MPS Studios proudly announces ‘Five Time Champion’ as the recipient of the 2011 MPS Studios Texas Filmmaker Award presented at the Dallas International Film Festival. The award, designed to promote and encourage Texas filmmaking, provides $20,000 of cash, goods, and services to the filmmakers’ next project shot in Texas.

Written and directed by Berndt Mader and produced by Ezra Venetos, ‘Five Time Champion’ stars an ensemble cast including the Tony Award Winning actress Betty Buckley, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (‘Friday Night Lights’), Jon Gries (‘Napoleon Dynamite’), and introduces Ryan Akin in the lead role of Julius. This brilliant, coming of age story follows a complicated, twisted family tree that boldly embraces loyalty, love and compassion- and the boundless opportunities presented by science. The movie shot on film in the Austin and Smithville areas.

2011 marks the fourth consecutive year MPS Studios has served as title sponsor for the award. Previous winners have included ‘American: The Bill Hicks Story’, from filmmakers Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas, which hits U.S. theaters next month; and David Lowery’s ‘St. Nick’, a suspenseful coming-of-age story that made international headlines. ‘Cook County,’ a gritty coming-of-age tale directed by David Pomes, won in 2008.

2009 winner David Lowery used the award proceeds to finance his latest work, ‘Pioneer’, which premiered at Sundance and screened at South by Southwest and Dallas International Film Festival.

“We’re very proud to be a part of the festival, and we’re especially proud to have our name on the Texas Filmmakers Award,” said Mark Beasley, president of MPS Studios. “Part of the award’s purpose is to promote and encourage the industry in Texas,” he said. “Directors like Richard Linklater and films like ‘True Grit’ are evidence of the amazing products that come out of Texas, and hint at the great promise of Texas filmmaking that is still yet to be fully realized.”

“MPS Studios has been an integral partner of the DALLAS International Film Festival over the past 5 years,” said James Faust, the festival’s artistic director. “Being able to offer Texas filmmakers the chance to win an award designated to Texas filmmakers, with such a significant prize attached, has been so important to us, “ he said. “Nurturing local talent is key to the festival, and thanks to MPS Studios, we can do this."

Nominees for the 2011 Texas Filmmakers Award: ‘Five Time Champion’ (by Berndt Mader); ‘OK Buckaroos’ (by Patrick Tourville); ‘Legend of Hell’s Gate: An American Conspiracy’ (by Tanner Beard); ‘Rainbows End’ (by Eric Hueber); ‘Traveling’ (by Rachel Shepherd); ‘Wuss’ (by Clay Liford); and ‘Apart’ (by Aaron Rottinghaus).

About MPS:

MPS Studios Dallas is the leading production facility in the southwest U.S., offering more than 65,000 square feet of sound stages, a rental catalog of more than 1,000 items, and a post-production facility. Clients have included ‘Chase’, ‘Friday Night Lights’,‘Oprah’, ESPN, NFL Films, and ‘Spy Kids 4’. Additionally, MPS Studios has provided equipment for commercials for Nike, Hasbro, American Airlines, among other industry leaders, as well as a host of emerging independent film directors.