Film Prize founder Gregory Kallenberg recognized at Cleveland International Film Festival
Many among north Louisiana know about the excitement of Prize Fest but many more will learn of it as the Cleveland International Film Festival recently honored the organization's founder and executive director, Gregory Kallenberg, with the annual Shorts in Focus Award.
“An award-winning filmmaker himself, Gregory created this extraordinary event, which awards a $50,000 cash prize to the winning short film each year – and many of them have gone on to play and win awards here at CIFF,” reads the CIFF website.
CIFF’s Short Films Programming Manager Paul Sloop started this award a few years ago, with the first award going to Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot.
“Gregory Kallenberg is the only person I ever met who is as much or more excited about films as I am,” said Sloop, who has attended Prize Fest for the last several years. “It’s the best short film festival there is, and I have been to a lot of them,” he adds.
“Gregory has worked tirelessly for over 13 years to ensure that filmmakers and creative entrepreneurs who want to make their career in Shreveport have that opportunity,” said Chris Lyon, who has worked with Kallenberg for 16 years. “I couldn’t be more happy for Gregory or more proud that he is receiving this recognition.”
Kallenberg was quick to deflect the merits of his award to those around him, “While I’m honored to hold and receive this prestigious award, I’m representing an amazing group of people who took my indie film, tequila-fueled dream and made it into a reality.”
His wife, Heidi Kallenberg, is also a large supporter of the arts in Shreveport and is the chair of the Shreveport Regional Art Council's much-anticipated fundraiser biennial event, Christmas in the Sky.
Their son Tobias Kallenberg began Film Prize Junior during the 2016-2017 school year as a high school-focused version of the flagship competition.
For 2024, the junior competition saw 96 films submitted from 54 schools and programs across the state of Louisiana and viewing of the films will take place at ArtBreak on April 12 and 13.
“Namely, this award also belongs to my wife Heidi and the kids, an incredible work family and the cities of Shreveport and Bossier,” said Kallenberg.
SRAC’s Executive Director Pam Atchison was quick to sing Kaldenberg’s praises, “Through his work to create and grow the PRIZE Family of Events – Film, Food, Fashion, Music, Comedy, Photography – Gregory Kallenberg has achieved more to transform Shreveport into a destination city in just a few short years than most people accomplish in a lifetime!”
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport's Prize Fest founder honored by Cleveland film festival
