Each year, deadCenter Film Festival presents Oklahoma Film Icon Awards honoring Oklahomans whose success in the film and entertainment industry has elevated the global perception of the state in film around the world. Among this year’s list of honorees, deadCenter has recognized the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) as one of its recipients ahead of next month’s annual festival. With this honor, OF+MO collectively joins a distinguished list of previous honorees, including Bob Berney, Gray Frederickson, James Marsden, Alfre Woodard and Tim Blake Nelson, to name a few.
“We are so excited to honor the OF+MO with our 2019 Oklahoma Film ICON Award,” said Lance McDaniel, Executive Director of deadCenter. “They are the main reason we have a thriving film industry in Oklahoma. Their outstanding staff, rebate program, production directory, location database and networking events have put Oklahoma on the map as a key destination for movie and television productions, resulting in $100 million spent in Oklahoma over the past decade.”
OF+MO, which celebrates its 40th anniversary as an official state agency this year, has been investing in the film industry since its inception in 1979 and has a rich legacy of film and television that includes “The Grapes of Wrath”, “The Outsiders”, “Rumble Fish”, “Twister”, “Rudderless”, “Te Ata”, “American Gods”, “I Can Only Imagine”, “Wildlife”, “The Jurassic Games”, and many more. Tasked with promoting the state’s film and music industries, OF+MO administers the state’s film incentive program, which has brought a number of highly successful productions to Oklahoma, including many of the aforementioned films as well as three of this year’s festival selections: “Hosea”, “The Bygone” and “Trolls Stop Motion”.
“On behalf of the entire OF+MO staff as well as both our past and present commissioners and colleagues, we’re honored to receive this recognition from the deadCenter Film Festival”, said OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky. “It has been an honor for our agency to serve the film industry for four decades, and we’re proud to be a driving force among many, including deadCenter, that have positively impacted the growth of the film industry and culture in the State of Oklahoma.”
The deadCenter Film Festival will celebrate OF+MO’s 40th anniversary and icon achievement at their annual kick-off party at the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion on Saturday, May 18, at 8:00 p.m. This year’s event theme is the nautically titled “Yacht Rock” and will feature breezy music, delicious food and beverages and a variety of live performances from musicians and dance artists. Tickets may be purchased on the festival’s website.
deadCenter is Oklahoma’s largest film festival and has been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s Top 20 Coolest Film Festival in the World. Last year’s event attracted over 33,000 attendees generating an economic impact of $5.3 million (as reported by The Oklahoman on July 27, 2018).
For the complete schedule, and to purchase kick-off tickets and festival passes, visit deadcenter.org.
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About Oklahoma Film + Music Office:
Created in 1979, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) strives to share all that Oklahoma has to offer by welcoming filmmakers and music professionals to the state and by creating a network of support to develop Oklahoma film and music industries. For more information about the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program or the Oklahoma Film +Music Office, please visit okfilmmusic.org.
