TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Two documentaries from The University of Alabama Center for Public Television and Radio were presented awards earlier this month at the 10th annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival.

Both documentaries highlighting music subjects were screened at Fame Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals.

The Center’s Producer/Director Max Shores’ entry "Richard Johnston: Hill Country Troubadour" received the Golden Lion Award for Best Professional Documentary and the Clyde 'Sappo' Black Sweet Home Alabama Award for Best Alabama Film. The documentary focuses on a unique musical subject, a one-man-band who became popular through his sidewalk performances on Beale Street in Memphis. The film has been shown previously at nine festivals.

Dwight Cammeron, programming director and coordinator for Documentary Studies, directed the film "Eric Essix: At Home,” a documentary that focuses on the life of Birmingham jazz guitarist Eric Essix, the youngest person to be inducted into Alabama’s Jazz Hall of Fame among jazz legends Nat King Cole and Sun Ra. The film received the Golden Lion Award for Best Faculty Film. The documentary was recently selected for screening at the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee in April.

Cammeron, Shores, and Tony Holt attended the screenings to answer questions from the audience. Holt, a recent UA retiree, recorded and mixed the sound for both documentaries.

Founded by veteran actor and UNA alumnus, George Lindsey, the four-day festival showcased 99 films, including narrative films, documentaries, short films and music videos from around the world.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of a planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.