Shawn Bennett, director of the inspired documentary THE BATTLE OF LOCAL 5668, is a finalist in the contest for the West Virginia Filmmaker of the Year. The nominations were recently announced by the West Virginia Filmmakers Festival, Landmark Studio for the Arts and the WV Film Office.

THE BATTLE OF LOCAL 5668 documents an early ’90s union strike against the management of the Ravenswood Aluminum Plant and the dangerous working conditions the employees were forced to endure. After 1700 union members were frozen out of their jobs, this small West Virginia community stood together and organized a movement that became a national story, revolutionizing the way unions work with management. BATTLE is an incredible piece of documentary filmmaking, and a very personal story (Bennett’s own father worked at the plant).

The other nominees for the honor are:
Russ Barbour, director of KEN HECHLER – IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE — Biography about WV’s political leader, author, and professor, Ken Hechler and life time WVPBS productions.

Chip Hitchcock, producer of KEN HECHLER – IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE, and the WVPBS series BRIDGEPORT TO BAGHDAD, a documentary about WV soldiers sent to Iraq and their families.

Morgan Spurlock- 30 Days FX series episode “Working in a Coal Mine” filmed in Bolt WV about the life of present day coal miners.

Now, as we know after 80 years of academy voting, the two KEN HECHLER guys are gonna split their vote, and everyone in the universe is going to vote for Morgan Spurlock. I love Morgan, and appreciate his work, but he’s already got loads of accolades. Let’s vote for the little guy, huh?

To support Shawn, and filmmaking in West Virginia, email your vote to wvfilmfest@hotmail.com by September 15, 2007.

For more information go to www.wvfilmmakersfestival.info or www.landmarkstudio.org. To purchase THE BATTLE OF LOCAL 5668 for a school, library or university, please visit our partners over at THE CINEMA GUILD.