The James Lyons Editing Awards

Here is a message from WCA member Terry Savage.

All,

The first annual James Lyons Editing Awards were presented recently at the Woodstock Film Festival.

From the Woodstock Times:

Film critic Amy Taubin helped present the James Lyons Award for Best Editing of a Feature Documentary. "In part because he lived with AIDS for 20 years [James] brought a heightened sense of the fragility of life to his work, along with an exquisitely honed aesthetic and a belief that art is grounded in human relations and therefore has a moral dimension," she said, before presenting the award to Keiko Deguchi and Jeremiah Zagar, editors of In a Dream.

The winners were:

for narrative feature
Were the World Mine
directed by Tom Gustafson
Edited by
Jennifer Lilly

for documentary feature
In A Dream
Directed by
Jeremiah Zagar
Edited by
Keiko Deguchi,
Jeremiah Zagar

from the press release:

The JAMES LYONS EDITING AWARD is being renamed in honor of the accomplished editor who had a home near Woodstock and who participated on festival panels and juries. "Editor and WFF advisory board member Sabine Hoffman established the WFF editing awards in 2005."

"I met Jim for the first time at the screening of Far From Heaven in Woodstock," recalls Hoffman. "We connected more over the years through mutual friends and got to work together on the jury for the festival. I was deeply moved when Jim insisted coming to our first editors panel discussion, (though he hadn’t been feeling well that day) and once again shared his thoughts, advice, experience and humor in the most generous (and funny) way. His many interests and extensive knowledge made him an amazing speaker and sparker. Jim's spirit, work and energy are a great inspiration. His presence continues."

Terrence Savage, Mr. Lyons partner, said: “Eight years ago James Lyons and I bought an old farm in the Catskills. What started as a summer getaway soon became home, and when the Woodstock Film Festival began, just down the road, Jim became a strong supporter-- sitting on juries and panel discussions, hosting his filmmaking friends, and seeing everything at the festival that he could. He was proud and happy when Far From Heaven, the last film in his twelve-year collaboration with Todd Haynes, had its American premiere at Woodstock. Jim liked nothing better than to see one of his assistants develop as an editor so when he died last year, his family and I felt that establishing an award for excellence in film editing would be an appropriate way to commemorate his life and work -- and we knew that the Woodstock Film Festival, with its tradition of support for young filmmakers, would be the ideal home for such an award”.

On a separate note - Jim's memorial service at the IFC was video-taped and is now available on DVD. If you would like a copy please let me know (and send me your mailing address.)

Jim loved Woodland Valley. He could relax and forget his cares. The hammock in the back meadow was his favorite spot. We had so many great times in six years we spent up there. Every day seemed to bring some new adventure.

Terry