318|Briefly
• Community Grants The Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners (NWLAMG) introduced this year’s recipients of the NWLAMG Community Grants. The awards are given to organizations and municipalities that support beautification and horticultural education within the community.
The NWLA Master Gardeners awarded a total of $15,701 in grants. The recipients of the community grant program are Bon Chase DAR Chapter, Caddo Career & Technology Center, Northwest Louisiana Veteran’s Home, Red River Parish School Board, Renzi Education and Art Center, St. George Episcopal Church, Shreve Memorial Library and the Village of Mooringsport.
Receiving the largest grant is the Shreve Memorial Library for its planned Broadmoor Branch beautification project that will revitalize the green spaces, common areas and walkways around the facility with a unique mix of trees and shrubbery.
The NWLA Master Gardeners launched the program in 2011 as a way to give back to the community in recognition of the support
Recipients of the Master Gardner community grants include (back row): Cassandra Key and Chuck Thompson, Renzi Center; Mary O’Neal, Caddo Career Center; Ginny Hines, Red River School; Susan Fortenberry and Ariel Stewart, Shreve Memorial Library. (Front row): Rose Mary Martin, DAR Chapter; Shady Darzeidan, Renzi Center; Wes Pepitone, Veteran’s Home; Allan Stoll Jr., St. George Church; Alison Hughes, Red River Parish Schools; John Tuggle, Shreve Memorial Library.
given each year for Le Tour des Jardins, the Fall Bulb Sale and Spring Plant Sale. The mission of the Master Gardeners is to educate the public about gardening and engage the community in horticultural pursuits. The grants allow them to multiply their efforts by aiding and funding projects envisioned, implemented and maintained by other groups.
For more information on the Community Grant Program or each individual grantee,
please call the NWLA Master Gardeners at (318) 698-0010.
• Registration open for ninth annual Film Prize Seasoned veterans and aspiring actors, directors and producers united at Robinson Film Center on Jan. 17 to celebrate the opening of registration for the ninth annual Louisiana Film Prize.
Gregory Kallenberg, executive director of
the Prize Foundation, greeted the crowd and celebrated a record year at Film Prize 2019. More than 5,000 people attended last year’s festival. Filmmakers from across the United States and one from Australia competed for the $50,000 grand prize, which was won by Shreveport’s James Harlon Palmer and his film “Anniversary.”
Kallenberg expects the competition to be stronger in 2020.
“Film Prize 2020 is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever,” he said in a news release. “We’ve never seen so much excitement from the indie filmmaking world, and we expect that to yield more films from more filmmakers. And the best part is that all the Film Prize films will be made right here in northwest Louisiana.”
The $50,000 grand prize is the largest cash prize for a narrative short film. Competitors also can receive acting awards, filmmaking grants and distribution deals with regional film festivals.
To qualify, films must be shot in northwest Louisiana, including Caddo, Bossier, Webster, DeSoto, Bienville, Claiborne, Red River, Natchitoches and Lincoln parishes. Rough cuts are due to the Film Prize office on July 14. Filmmaker registration is open at lafilmprize.com.
Since launching in 2012, the awardwinning Film Prize has encouraged and incentivized filmmakers to choose Shreveport and northwest Louisiana as a place to make movies and try out new ideas, leading to the creation of over 600 short films featuring the work of thousands of creative entrepreneurs resulting in over $20 million in economic impact in eight years.
