During the summer of '66, a former rodeo champion and cattle auctioneer from Oklahoma bonds tightly with his young grandson from suburban Pennsylvania while teaching him a few tricks from his previous trades. Shot entirely in rural Pennsylvania, Calf Rope captures the intense love that grandparents often share with their grandchildren and the legacy that lives on long after they have gone.
Awards for
Calf Rope
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(2023)
Best Narrative Short
Best Director• Best Actor• Best Editing
Milledgeville - Eatonton Film Festival
(2021)
Best Original Music Score
(2021)
People's Choice Award
Audience Award for Best Narrative Short Film
Chinh India Kids Film Festival
Bronze Chinh Award
Various Artists Independent Film Festival
(2021)
Best Children / Family Film
Best of Fest
Best Director · Best Sound
New York State International Film Festival
(2021)
Best Drama
Cobb International Film Festival
(2021)
Best Domestic Short Film
(2021)
Best Director
Land of Enchantment Family Film & Fashion Festival
(2021)
Best Youth Actor Under 12 (Lukas Barnett)
Dreams Come True Film Festival
(2021)
Best of the Fest
Best Faith-Based Film · Best Director · Best Writing
Best Supporting Actress (Jackie Walker) · Best Juvenile Actor (Lukas Barnett)
Best Trailer · Best Movie Poster
International Christian Film & Music Festival
(2021)
Best Short Film - 3rd Place
Best Editing
Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival
Best Concept
Branson International Film Festival
Agape Award - (Best Film of the Festival)
Best Young Actor (Lukas Barnett) · Best Actor in a Short Film (Gorman Ruggiero)
Best Supporting Actress in a Short Film (Jackie Walker)
Bare Bones International Film Festival
Legacy Keepers - Family Preservation Award
Presented to Bradley Hawkins, Director | Executive Producer
Best Family Film · Best Modern-Day Western · Best Director (short)
Best Director (Modern-Day Western) · Best Actor (short)
Best Supporting Actor (short) · Best Young Actor (2)
Play Short International Film Awards
(2020)
Film Craft Award - Film Directing
Best Short Film
Best Actor · Best Child Actor
Best Supporting Actress · Best Soundtrack
Best Cinematography · Best Production Design
Best U.S. Producer
(2020)
Best Producer
(2020)
Best Soundtrack
Southern States Indie FanFilmFest International
(2020)
Best Featurette of the Year
Best Featurette (Summer 2020)
(2020)
Best Production Design
Honorable Mention - Inspirational Film
(2020)
Best Drama Short • Best Director - Short
Best Actor · Best Young Actor
Best Original Music Score
Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival
(2020)
Best Family/Faith Film • Best Western
Best Young Actor • Best Original Score
(2020)
Best Western Film
FirstGLANCE Film Festival - Philadelphia
(2020)
Best Young Actor
Open World Toronto Film Festival
(2020)
Best Long Short Film
(2020)
Best Redemptive Short
Best Director
(2020)
Best Family Film · Best Modern Day Western · Best Produced Modern Day Western
Festival Director's Choice - Best Rodeo Film · Best Director (Modern Day Western)
Best Ensemble Cast (Modern Day Western) · Best Actor in a Modern Day Western (Gorman Ruggiero)
Best Supporting Actor in a Modern-Day Western (Lukas Barnett)
Best Young Actor (Lukas Barnett & Logan Donalson)
Hollywood Divine Film Festival
(2020)
Best Director (Short Film)
Audience Choice Award: Best Short Film
Jury Choice Award: Honorable Mention - Best Short Film
(2020)
Best Original Story
(2020)
Best Family - Children Film · Best Cinematography
Best Supporting Actor (Lukas Barnett) · Best Supporting Actress (Avery Kellington)
​
Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival
(2020)
Best Short Film
(2020)
AWARD of EXCELLENCE
Producing · Direction · Screenplay · Editing · Cinematography
Lead Actor (Gorman Ruggiero)· Lead Actor (Lukas Barnett)
Supporting Actor (Avery Kellington) · Supporting Actor (Jackie Walker)
