'Death' takes Best Film

Short films thrill festival goers at Averitt Center

Blake Walker, Chris Purser, Jim Harry, Neil Russell, and David Cone, left to right, picked up awards during the 2011 Statesboro Film Festival at the Averitt Center for the Arts Thursday. Cone's and Walker's film, Death at the Doorstep, picked up awards for Cinematography and Best Film. Russell's film, Dark Forest, notched the People's Choice award. Purser accepted the award for Best Director on behalf of Johnathan Pope for Flowers for Annabelle, and Harry notched Best Editing for I Just Want to Dance.

W FILM FEST 03 — Blake Walker, Chris Purser, Jim Harry, Neil Russell, and David Cone, left to right, picked up awards during the 2011 Statesboro Film Festival at the Averitt Center for the Arts Thursday. Cone's and Walker's film, Death at the Doorstep, picked up awards for Cinematography and Best Film. Russell's film, Dark Forest, notched the People's Choice award. Purser accepted the award for Best Director on behalf of Johnathan Pope for Flowers for Annabelle, and Harry notched Best Editing for I Just Want to Dance.

Viewers laughed, sighed with compassion, and appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves Thursday night at the Third Annual Statesboro Film Festival, which gave amateur filmmakers the chance to debut short productions. The event was held at the Emma Kelley Theater at the Averitt Center for the Arts in downtown Statesboro. Local businessman DeWayne Grice emceed the festival, tossing in a few wacky stunts related to the featured films as he introduced each production.