The Arizona Republic
April 9, 2004
Bill Muller

'Black Cloud' wins top honors

Phoenix festival draws a crowd
Black Cloud, a film shot on the Navajo Reservation by TV star Rick Schroder, scored three major awards at the Phoenix Film Festival, which drew a record attendance of 10,000 during its four-day run last weekend.

The movie about a Native American boxer received the best picture audience award and was honored for its ensemble cast, which includes Eddie Spears, Russell Means, Schroder and Tim McGraw. Black Cloud also earned a special jury prize for cinematographer Steve Gainer.

Schroder, who lives in the Valley, filmed the movie in part at a Chinle gym after being inspired by Navajo boxer Lowell Bahe's attempts to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. Schroder, a former child actor who recently starred in TV's NYPD Blue, is no stranger to the ring. He appeared with Jon Voight in the 1978 boxing film The Champ.

Also winning multiple awards was Philip Angelotti Jr., writer/director of the crime drama You Got Nothin'. Angelotti was named best director and won best screenplay along with co-writer Steven Langa. Break a Leg, a movie about a struggling actor, was named the festival's best film, and Up For Grabs, which chronicles the fight over Barry Bonds' record-breaking home-run ball, won best documentary.

Only films made for less than $1 million are eligible to compete at the festival, which attracted 3,000 more patrons than last year, according to organizers.

"I was overwhelmed by the response by the audience members and the filmmakers," said executive director Chris LaMont, who attributed the increase to a new partnership with Harkins Theatres and a new venue, the Harkins Scottsdale 101 theater.

Festival organizers and partners also made a strong marketing and advertising push, from print and radio ads to fliers in restaurants and stores, he said.

"We're looking forward to 2005," LaMont said. "We're champing at the bit to continue the success and growth of the organization."

Reach Muller at (602) 444-8651.


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