Bay Rizz: The Rescue wins the Audience Choice Award at the Zero Film Festival!!

Galapagos Art Space, DUMBO Brooklyn - The jury and audience award-winners of the 2009 Zero Film Festival were announced tonight at the Festival’s closing Awards Ceremony hosted by Rich Hooban, Steven Strauss and Joanna Lai - festival directors. In the audience choice category, Bay Rizz: The Rescue took home the award.

Festival director Rich Hooban presented the award saying, “Every time I see The Rescue I get something else out of it”. Filmmaker Mike Rizzo (aka Mayor Bay Rizz) excitedly accepted saying, “It’s an honor to have been selected in this festival and an even greater honor to win this award having screened amongst such brilliant films”. The Rescue’s audience popularity beat out Polar Bears and Signal from Shore, the winner in Zero’s Los Angeles festival. Both are great films and taking a lead over them is truly something to write home about.

The Zero Film Festival is a unique showcase as it only accepts entries from filmmakers who do

not receive studio backing or funding. Their mission is clear, “Zero Film Festival is dedicated to screening self financed films from filmmakers all over the world. In the age where the majority of festivals are Hollywood marketing campaigns, and even "indie" and "underground" festivals screen financed films, we are here to offer something different. We recognize authentically independent films and filmmakers who take risks and fight the odds to see their visions through.”

I had an opportunity to talk with Mike Rizzo after the ceremony. He was so pleased with his award. “Winning audience choice in a festival like this holds a lot of weight. I guess it’s the recognition of the fact that all of us here made these films out of passion and love for our art. It’s a huge risk to keep swiping that credit card, one that I couldn’t be happier for taking on a night like this!”

Major Kudos to the awesome people at Zero. They get an A+ for supporting Independent filmmakers & giving them a platform to launch their art. And congratulations to Mike Rizzo and the entire cast and crew of Bay Rizz: The Rescue! Keep following your dreams, keep creating films...we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Photos of the Zero Film Festival coming soon!

Contact: Doc Rocket - info@mikerizzoedit.com

www.bayrizz.com ::: www.mikerizzoedit.com