DEFY SCORES BIG AT X-DANCE FILM FEST
_ Wakeboarding Film Gets Five Nominations, Wins “Best Soundtrack”_
Known as the biggest film festival in all of action sports, X-Dance celebrated its 12th anniversary in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 12-15. DEFY, The Danny Harf Project was one of 30 films selected from over 100 submissions, and stood alone as the only selection from the sport of wakeboarding this year.
Co-directors Sean Kilgus and Danny Harf were pumped to be recognized with this group of films, and scored a killer screening time on opening night, just before snowboard epic, The Art Of Flight. Many of today’s top athletes and directors were in attendance, including surf legend Jack McCoy and snowboarding’s top gun, Curt Morgan, as well as multi-sport hero Shaun Palmer, who screened the world premiere of his edgy, raw documentary titled, The Miserable Champion.
Lots of local fans showed up right in time for DEFY, which lit up the venue with its brilliant cinematography and banging soundtrack. DEFY also blew up “Swag Town” with tons of quality giveaways from Monster Energy, Nautique, FOX and Ronix and also sold autographed BluRay/DVD combos from Harf. The DEFY crew ran deep, with a supporting crew of Spencer Norris, Ryan Brien, Jeannine Shoeman, Ian Duecy and Kevin Michael.
Harf, who made the trip with his fiance and parents, was on hand meeting fans and other film gurus, and maintained his reputation as one of the most genuine, approachable athletes around. Going into the awards event on Sunday night, Kilgus didn’t set any expectations, as he was already honored just to be invited to the X-Dance. Seated at a VIP table with the DEFY crew in the front of the room, Kilgus was over-the-moon to see DEFY become nominated for five awards and win the category of Best Soundtrack.
“I was honestly just pumped to be here,” Kilgus said. “To be able to meet guys I look up to like Jack McCoy and Curt Morgan was awesome. And I met so many other cool producers and athletes as well. Winning Best Soundtrack was an awesome feeling, but to be nominated for five awards was mind-blowing.” DEFY’s other nominations included Best Core Film, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Biography. DEFY also gave big thanks to Jimmy Pargas at Jackhammer Productions, who assisted with audio selections and rights negotiations for the film.
Danny Harf and Sean Kilgus would like to thank Brian Wimmer and the X-Dance crew, Monster Energy Drink, Ronix, Nautiques, FOX and TransWorld WAKEBOARDING for their substantial contributions to DEFY, as well as EyeKandy Media, Jackhammer Productions and Kevco Media. DEFY can be purchased on a BluRay/DVD combo through DefyTheMovie.com or at retail shops across the world, or downloaded right now in HD on iTunes
**
**
**
**
