Prodigal son story tops Film Festival awards

Christian Washington, far left, notched the Best Director award for "Chance", Alayna Baer, center left, AnnNell Byne, center right, and Jake Taylor, right, accepted the People's Choice award for "Provenance," and Nelson Miller, center, cleaned up with awards for Best Cinematography and Best Film for "Beautiful Things" during the 2013 Statesboro Film Festival at the Averitt Center for the Arts on Thursday.

W 041113 FILM FEST 02 — Christian Washington, far left, notched the Best Director award for "Chance", Alayna Baer, center left, AnnNell Byne, center right, and Jake Taylor, right, accepted the People's Choice award for "Provenance," and Nelson Miller, center, cleaned up with awards for Best Cinematography and Best Film for "Beautiful Things" during the 2013 Statesboro Film Festival at the Averitt Center for the Arts on Thursday.

Local legend, poignant real-life situations and bizarre stretches of the imagination brought laughter, reaction and applause as the fifth annual Statesboro Film Festival displayed eight short films by local artists Thursday night. Awards presented included the highlight of the evening, Best Film. “Beautiful Things,” by filmmaker Nelson Miller, was an emotional commentary on a son leaving home to explore the world, then returning home to his loving father.