Best Screenplay Award at Long Beach QFilms Opening Night

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Judas Kiss opened the first night of the QFilm Festival here on Friday, bringing home its jury award for Best Screenplay, Feature Film.

UPDATE Other festival winners are listed below before Related Links.

“This is such a great honor, and a wonderful surprise,” said writer-producer Carlos Pedraza. “I’ve not been to a festival that has presented an award like this at a film’s actual screening.”

“I can’t think of a better way to win an award like this than at a festival in the city where I was born,” said director J.T. Tepnapa, who is a former Long Beach resident.

On hand were a large number of Southern California-based Judas Kiss cast and crew, including Sean Lockhart (AKA Brent Corrigan, who plays Chris Wachowsky), visiting Belgian actor Timo Descamps (Shane Lyons) and Julia Morizawa (Abbey Park).

The film screened after the festival’s opening reception at The Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Center. The award presentation and a lively Q & A session came after the screening, followed by a raucous afterparty at the Paradise Piano Bar and Restaurant.

GREG IN HOLLYWOOD The film, its award and the two parties were featured on the popular entertainment blog, Greg in Hollywood, which said, “the film is so well shot with outstanding production values, and the cast is headed by the very talented Charlie David,” and features strong performances from its cast. About the actors on hand in Long Beach, the blog noted Descamps (“an excellent and most attractive villain”) and Lockhart (“off to a terrific start as a mainstream film actor”).

Judas Kiss cast and crew pose with the film’s Best Screenplay Award. Pictured (L to R): Julia Morizawa, Carlos Pedraza, Tellier Killaby, Timo Descamps, J.T. Tepnapa, Tim Foutch, and Sean Paul Lockhart.

AWARD TALLY The QFilm award is the second for the Judas Kiss screenplay (FilmOut San Diego was the first), and the film’s sixth award overall. It also won Best Debut Feature for Tepnapa (Fort Worth’s QCinema); the Rising Star Award for Lockhart (Philadelphia’s QFest); First Place, Alternative Spirit, and Honorable Mention, Youth Jury (both at the Rhode Island International Film Festival).

“I’m glad we were able to share this award with so many of our cast and crew,” Pedraza said. Also attending the screening were:

CAST AND CREW Cinematographer Dave Berry, visual effects supervisor Joël Bellucci, sound designer Ralph Miller, editor Whitney Dunn, executive producer Steve Parker, actor Tim Foutch (Tommy), singer Brian Lam (whose two songs, “Crash” and “If I Fall,” are featured in the film), first assistant director Mike Drobinski, script supervisor Rhona Rubio, costume designer Anthony Tran, composer David Yancey (who wrote the song, “Zach’s Lament,” featured on the soundtrack), the director’s husband and associate producer Adam Browne, co-producer Jody Wheeler and unit production manager Tellier Killaby.

OTHER WINNERS at Long Beach were: Best Picture, Feature Film, Leave it on the Floor; Best Director, Feature Film, Celina Sciamma, Tomboy; Best Documentary, Photos of Angie; Best Short Film, Drama, Tsuyako; Best Short Film, Comedy, You Move Me; Best Director, Short Film, Melissa Osborne, Change.

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