If the Peak City International Film Festival – Family Style ever becomes a major force in the entertainment industry then remember the name Tim Miller.

It might some day become the answer to a trivia question.

Miller was the first official recipient of an award Saturday night when the festival held its inaugural awards ceremony at the Halle Cultural Arts Center in downtown Apex.

A total of 13 awards were handed out – seven gold and six silver – to filmmakers in eight different categories.

The winners were chosen from more than 30 submissions, an impressive number when considering the festival didn’t exist just a few months ago.

Entries were received from as far away as South America and as close to home as Pittsboro and Willow Spring.

Festival executive producer John Demers of New Hill said the inaugural event was so successful that plans are already being made for next year.

“We’ve had a great weekend,” said Demers. “This is the inaugural year and we have some things to fix. But there will be a festival next year the weekend before Thanksgiving.”

Producer Bob Crowley thanked the large staff that worked behind the scenes for the festival. He also praised the Town of Apex for its strong support.

Crowley noted how appropriate it was for the festival to be held in the Halle Center.

“I want to make sure everyone realizes the significance of this building,” said Crowley. “The first film ever shown in Apex was here in 1913. We’ve come a long way.”

Michael Tiemann of Manifold Studio in Pittsboro was one of two local Gold Peak Award winners. He won in the animation category for “Manifold Recording.”

Tiemann said he was procrastinating on completing the video until he learned about the film festival.

“When the announcement was made I thought this was the time to creative,” said Tiemann. “It really motivated me.”

Drew Becker and Misty Campbell of Convey Media Group in Willow Spring won a Gold Peak Award in the North Carolina Commercial category. Their entry “Trains Don’t Trespass” is a 60-second public service announcement for Operation Lifesaver North Carolina.

The winning duo thanked the crew who worked on the project and said they were fortunate to have the help of so many talented people.

“We had wonderful talent and they were so wonderful to work with,” said Campbell. “If we save the life of just one precious child then we have done our job.”

Becker noted that it took a great amount of time and effort by everyone involved to complete the PSA.

“It was the longest 60 seconds of my life,” he joked.

A complete list of winners follows:

Gold Peak Award

Animation – “Manifold Recording” by Michael Tiemann of Manifold Studio

Mobisode – “Crossing the Line” by Tim Miller of OfficeRocker Productions

Feature Documentary – “Barnstorming” by Paul Glenshawn and Bryan Reichardt of Barnstorming Productions

Audience Choice Award – “Barnstorming” by Paul Glenshawn and Bryan Reichardt of Barnstorming Productions

Feature Film – “Feliz Christmas Merry Navidad” by Luis Palarmo of Maverick Entertainment Group

Short – “Against the Wind” by Joe Masucci of Fountainhead Pictures

North Carolina Commercial – “Trains Don’t Trespass” by Drew Becker and Misty Campbell of Convey Media Group.

Silver Peak Award

Animation – “Vitruvius’ Toybox” by Dennis Michael Iannuzzi

Student Animation – “We Are All Here” by Yonghwa Choi

Mobisode – “Lettuce Break Bread” by Tim Miller of OfficeRocker Productions

Feature Documentary – “Wyoming, The Land” by Western Writers of America

Feature Film – “Christmas Memories” by Michael Davis of Uptone Pictures

Short – “Up Jump the Boogie” by Estella Chizhik Chanyong Park