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May 22 , 2007

Locally-produced documentary scores big at Mendocino Film Festival

Austin, TX - May 21, 2007 - The Austin-produced documentary film Last Best Hope received the 2007 Mendocino Film Festival's award for Best Feature Length Documentary and the Audience Choice Award on May 19 in Mendocino, California.

Last Best Hope's executive producers are Ramona Kelly and David Grosvenor. It was written, directed, and edited by Mat Hames, co-owner of Alpheus Media, Inc. Wilson Waggoner, also a partner in Alpheus Media, Inc., was the director of photography. Acclaimed composer Stephen Barber composed and arranged the film's original score. Kelly, Grosvenor, Hames, Waggoner, and Barber all reside and work in the greater Austin area.

The Mendocino honors come on the heels of the film's recent receipt of the 2007 Hugo International Television Silver Award in the documentary/history category. Last Best Hope was also accepted by the Jackson Hole Film Festival, the Calgary International Film Festival, the Dallas Videofest, Worldfest, and the Texas Independent Filmmakers Festival, where it won the People's Choice Award.

The Mendocino Film Festival presents "films that stimulate the creative connection between our inner being and the outer world, films that bring us closer to one another, films that remind us who we are.” The Festival seeks films that have strong stories and strong characters, recognizing work “that engages and empowers as it entertains, that ventures into realms beyond worn out conventions."

“Last Best Hope is a profoundly moving story about compassion and bravery in the face of unimaginable danger," said Bill Stotesbery, CEO of KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, which served as the film's presenting station to PBS.

Last Best Hope is an intimate, little-known story about the courage exhibited by ordinary men, woman, and youth in the Belgian Underground in their efforts to hide and repatriate Allied airman downed in German-occupied Belgium during World War II.

The film aired on KLRU and other PBS stations on October 30, 2006.  For more information about the film, visit http://www.alpheusmedia.com/lastbesthope. A complete list of winners at the Mendocino Film Festival is located at http://www.mendocinofilmfestival.com/winners.htm.

About KLRU

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, reflects, celebrates and inspires Central Texas through creative excellence, community engagement and lifelong learning. Although primarily a television station providing locally produced and quality national programming, KLRU is also a non-profit organization helping to build a stronger community through educational workshops, community outreach projects and public events. Get more information about KLRU at klru.org.

About Alpheus Media:

Alpheus Media specializes in motion picture, documentary, and broadcast storytelling.  Their highly creative work has garnered awards in both the world of film and commercial advertising, and their staff excels at creating entertaining stories that blend high-end production and human emotion. Recent projects include the PBS documentary series State of Tomorrow. More information about Alpheus Media can be found at alpheusmedia.com