(Pt 2 – Award Ceremony)

(Pt 3 – Interviews)

Knuckle Draggers wins two “Rising Star “awards at the Delray Beach Film Festival.

Serah D’Laine takes the “Frownie” for Best Close Up in a Motion Picture and Paul J. Alessi takes the “Stella Artois” for Outstanding Feature by a New Filmmaker/Producer.

We are pleased to announce the following awards and honors.  Please check our website for monthly screenings and come see the best of the DBFF.

* The Stella Artois Lifetime Achievement Award to Robert Davi.

* The Stella Artois Rising Star Award to Alexander Nevsky.

* The Stella Artois Rising Star Award to a new filmmaker to Paul J. Alessi, producer/actor “Knuckle Draggers”.

* Stella Artois Award for the Best Film by a New Filmmaker to Bajir Cannon, Director of The Distance between the Apple and the Tree.

* The Chloe Lifetime Achievement Award for Support of Independent Filmmaking to Giancarlo Esposito.

* The Frownies Award for Best Close-Up in a Motion Picture to Serah D’Laine, (Knuckle Draggers).

* Winners of the Script Writing Contest Sponsored by Final Draft -This year we have two winners:   Margaret Nussbaum and Jim Steech for M.I.L.F. and Shari Umansky for Son of M.I.L.F., a Madoff Tragedy.

* Script-to-Reel Short Winner, Sponsored by Perfect Vodka and Sony, to  Dan Pico for Heaven Above You.

* Best Feature Film Audience Award to Falling For Grace, Directed by Fay Ann Lee.

* Best Documentary Audience Award to Faded Glory, Directed By Rick Cohen.

* Director’s Choice for Best Documentary, War Against the Weak, by Pete Deemas.

* Special Award for a documentary that raises awareness of  contemporary issues, The Spitting Game, Directed by Denice Ann Evans.

* Best Short, How My Father Killed Dracula, Directed by Sky Soleil.

* Award for Best Experimental Short, The Green, Green Heart, Directed by Steven Lesser.

* Best Animation Short, Token Hunchback, Directed by Tim Reckart.

* Best Animation Feature, The Magistical, Directed by John Cernak.

* Audience Award Best Foreign Film , Hachipusheet (The Beetle) Directed by Yishar Orian.

* Best Foreign Film, Children’s Orchestra (Orquestra Dos Meninos), Directed by Paulo Thiago De Oliveira.

* Director’s Choice for Best Foreign Film, Lokas, Directed by Gonzalo Justiniano.

* Best Environmental/Green Award, Free River Park, Directed by Tara Nurin.

* Kodak Award  for the Best Student Shorts, Fades with Age, Directed Aaron I. Naar and Seth Roger Cuddeback.

* The Sara Fuller Award for Best Young Filmmaker  and Best Student Short to Florida  MIU Filmmaker, Xander Rey Soteras, for Ditched.

* Best Documentary by a Florida  filmmaker, Cracker – The Last Cowboys of Florida, Directed by Victor Milt.

* Music Video Award to F**K the FED!, Directed by Neal Fox.

* Award for Best Xtreme Sports Film to That’s It That’s All, Directed by Curt Morgan and Travis Rice.

* Best Feature Film by a Florida Filmmaker Film Contest?  V. Alex Marquez

Serah D’Laine wins the “Rising Star Frownie Award” for “Best Close Up in a Motion Picture” at the Delray Beach Film Festival, for her role in the feature film “Knuckle Draggers”.

Paul J. Alessi wins the “Rising Star Stella Artois Award” for “Outstanding Feature by a New Filmmaker/Producer” at the Delray Beach Film Festival, for the feature film “Knuckle Draggers”.

