Rob Nilsson
Filmmakers Alliance is proud to announce that it will be presenting
its inaugural Nilsson Award to the award's namesake, filmmaker Rob Nilsson.
Mr. Nilsson has been a prolific, dynamic, visionary and
fiercely independent filmmaker for many years and shows no sign of
slowing down. From his breath-taking first film, Northern Lights to
his searing, epic 9@Night Series, every frame of Mr. Nilsson's films
are touched by the hand of a true master and poet. This is no lifetime
achievement award, this is a shout of recognition and encouragement
for an on-going creative journey from which all emerging filmmakers
can and should gain immense inspiration.
Thus we have set the bar high for future Nilsson award recipients. The Nilsson award will be annually bestowed upon filmmakers who are not only working at the highest levels of creative achievement, but
also nurturing and maintaining the true spirit of independent film.
Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith is, quite simply, an indie film icon - having helped spawn an entire generation of DIY filmmakers with his first feature, Clerks. And although its success has brought him uncomfortably close to Hollywood's orbit, he has always maintained a defiant individuality and endearing unconventionality. However, his contribution to independent film extends beyond his own filmmaking work, including Executive Producing the documentaries, Reel Paradise and Small Town Gay Bar, as well as four $40,000 features, A Better Place, Drawing Flies, Big Helium Dog, and Vulgar.
