Seattle's True Independent Film Festival 2009

The Grim Reaper is mistaken for a babysitter and learns a thing or two about life. Awarded the STIFFY for Best Killer Mac & Cheese Genre: Comedy, Women, Horror, Student, Dramedy, Supernatural

Alice Blue is a new creative intern at Raven Advertising. Unfortunately for her it's run by vampires. A group of eccentrics enlist her aid in thwarting their nefarious schemes. But there's a complication. There's the possibility that she herself may be genetically predisposed to being the greatest vampire ever, and the only one who can save the dying breed. Alice is forced to confront herself and make a stand, whatever the outcome. Awarded the STIFFY for Sexiest Vampire Genre: Underground, Horror, Coming of Age , Cult, Fantasy, Independent, Art

A young hitman, bent on being the best, learns the tricks of the trade from his mentor only to have face off against him. Awarded the STIFFY for Best Abbreviated Action Film Genre: Drama, African American, Asian American, Black, Latino, Thriller, Crime

Have you ever been told, my dear, that the Devil appears a few seconds before a person dies? It always happens, you know? He is awful looking. He's tall, very tall: taller than the tallest man on earth! He's ugly, as ugly as he can be, my dear lady! He utters frightening noises, he waves the sword of death, and zac! He beheads the dying people and has their heads for dinner! Awarded the STIFFY for Worst Son Award Genre: Comedy, Independent, Surreal

'Dumpster Diving' challenges viewers to think differently about that which we'd rather ignore when homelessness meets violent crime in a rat infested alley. Who's to say that nothing good could ever come of this? Awarded the STIFFY for Creepiest Comfort Award Genre: Alternative, Drama, Women, Avant-garde, Crime, Independent, Student, Mature/Adult

Elijah, is an aspiring hip hop artist that feels connected to his past. The elements of his childhood start to play key roles in a recurring vision that affects the up and coming musician on another plane; a place that separates the norm from extraordinary. Elijah remembers fishing trips with his father deep in 'the boot' of Louisiana but is haunted by what waits for him at the end of the line. He talks about his microphone that was given to him by his older brother John. The relationship he shares with his microphone is much like Arthur with his sword Excalibur. Losing his mic would be like tragically reliving the losses of his belated brother and his remembered father just as they happened the first time. But most of all, losing his microphone would be like Elijah losing himself. Elijah explains his vision to a stoop full of confused yet interested friends. Figures in his life that he has grown to trust even if they cannot relate. A passing blunt burns away to a story about a frayed fishing line, a disconnected microphone chord, and a fatherless child becoming a man from Emerald City.

World Premiere. In this black and white thriller, a deadly threat in the present and a dark secret from the past imperil a young couple in this first-ever feature motion picture with an all-mannequin cast. Set in modern-day suburbia, Texas, the story centers on William and Eva, a mixed marriage couple who have just learned that their first baby is on the way. Though faced with the all-too-common credit card struggles, their marriage seems to be perfectly 'normal,' until an unwelcome visitor arrives at their doorstep. Awarded the STIFFY for Best Mannequin Movie Genre: Alternative, Latino, Women, Thriller, Erotic, Cult, Independent, Mature/Adult

This film chronicles a matriarchal 'family' system comprised of dispossessed, marginalized, drug addicted people who struggle daily to achieve a balance between their individualistic pursuits and the need to rely on each other for survival. Awarded the STIFFY for Grittiest Documentary Genre: Underground, Crime, Independent, Urban, Reality, Culture

The STIFF Film Challenge is a collaborative film project where filmmaking teams compete to put together the best film over a 2 week period. The focus this year was to create several, short, distinct movies that resulted in one unified film. The goal is to promote cooperation among film makers and bring together the local film making community.