Production Design · Sound Design · Original Music Score · Costuming
​
IndieFEST Film Awards
(2020)
AWARD of MERIT (Special Recognition)
Short Film · Movie Trailer
AWARD OF MERIT: Children - Family Programming · Direction · Editing · Lead Actor Supporting Actor · Cinematography · Screenplay · Original Music Score
Movie Trailer
​
Great Lakes Christian Film Festival
(2020)
Best Screenplay
(Narrative Short)
​
(2020)
Best Ensemble · Best Actor in a Historic Film · Best Child Actor
Best Acting Duo · Best Acting Debut
​
(2020)
Best Short Film · Best Actor · Best Actor Under18
Best Cinematography · Best Production Design
​
International Independent Film Awards
(2020)
PLATINUM AWARD: Production Design
GOLD AWARD: Narrative Short · Direction · Screenplay · Lead Actor
Supporting Actor · Original Music Score · Best Production Design
​
(2020)
Best Trailer
​
(2020)
Best Film of the Month · Best Director (Male) · Best Western Short
Best Children Short · Best Actor · Best Child - Young Actor · Best Acting Duo
Best Cinematography · Best Editing · Best Original Music Score
​
New York International Film Awards
(2020)
Best Director (Short Film) · Best Editing · Best Acting Ensemble
Best Acting Debut · Best Child Actor
​
(2019)
Best Modern-Day Western Screenplay
​
NOMINATIONS
Milledgeville - Eatonton Film Festival
(2021)
Best Ensemble Cast
Red Rose Film Festival
(2021)
Best Short Film
Red Rose Award
F3: Frankly Film Fest
(2021)
Best Performance in a Leading Role
(Gorman Ruggiero)
Best Writing · Best Cinematography
Romford Film Festival
(2021)
Best Supporting Actor
(Lukas Barnett)
Dreams Come True Film Festival
(2021)
Best Short Film
Best Actor (Gorman Ruggiero) · Best Actor (Lukas Barnett)
Best Actress (Avery Kellington) · Best Editing · Best Music Score · Best Cinematography
​
Maverick Movie Awards
(2021)
Best Actor (Gorman Ruggiero)
Best Music Score
Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival
(2021)
Best Drama
Branson International Film Festival
(2021)
Best Actress (Short Film)
Best Short Film
Sunny Side Up Film Festival
(2021)
Best Actress (Short)
Best Supporting Actress (Short)
Best Cinematography (Short)
Flathead Lake International Cinemafest
(2021)
Best Actor (Lukas Barnett)
Play Short International Film Awards
(2020)
Film Craft Award · Cinematography · Film Craft Award · Sound Design
​
The Short Film Awards (SOFIES)
(2020)
Best Actor (Gorman Ruggiero)
Best Long Short Film
Best Narrative or Dramatic Screenplay for a Short Film
​
FirstGLANCE Film Festival - Philadelphia
(2020)
Best Director (Short Film)
Best Film Shot in Philly (within 100 miles and in Pennsylvania)
Best Actor in a Short Film (Gorman Ruggiero)
Best Ensemble Cast in a Short Film
Best Breakout Performance (Lukas Barnett)
​
Open World Toronto Film Festival
(2020)
Best Story and Screenplay
​
Wild Bunch Film Festival
(2020)
Best Actress (Modern-Day Western)
Best Supporting Actress (Modern-Day Western)
Best Cinematography (Modern-Day)
Best Drama
Hollywood Divine International Film Festival
(2020)
Best Lead Actor in a Short Film (Lukas Barnett)
​
Florence Film Awards
(2020)​
Best Short Film · Best Production Design · Best Sound Design
Best Original Music Score · Best Hair & Make-Up · Best Costume Design
​
Canadian International Faith & Film Festival
(2020)
Best Director · Best Actor (Lukas Barnett) · Best Supporting Actor (Gorman Ruggiero)
​
Great Lakes Christian Film Festival
(2020)
Best Direction (Narrative Short) · Best Cinematography (Narrative Short)
Best Sound - Music Score (Narrative Short)
Best Short Film · Most Inspirational Film · Best Western
Best Acting Duo (Lukas Barnett & Gorman Ruggiero) · Best Soundtrack - Main Theme
​
New York International Film Awards
(2020)
Best Short Film • Best Inspirational Film
Best Actor (Gorman Ruggiero) • Best Acting Duo
Best Soundtrack/Main Theme
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