M for Mississippi Named DVD of the Year At 30th Annual Blues Music Awards

(MEMPHIS, TN) – Last night, the critically acclaimed blues film M FOR MISSISSIPPI collected its highest honor to date: A Blues Music Award for DVD of the Year.

M FOR MISSISSIPPI, which is a co-production of Broke & Hungry Records, Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art and Mudpuppy Recordings, was one of five nominated movies. Its competition included films featuring platinum-selling rock legend Carlos Santana, blues icon Albert Collins, guitarist Ronnie Earl and Chicago bluesman Little Arthur Duncan.

“Considering the competition, we were truly surprised and humbled to receive this amazing recognition,” said Roger Stolle, one of the film’s creators. “It’s a testament to the great music that continues to flow from Mississippi and to the incredible artists who create it.”

M FOR MISSISSIPPI has been described as “part road trip, part buddy film.” It follows Stolle and fellow blues producer Jeff Konkel on a weeklong journey through Mississippi as they visit a dozen of the state’s most fascinating blues figures. The duo’s road trip, captured by cinematographer Damien Blaylock, led them to rustic environments ranging from juke joints to cotton fields and placed them face-to-face with such fascinating artists as James “T-Model” Ford, Robert Belfour, Robert “Bilbo” Walker, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes and more. Completing the production team were co-producer Kari Jones and sound engineer Bill Abel.

“It’s mind-blowing to think that just over a year ago, we were piling into Roger’s van to start this journey and now here we are holding Blues Music Award statues,” Konkel said. “We’re so grateful to everyone who voted for the film and to all of the artists, individuals and organizations who supported us on this labor of love.” During their acceptance speeches, the filmmakers noted that without the contributions of several key sponsors, the film could not have been made. Sponsors included the Rootsway Roots ‘n Blues Association of Parma, Italy, LiveBluesWorld, Delta Music Experience, the Mississippi Film Office, British blues guitarist Bob Long and radio DJ Robert Haley.

Since its inception 30 years ago, the Blues Music Awards — formerly known as the Handy Awards — have been the genre’s gold standard. Through the years, Blues Music Awards have been bestowed on such seminal figures as Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Etta James and B.B. King. King himself was in attendance at last night’s award ceremony, as were such rock luminaries as Bonnie Raitt and Steve Miller.

The M for Mississippi DVD and its CD soundtrack are distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution Corporation.

For more information on M for Mississippi, visit the film’s official web site at www.mformississippi.com or contact the filmmakers at jeff@brokeandhungryrecords.com or roger@cathead.biz.

SOURCE: http://www.mformississippi.com/