reported by Brian Scott, CyberScreenwriter.com

Home Box Office awarded the $20,000 grand prize for the 2006 HBO Short Film Award to writer/director Moon Molson for his film "Pop Foul," a coming-of-age story about a boy who must choose between staying loyal or being honest after witnessing his father take a beating by a local thug.

The grand prize was given out by Olivia Smashum, executive vice president, Affiliate Marketing & Business Development at HBO and actress Tamara Tunie during the ABFF Independent Film Awards ceremony on Sunday, July 23 in South Beach, Florida.

Four other films also competed and were awarded $5,000 each: "Mandigo in a Box," written and directed by Daheli Hall; "Sin Salida," written and directed by A. Sayeeda Clarke; "Trespass," written by Nelsan Narie Ellis and directed by Xandy Smith; and "Winnie and the Duppy Bat," written and directed by Annetta Laufer.

The HBO Short Film Award, created in 1998, serves to recognize and encourage artistic excellence in black cinema and has been a staple at the festival since its inception.