Blake Bodlak and Anja Oelofse were recognized for their film "The Bittersweet Truth About Parking."
Wayne State College filmmakers Blake Bodlak of Ponca and Anja Oelofse of Heidelberg, South Africa, won the Award of Excellence for their film “The Bittersweet Truth About Parking” during the BisonBison Collegiate Film Festival held April 4-5 in Arkansas City, Kan., at the historic Burford Theatre.
Bodlak, a Wayne State graduate, and Oelofse both served as the producers, writers, directors, and cinematographers for the film. A cash prize of $1,000 accompanied the award.
This marks the second time Wayne State has won this award, with the previous win coming in 2023 for “Gills” by Griffin Presnell of Lincoln.
In 2024, Bodlak won the Audience Favorite Award during the BisonBison Film Festival for his film “Mollie’s Goodbye.”
Bodlak and Oelofse also have another film, “The Thing with Feathers,” which was an Official Selection in the Benson Film Festival (Omaha) April 25-27. It was one of only four student films selected for the festival. Oelofse is the director and co-producer, while Bodlak is the co-producer and cinematographer.
The BisonBison Film Festival recognizes, promotes, and showcases the work of emerging filmmakers enrolled in colleges, universities, and trade schools in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and Arkansas, according to the festival’s website.
The Benson Film Festival celebrates film, art, and community. The vision of this festival is to incorporate neighborhood artists and businesses, highlight filmmakers, and create an immersive and connective experience for the community. The Benson Film Festival aims to bring local, national, and international artists and filmmakers together in the Benson Creative District, according to the festival’s website.