The Northwest Ohio Independent Film Festival and Executive Director, Len Archibald is proud to present ABSENT by Justin Hunt the 2012 DIRECTOR'S CHOICE AWARD !

ABSENT is a documentary film that explores the devastating impact of disengaged fathers not only here in America, but around the globe. From prostitutes working the streets to one of the world's biggest rock stars, ABSENT lifts the veil on the damage being done by fathers who just aren't there. Featuring Metallica front man James Hetfield, World Champion Boxer Johnny Tapia and Best Selling author John Eldredge just to name a few, ABSENT will leave you understanding that 'one man makes a world of difference.

ABSENT has been accepted to 16 festivals in six countries, including South Africa, Egypt, Spain, Germany and England, and the 26th Boston Film Festival, which takes only 40 feature films out of over 1200 submissions.  It won ’Best Documentary’ at the Marbella Int’l Film Festival in Spain, ’Best Documentary’ at the Thanet Int’l Film Festival in England, and was one of three finalists for ’Best Documentary’ at the Radar Hamburg Film Festival in Germany.  It recently was awarded ‘Best Documentary’ at both the TriMedia Film Festival in Ft. Collins, Colorado and the Southern Winds Film Festival in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

On December 31, 2011, Justin Hunt, director of ABSENT was named by the Arizona Republic as one of the Ten People Who Most Impacted Their Community (Gilbert, AZ), which has a population of over 250,000.

Jusin Hunt will be presented the first-ever NWOIFF Director's Choice Award as part of the NWOIFF Opening Night Gala at the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center of Lima/Allen County on July 6, 2012. The film will be screened as the second part of a Double Bill; ABSENT will follow short film, KARMA: THE MOVIE produced by Lima native, Greg Pitts! Director, Justin Hunt will join Pitts for a Q&A session immediately following their respective films.

The Gala will conclude with the Festival's 2nd Annual Celebration of Shorts, a screening of the 2012 Nominees for Outsanding Short Film. Each short will be followed by a Q&A hosted by the filmmakers.