A Weyburn man, Denean Wanner, 22, was involved as an actor in a student film that won a national award from the National Screen Institute's Film Festival in Winnipeg.

Wanner, the son of Jim and Rita Wanner of Weyburn, had also been nominated as best actor for his portrayal of an indigent man in rural Saskatchewan for the film, Catching Chorney.

The film was made by film students John Wilson and Ryan Broesky from Red River College, and was handed in for a class assignment. At the time, Wanner was searching for work in Winnipeg, and attended workshops and hung out with those involved with the Winnipeg Film Group.

The directors said making this film was a "a labour of love" and saw Denean as a "character actor" who was desired for the role "because of his countrified charm and innocent face."

Denean was interested in acting, but had only done bit parts before, including in plays at the Comp, such as the musical Oklahoma, and as the Good Thief in the Mystery of the Passion, a production put on by St. Vincent de Paul.

The movie went on to be nominated for the NSI Film Exchange Canadian Film Festival held on March 5 at the Globe Cinema in Winnipeg. Denean and his parents were present for the awards, and the film won as the Jury's Choice for Best Film from Manitoba, and also won as runner-up for the People's Choice Award.

There were over 100 submissions to the festival from film makers across Canada, and entries were narrowed down by a jury panel of 12.

Denean is now back home in Weyburn, starting a new job, but will return in the fall as the two directors want to turn the film into a full-length feature. He has been booked to act for that version.