Sunny is Berman's thirteenth film for Level 1 Productions in as many years -- but his first to win top honors at the annual Powder Awards ceremony, presented by Powder Magazine. The film, which Berman co-directed with Kyle Decker, beat out The Eighty Six, from Boulder-based Stept Productions; The Dream Factory from Teton Gravity Research; and Few Words, from Process Films. Sunny -- edited by Decker, Berman and Freedle Coty -- also won in the Best Editing category.
See also: - Colorado ski-porn purveyors nominated for 18 Powder Awards - Level 1 Productions, Stept, MSP clean up at 2012 IF3 International Freeski Film Festival - Sweetgrass Productions, Level 1, Stept win big at IF3 International Freeski Film Festival
Sunny Official Trailer from Level 1 on Vimeo.
"Huge thanks to Powder," Berman said from the stage, barely able to believe his decidedly new-school film had won the most prestigious of old-school ski movie prizes. "Thanks and props because more than 50 percent of this movie was actually filmed off the mountain and in the streets... so very cool to see skiing going in that direction and getting some recognition for that kind of stuff."
The Eighty Six Trailer -- Stept Productions from Stept Productions on Vimeo.
Speaking of new-school, Stept Productions won Best Jib for Clayton Villa's part in The Eighty Six, the studio's first-ever Powder Award.
Superheroes of Stoke Trailer from MSP Films on Vimeo.
Crested Butte-based Matchstick Productions took home Best Female Performance honors for Michelle Parker's part in the studio's twentieth anniversary film, Superheroes of Stoke, and Best Line for Eric Hjorleifson's closing segment. Rounding out the prizes collected by the Colorado contingent, Corey Felton and Topher Plimpton won Best P.O.V. honors for their dual descent in Because from Two Plank Productions, marking the Crested Butte-based studio's first Powder Award.
"BECAUSE" Trailer by Two Plank Productions - twoplank.com from Two Plank on Vimeo.
For the full list of 2013 Powder Awards results, visit www.Powdermag.com/Powder-Awards/2013-award-winners/.
Here's an extended remix edit from Sunny that was released in December:
Sunny Remix from Level 1 on Vimeo.
"This is something to cross off the bucket list for sure," Berman said, closing out his acceptance speech. "I'm honored and flattered with so many amazing movies out there."
The full film is available online on iTunes and Vimeo, or on DVD/BluRay via Level1Productions.com or the new Level 1 storefront in Denver at 3333 Larimer Street.
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