ActionFest facts for kids

ActionFest was a special film festival held every year in Asheville, North Carolina. It was started by Carolina Cinemas, Bill Banowsky (who founded Magnolia Pictures), and action movie director/producer Aaron Norris. Other founders included Dennis Berman and Tom Quinn.

ActionFest was unique because it was the first film festival in the world just for action movies. It also honored stunt performers, who are the amazing people who do dangerous actions in movies. The festival wanted to celebrate these brave men and women. They risk their lives to make Hollywood films exciting and look great. The festival's goal was to "recognize, honor and appreciate the remarkable efforts of these amazing people."

ActionFest 2010: The First Festival

The very first ActionFest happened from April 15 to 18, 2010. It took place at The Carolina Asheville cinema. The festival started with the world premiere of a movie called Centurion, directed by Neil Marshall.

The 2010 festival showed more than 25 films from all over the world. This included the first showing anywhere of Undisputed III: Redemption. Famous martial artist and action movie star Chuck Norris was there. He was supposed to get the Action Star of the Decade Award. But he surprised everyone and gave the award to his brother, Aaron Norris, who he often worked with.

Besides showing action movies, ActionFest also featured real movie stunt performers. Stunt coordinators and other experts gave live stunt shows. These shows included made-up fights, falls from three or four stories high, rappelling, and even a flying jetpack demonstration!

ActionFest 2010: Honoring Stunt Stars

At its first event, ActionFest started giving out awards. These awards celebrated achievements in action movies. They recognized stunt work, second unit directing, and movie stars.

Here are some of the ActionFest Awards from 2010:

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Paul Weston. He was a stunt coordinator and second unit director for many famous films. These included James Bond movies, Aliens, and Superman.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Kinnie Gibson. He was a stuntman in movies like Walker, Texas Ranger and Robocop 2. He was also a jet pack operator.
• Action Star of the Decade Award: Chuck Norris.
• Stunt Coordinator/2nd Unit Director of the Decade: Jeff Habberstad. He worked on movies like The Last Airbender and Spiderman.
• Rising Action Star: Marko Zaror. He starred in films like Mandrill and Undisputed III: Redemption.

ActionFest 2010: Best Films and Fights

A special group of judges, called a jury, also gave awards to films at the festival.

Here are the winners of the ActionFest 2010 Jury Awards:

• Best Fight Scene: 14 Blades. This was for the teahouse battle between Green Dragon and the Judge of the Sky Eagles.
• Best Fight Choreographer: Larnell Stovall for Undisputed 3.
• Best Director: Isaac Florentine for Undisputed 3.
• Best Film: Merantau, directed by Gareth Evans.

ActionFest 2010: The Judges

The jury panel for ActionFest 2010 included:

• Drew McWeeny (from Hitfix.com)
• Devin Faraci (from chud.com)
• Colin Geddes (from Toronto Midnight Madness)
• Todd Brown (from Twitchfilm.net)
• Jury President: Chuck Norris

ActionFest 2011: The Second Year

ActionFest returned for its second year from April 7 to 10, 2011. It was again held at the Carolina Cinemas Asheville. The festival continued to highlight action films and the amazing stunt performers in them.

ActionFest 2011: More Awards

The ActionFest Award winners for 2011 were:

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Buddy Joe Hooker. He worked on many films, including First Blood, Deathproof, and Hooper.
• Stunt Coordinator of the Year Award: Russell Towery for Machete.
• Man of Action Award: Michael Jai White. He starred in movies like Never Back Down 2 and Black Dynamite.
• Action Film Of The Year Award: Machete. It was directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis.
• Producer of the Year Award: Somsak Techaratanapresert. He produced films like Chocolate and Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior.
• ActionFest Recognition Award: Stunts Unlimited. This award celebrated their 40 years in the action movie business.

ActionFest 2011: Jury Picks

The jury also chose their favorite action moments and films in 2011.

The 2011 Jury Award winners for ActionFest 2011 were:

• 30 Seconds of Action: Evan Pease’s Action Figures.
• Best Action Sequence: The night chase with a garbage truck and dune buggy in Tomorrow, When the War Began.
• Best Stuntwork: The stunt team from Bangkok Knockout.
• Best Director: Julian Gilbey for A Lonely Place to Die.
• Best Film: A Lonely Place to Die.

ActionFest 2011: The Judges

The jury for ActionFest in 2011 included:

• Katrina Hill (from actionflickchick.com)
• Tim League (Founder and CEO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema)
• Russell Towery (Stuntman, Stunt Coordinator, 2nd Unit Director)
• Scott Weinberg (Writer for Twitch, FEARnet, Movies.com)
• Freakin' Jay Deacon (Program Director for 105.9 The Mountain)

ActionFest 2012: The Final Festival

The third ActionFest was held from April 12 to 15, 2012. This year, they honored the legendary stuntman Mickey Gilbert with the Lifetime Action Achievement Award.

A brand new award was introduced in 2012: the Chick Norris (Best Female Action Star) Award. This award went to MMA fighter and action film star Gina Carano. She received the award in person at ActionFest 2012. The Chick Norris award was created to celebrate "a woman working in film today who best represents the spirit, attitude, athleticism and grit of Hollywood legend Chuck Norris."

Festival Director Colin Geddes returned to plan the festival's movies. The festival showed the first regional premieres of Solomon Kane on opening night. It also showed Dragon on closing night.

ActionFest 2012: Award Winners

The ActionFest Award winners for 2012 were:

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Mickey Gilbert. He worked on classic films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Wild Bunch.
• Fight Choreographer of the Year Award: JJ Perry. He choreographed fights for movies like Haywire and Django Unchained.
• Man Of Action Award: Jack Gill. He worked on Knight Rider and Fast Five.
• Producer of the Year Award: Courtney Solomon. He produced films like Dragon Eyes and Transit.
• Chick Norris Award: Gina Carano for her role in Haywire.
• Rising Action Star Award: Cung Le. He starred in films like Dragon Eyes.
• Best Car Stunt Of The Decade Award: Tom Elliott. He is the President of Stunts Unlimited.
• Best Young Stuntman Of The Year Award: Trevor Habberstad. He worked on The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises.

ActionFest 2012: Jury Awards

The jury also picked their favorites in 2012.

• 30 Seconds Of Action: Tim McGaren for Operation C.
• Best Action Sequence: The Lost Bladesman.
• Best Director: Felix Chong & Alex Mak for The Lost Bladesman.
• Best Picture: I Declare War.
• Best Screenplay: I Declare War.
• Best Villain: James Frain in Transit.
• Spirit Of ActionFest: Manborg.
• Best Fight: The opening fight scene in Dragon Eyes.

ActionFest 2012: The Judges

The jury panel for ActionFest 2012 included:

• Mitch Davis (from Fantasia Film Festival)
• Dan Guando (from The Weinstein Company)
• Borys Kit (from The Hollywood Reporter)
• Marc McCloud (from Orbit DVD)
• Eric Vespe (from Ain't It Cool News)
• Sadie (from The Mountain)