SHOTGUN STORIES, largely a product of University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) School of Filmmaking and School of Drama alumni, has made Roger Ebert’s picks for “best films of 2008.”

“You'll have to search for it, but worth it,” said Ebert, long-time film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. “Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, it avoids the obvious and shows a deep understanding of the lives and minds of ordinary young people in a skirmish of the class war. The dialogue rings true, the camera is deeply observant.”

Ebert recently listed his top 20 films of 2008 – alphabetically – on his website, rogerebert.com.

Written and directed by Nichols, who graduated from the UNCSA School of Filmmaking in 2001, SHOTGUN STORIES was produced by David Gordon Green, who graduated from the UNCSA film school in 1998, and former film faculty member Lisa Muskat.

The film features UNCSA School of Drama alumni Michael Abbott Jr., Travis Smith, and Cosmo Pfeil, all of the Class of 2000; as well as School of Filmmaking grad Doug Ligon, Class of 2001. Pfeil was also the first assistant director.

UNCSA School of Filmmaking graduates also composed much of the crew, including Adam Stone, director of photography; Steven Gonzales, editor; Paul Skidmore, UPM (unit production manager) and associate producer; Stephen Olsen, gaffer; Ryan Nelson, key grip; and Brian Sides and David Briggs, grips.

SHOTGUN STORIES premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2007 and went on to play at the London, Chicago and Tribeca international film festivals in 2007. It won the New American Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the 2007 Seattle Film Festival, the Narrative Feature Jury Prize at the 2007 Austin Film Festival, and the Fipresci Prize at the 2007 Viennale Film Festival. It also was a John Cassavetes Award nominee for Best Picture at the 2007 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards.

SHOTGUN STORIES was also the audience favorite at Ebertfest 2008.

SHOTGUN STORIES tracks a feud that erupts between two sets of half brothers following the death of their father. Set against the cotton fields and back roads of southeast Arkansas, these brothers discover the lengths to which each will go to protect their family. For more information, visit www.shotgunstories.com.

2 Comments

by Alab @ 22 Nov 2009 10:18 am

Very Interest! Thanks!

by Nanes @ 22 Nov 2009 10:20 am

<a href="http://community.post-gazette.com/members/Buy-Cheap-EXELON-Online/default.aspx">Exelon</a>;