BREAKING NEWS: Asheville’s independent filmmaker honored at Sundance

Asheville filmmaker Chusy Haney-Jardine, whose independent-made-in-Asheville movie Anywhere USA was included in the prestigious Sundance film festival these past couple of weeks, won an award Saturday night:

Special Jury Prize Dramatic and the Spirit of Independence Award: Chusy Haney-Jardine, for Anywhere USA, easily the funniest movie of the festival that skewers NASCAR and pistachio nuts with oddball aplomb.

How cool is that? Congratulations to Jardine. As I blogged here earlier, this was shaping up to be a tough year for independent films, especially those with no star acting power. Jardine’s movie includes only one actor with any acting experience at all – his daughter. Small films were being bought for mid six-figures, according to industry press accounts, with a max of about $1 million to $1.5 million. Jardine’s award should ensure a nice payday for all his hard work.

I can’t wait to see the movie when it opens here in Ashvegas.

Here’s the full list of winners.