Haven NuttBEST OF THE FEST

Haven Nutt for “Mr. Man”

Mr. Man: Short horror film written & directed by Haven Nutt shot on black and white Tri X Super 8 film. A 7 years old girl seeking companionship and understanding, makes friends with a ghostly figure she names Mr. Man. Mr. Man scares her, yet enthralls her, and quickly becomes a continuous figure in her life. As she battles the debate in her mind over whether Mr. Man is real or make believe, she becomes addicted to this sensational presence in her life. Though frightened when he’s around, she can’t live without him.

The film stars Dixie Vickers, with Austin Vickers. Associate Produced by Zach Zaleski. With music by Sob Sister, featuring an original song by Sarah Margaret Huff.

Director Biography

Haven Nutt was born in Arkansas, and grew up moving around a bit as a child, living in Kentucky, Idaho, Arkansas again, and then Mississippi before moving to Malibu, California to attend Pepperdine University. Growing up, she always had a camera in her hand and loved making films–especially horror films– with her friends. Her favorite film decade is the 70s, her favorite film being John Carpenter’s “Halloween”. She loves the slow-paced, chilling, almost home-video aesthetic of 70s horror films, which is what encouraged her to start shooting on Super 8. She graduated from Pepperdine in 2013, where she got her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre/Media Production and Film. While studying at Pepperdine, she also studied Improv at the Groundlings in Hollywood. She has worked on several indie films including Deborah Kampmeier’s up and coming film “Split”, in which she worked as an actress and Executive Producer. She shot “Mr. Man” on location in Chapel Hill, TN (1 hour south of Nashville) using all local nonprofessional actors.

BEST DRAMA FEATURE FILM

First Place… “Life and Times of an Unmarried Man” Josh Hope

Second Place “Son of Clowns” Evan Kidd

Third Place” Road to Perdition” Yaser Talebi

 FOUNDERS’ AWARD DRAMA FEATURE FILM

“The Buskers + Lou” Alex Cassun

BEST DRAMA SHORT FILM

First Place … “Keepsake” Meredith Sause

Second Place Winner “The Door” Jonathan Rorech

Third Place Winner “Bus Stop!!” Katharine Taylor

FOUNDERS’ AWARD DRAMA SHORT FILM

“Civil” Andrew Huggins

“Pooped” Kelly Ladd

“Resolution” TL Westgate

“The Severed Garden”  Joseph Gardenhour

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM

First Place Winner…”120 Days” Ted Roach

Second Place Winner “Dirty South Bounders” Jeff Brown

Third Place Winner “Join Hands: The Life and Art of Matt Sesow” Leslye Abbey

FOUNDERS’ AWARD DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM

“The Dog Walkers of Buenos Aires” Peter Wilson

“LUTAH A Passion for Architecture: A Life in Design” Melinda Gandara

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

First Place…” The Stoppage Dam” Yaser Talebi

Second Place Winner “Goran” Roberto Santaguida

Third Place Winner “Fishing for Unicorns” Chris Rady

FOUNDERS’ AWARD DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

“Atomic Retro Customs: The Electric Guitars of Matt Nowicki” Wei Ying

“Nature Vs. Creator” Amber Delgado

BEST ANIMATION FILM

First Place…” Lima” afshin roshanbakht

Second Place Winner “Revolutionary Rabbit” Yu-Nien Chien

Third Place Winner “Mamochka” Eddy Van Hamersveld

FOUNDERS’ AWARD ANIMATION

“Spacial Sublime” Winnie Wang

 “SA” Ronnie Cramer

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FEATURE FILM

First Place Winner… “Flow” David Martínez

Second Place Winner “Aimee” Oscar Pichardo Isaak

BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM

First Place Winner… “Mer Depré” Margaret Orr

Second Place Winner “River” Stephanie Maxwell

Third Place Winner “XO” Brian Ratigan

BEST HORROR FEATURE FILM

First Place Winner… “The Attachment” Clement Ofoedu

Second Place Winner “The Dark Tapes” Michael McQuown

FOUNDERS’ AWARD HORROR FEATURE FILM

“Agnation” Dan Swift

 “The Hunt” Peter Nicholas

BEST HORROR SHORT FILM

First Place Winner… “Mr. Man” Haven Nutt (Best in Fest 2016)

Second Place Winner “Awakenings” Bhargav Saikia

Third Place Winner “The Eve” yuri misson

BEST SCIENCE FICTION SHORT FILM

First Place Winner… “Aqua Fin” Chad Perz

BEST FANTASY FEATURE FILM

First Place Winner… “Red Thunder” by Alvaro Ron

Second Place Winner “The First Smile After” zahra jafari

Third Place Winner “Cosmic Kiosk” Chip Hackler