Congrats to The Totally Mind-Blowing Show for being chosen into the selected category to compete for the MLC awards. For those of you who are interested, MLC stands for Monsters, LatinX, and Comedy. This Green Bay, Wisconsin, festival is in its sixth season and claims to be one of the top 15 popular film award programs.

I know you’re thinking Packers, Coach Vince Lombardi, and those bright orange cheesehead hats. (Me too)

I also know how much you crave the taste of Wisconsin sharp cheddar.

But you should also be thinking about Golden Globe winner Tony Shalhoub, a Green Bay native who was a guest judge and honorary member at MLC. You remember Tony from his detective show, Monk (I loved it!), and his role as Midge’s dad in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I know you loved that series.

Not only does MLC have famous judges, but it also raises money for foster and adoptive kids and homeless shelters. Don’t you love film festivals that spread their good fortune with the less fortunate?

The Totally Mind-Blowing Show says, “Thanks, MLC, for allowing us to make the cut into the winners circle, and good luck to the Packers in the 2025-26 season.”

Congrats to Blake for winning the Best Director Award at the Indie Cine Tube Awards. (See below)

ICTA is based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

The festival is in its 14th season and is dedicated to international films of all genres. They aim to find new voices and perspectives to celebrate the power of a good story. They’re committed to bringing you the best of worldwide cinema.

Well, the Totally Mind-Blowing Show is not only a “good story” but it’s a great story with a great director.

Thanks, Indie Cine Awards, for granting Blake this honor.

Best Director Work
CINE V I S I O N W I N N E R A W A R D
Obayifo Project
Directed by Paco Arasanz
Mexico
LOST WORLD 2020
P a g e | 23
Directed by MITRA MAZUMDER
India
Some Kind of Justice
Directed by Brian Jervay
United States
Love, & Duct Tape
Directed by danny malin
Canada
Totally Mindblowing Show
Directed by Blake Laitner
United States

Kudos to SFWA member Anita Mitchell for winning the 2025 Buck Dawson Authors Award for her book, God Took My Arms but He Gave Me This Gift: The Story of Abbas Karimi, PL.

The Award is presented to the author of an aquatics- related book for which the book’s content has had a profound educational or entertaining impact on the aquatic disciplines or population in general.

Buck Dawson is the Founding Executive Director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and established the first book store for swimming located at the ISHOF. He is the author of eight books with subjects ranging from swimming to war to volcanoes. His books include: Saga of the All-American – The 82nd Airborne in World War II, A Civil War Artist at the Front, When the Earth Explodes, Michigan Ensian, All About Dryland Exercises for Swimmers, Weissmuller to Spitz – An Era to Remember, Gold Medal Pools, We Don’t Sew Beads on Belts – A History of Camps Chikopi and Ak-o-Mak.

Anita, Congrats on winning this prestigious award.

We’re sure there’ll be many more.