Awards Ceremony: October 21, 2007
The drama unfolded at the historic Riverview Theater in Minneapolis as the Minnesota Historical Society announced the five award winning films in the Minnesota’s Greatest Generation Moving Pictures Film Competition. More than 400 filmmakers and event-goers walked past the searchlights for red-carpet arrivals in “old Hollywood” style in anticipation of the winning results.
The five award winning films from 2007 were selected from 60 films submitted by amateur and professional filmmakers across the state of Minnesota. Each of the 10-minute documentary films focus on the life and legacy of Minnesota’s Greatest Generation – the men and women who came of age during the Depression and World War II.
Best Film: Coming Home
Filmmaker Matt Ehling (second from right), presenters Ted Wryk (left), Freya Schirmacher (second from left) and Festival Director Randal Dietrich (right)
Producer, cinematographer, and writer Matt Ehling's film “Coming Home” won Best Film honors and $5,000 in prize money.
The winning film tells the story of Bill Ehling, a World War II combat veteran who fought in the European theater. Through family photos, historical footage, and glimpses of his hometown, the film relates Bill's memories of war, struggle - and finally - of coming home. View the film.
Other Winning Films
Other films and filmmakers honored include:
- Prisoner 32,232 by Gayle Knutson – Best Depiction of "Coming of Age in the 1940s" ($2,500) View the film.
- Marianne Hamilton: A Voice of Peace by Kevin McKeever – Best Exploration of an Intergenerational Legacy ($1,000) View the film.
- Resonance by Paul Creager – Emerging Filmmaker ($1,000) View the film.
- Skating the Pacific to Europe by Rita Nagan and Jeremy Wilker – Best Collaborative Effort ($1,000) View the film.
Descriptions of the films are on the Film Entries for 2007 page.
Honorable Mentions
- "One in a Million" by Amanda Becker
- "Finding Flight" by Jesse Roesler and Jen Larson
- "Gabe & Gene" by Stephen Gurewitz and Adam Ginsberg
Randal Dietrich, project manager of Minnesota’s Greatest Generation Project, noted: “We are thrilled with the quality of the entries and the stories that were depicted in these films.
They are a treasure for many – the subject’s families as well as our state and our nation for their historic purposes.”
Films in the festival competition will be added to the Minnesota Historical Society’s archives.
2008 Competition
Another festival and competition planned for 2008, where more than $10,000 in prize money will again be awarded.
