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The Ad Astra Award

The Ad Astra, named for the state motto Ad Astra Per Aspera (To The Stars Through Difficulty), is given to those who dedicate their lives and make significant contributions to the art and process of moviemaking.

In 2004, the inaugural Ad Astra award was handed to Oscar® winning actress Cloris Leachman. The 2005 Ad Astra Award was given posthumously to Tallgrass founder Timothy Gruver, whose dream to make Wichita and Film synonymous is being realized. His award was accepted by his parents, Kaye & Floyd Gruver. And in 2006, filmmaker Laura Lee Bahr was honored.

The 2007 Ad Astra Award was presented to Don LaFontaine, The King of Movie Trailers.

The Audience Awards

Thank you everyone for coming to the film festival and casting your ballots for the 2007 Audience Awards! It is incredible that the difference between the winning feature and the contender was only .235! Congratulations to all of our filmmakers and thank you to the audience that made it all happen. In our eyes you are, yes, all winners. Thank you all.

2007 Audience Award for Feature Film

The Winner is Girls Rock!
Producer and co-director Arne Johnson was in attendance to accept the award.

USA, 2007, 91 min
Domestic Documentary Feature
Languages: English
Directed By: Arne Johnson, Shane King
Producers: Arne Johnson
Cast: Carrie Brownstein, Beth Ditto

Each summer, Portland’s Rock 'n' Roll Camp For Girls provides a place for girls ages 8-to-18 to sweat, scream and wail. This cranked-to-eleven documentary follows the dedicated counselors (including Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein and Beth Ditto from The Gossip), as they guide the girls through selecting their bands, learning instruments, writing songs, and finally performing in Portland clubs.

2007 Audience Award for Short Film

The winner is The Date

The Date
2007, 16 Minute Running Time
Directed By: Andreas Hass
International Narrative Short
Language: English/German
A lot can happen when a German man returns to Central Park in hopes of meeting a love 20 years unrequited…