wright and Austin Bundy for their movie “What’s Up Holmes?” The duo took home the same award at last year’s Teen Film Festival.

More than 150 people attended the festival to support the 22 teens who participated in this year’s contest.

You can view all the videos and cast your vote for which video you think is best by clicking here.

Individual awards

Viewers’ Choice Award: Gavin Wright and Austin Bundy for “What’s Up Holmes?”

Librarians’ Choice: Shelby Bargren for “Lots of Character”

Best Acting: Zina Ellis, Maria Johnson, Carissa Dewaele, Austin Slater and Shayn Lomba for “Draco for President”

Best Comedy: Gavin Wright and Austin Bundy for “What’s Up Holmes?”

Best Soundtrack: Gabriella Garrido for “Movie of Coolness”

Best Stunt Work: Justin Coleman for “Writing the Godfather”

Best Documentary: Sheldon Wellman “What I Learned at the Library”

Best Action Film: James and Jack McNeil and Kathleen Bracke for “The Secret Life of 007”

Best Drama: Steven Bieber for “Hostage”

Best Original Film: Shelby Bargren for “Lots of Character”

Best Animation: Benjamin, Matthew and Josh Haycraft for “A Day at the Library”

Best Ensemble Cast: Jade and Jocelyn Jackson for “What Happens at the Library”

Best Screenplay: Sarah Stogdill for “Goodnight Moon: Revised”

Send This | Categories: Movies, Teens

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A look at local entertainment in the Quad-Cities from Entertainment Reporter Stephanie De Pasquale.

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