originally published: 05/01/2019



(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Montclair Film Festival has announced the launch of the Mark Urman Award For Fiction Filmmaking. The award, to be given by the festival each year in perpetuity, will be award to the winning filmmaker in the festival’s Future/Now competition, a juried competition that celebrates the work of early career American independent filmmakers. Launched with the support of Urman’s wife Deborah Davis, the award has been created to honor Mark’s legacy as one of Montclair’s greatest champions of independent filmmaking. The award will be given, alongside the festival’s other juried awards, at the festival’s annual award ceremony at 3:00pm on Saturday, May 11th, The event is by invitation only.

This inaugural slate of films competing for the award are Jules of Light and Dark, directed by Daniel Laabs; Light from Light, directed by Paul Harrill; Mickey and the Bear, directed by Annabelle Attanasio; Premature, directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green; and The World Is Full of Secrets, directed by Graham Swon/

The 2019 Future Now Jury, who will be granting the award, are Matt Cowal, Netflix, David Sims, The Atlantic, Lauren Sanchez, Vogue.

“Throughout his career, Mark was a passionate supporter of emerging filmmakers,” said Deborah Davis. “It is a great honor to have his name attached to a Montclair Film award that recognizes their promise and encourages them to grow.“

“With the launch of this award, we are proud to celebrate Mark Urman’s legacy as a friend, supporter, and tireless champion of independent cinema.” said Montclair Film Executive Director Tom Hall. “Mark’s impact on Montclair film, his enthusiasm and support, remains profodunly important to us. We are incredibly grateful to Deborah and Mark’s family for giving us the opportunity to honor Mark and his friendship in a way that celebatres his life’s work, one which we hope offers much-needed encouragement to emerging artists.”

Montclair Film is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that engages, entertains, and educates through the power of visual storytelling. The eighth annual Montclair Film Festival will take place from May 3-12, 2019. Montclair Film’s year-round and festival programming is made possible through generous support from Investors Bank; Audible; Hackensack Meridian Health, Mountainside Medical Center; the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; The Bravitas Group; Ashenfelter, Slous, Trembulak, McDonough, Golia & Trevenen, LLP; Chubb; Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage; William H. Connolly & Co.; The Nature Conservancy, RBC Wealth Management, and others. Our programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism, as well as the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.