“Knuckle Draggers” producer and actor Paul Alessi (left) and Rick Cohen (right)

Knuckle Draggers

On May 21, my husband Randy and I went to the screening of “Knuckle Draggers” at the Delray Beach Film Festival. Randy’s longtime friend, Paul Alessi is one of the main stars and producer of the film, and when we were invited to the screening we jumped at the chance

I’m not one to ever write reviews for movies (good or bad), but when artistry such as this film comes along, I felt compelled to share my thoughts.

In three words, I LOVED IT. My reasons? I… READ MORE ]]> http://www.pauljalessi.com/news/2009/05/%e2%80%9cknuckle-draggers%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-some-things-never-change/feed/ 0 http://www.pauljalessi.com/news/2009/05/paul-j-alessi-wins-the-rising-star-stella-artois-award-for-outstanding-feature-by-a-new-filmmakerproducer/ http://www.pauljalessi.com/news/2009/05/paul-j-alessi-wins-the-rising-star-stella-artois-award-for-outstanding-feature-by-a-new-filmmakerproducer/#comments Sun, 24 May 2009 18:57:20 +0000 Paul J Alessi http://www.pauljalessi.com/news/?p=568 Paul J. Alessi wins the “Rising Star Stella Artois Award” for “Outstanding Feature by a New Filmmaker/Producer” at the Delray Beach Film Festival, for “Knuckle Draggers”. Click Here

It’s fun, clever, witty and well-acted. – Ramas Screen

“All in all a telling slice-of-life, well worth-watching”- Cult Movies

“The movies pacing is excellent, it moves from scene to scene seamlessly” – Crave Online

“A relationship roller coaster ride with funny highs and dramatic lows.” – Movie Vine

Written and directed by Alex Ranarivelo, produced by Paul J. Alessi, and co-produced by Amie Barsky and Baptiste DeRivel. Knuckle Draggers takes a humorous but very real look at the state of modern male/female relationships. Knuckle Draggers is the relationship movie from a male perspective.

The story follows Ethan, an all around nice guy who gets dumped because he wasn’t able to provide his fiancée with the plush, stable life her friends were living. Desperate to get her back, he seeks help from his older brother Kyle, a tough talking sexist who seems to have a way with the ladies. Kyle gives Ethan a crash course on women and dating much to the disgust of some of Ethan’s female friends. Just when it seems Kyle’s misogynistic theories are about to prove themselves true, things take an unexpected turn and force Ethan, Kyle and their friends to reassess their views on relationships.

In the spirit of movies like Swingers and Brothers McMullen, Knuckle Draggers gives us a unique point of view, a timely message, and a lot of heart. Not another indie film about friends hanging out, Knuckle Draggers provokes questions about what modern couples want versus what they need, and how their needs may not have evolved much from those of our caveman ancestors.

Scottish heartthrob Ross McCall heads a dynamic ensemble cast in the lead role of ‘Ethan’. His extensive credits include the HBO miniseries ‘Band of Brothers’ and most recently ‘Crash’, the Starz TV series. Omar Gooding plays Ethan’s best friend ‘Russell’. Omar’s list of credits includes ‘Baby Boy’, the HBO series ‘Deadwood’ and he’s just joined the cast of the upcoming Jerry Bruckheimer TV series ‘Miami Trauma’. The film also stars Danielle Nicolet (‘The Starter Wife’), Justin Baldoni (‘Heroes’), and Jennifer Alden (‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’).

Knuckle Draggers features a musical score by Austin Wintory, whose credits include the multiple award-winning Captain Abu Raed. A dynamic soundtrack accompanies the score, including tracks by J Mello & Dave Navarro, Tyler Hilton, Marching Band, and Jennifer Love-Hewitt & Sophie B. Hawkins.

The East Coast Premiere takes place on Thursday, May 21st at 9pm, at Movies of Delray 300 7421 West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach, FL. For more info, go to www.dbff.us or email Michael Posner, Festival Organizer: maddoc@dbff.us

For all inquiries please contact Paul J. Alessi at Paul@partnersincrimefilms.com

See the trailer at www.KnuckleDraggersTheMovie.com