Birmingham-filmed ‘Gunner’ wins 40+ awards around the globe

When producer Joel Shapiro looks at Sloss Furnaces, he doesn’t just see a historic landmark. Instead, he sees a multi-million dollar film set that no Hollywood soundstage could ever replicate.

“You have this incredible historic landmark that is industrial and beautiful and scary and awesome all at the same time…

“If you had to try to build something like that on a soundstage or a backlot, it would cost you tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Joel Shapiro, “Gunner” producer

“Gunner,” a 2024 action thriller starring Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman and Luke Hemsworth, was filmed throughout Birmingham in 2023. That authentic Alabama scenery is now paying off on a global scale. The film has secured more than 40 wins at festivals around the world, from Los Angeles to Bangkok.

A global victory lap

While the film was acquired and distributed by Warner Brothers for North America, its performance on the competitive circuit has been a surprise for the production team. Just three weeks ago, the film took home another top prize at a global festival.

For Shapiro and director Dimitri Logothetis, the most meaningful nods have come from their industry’s home turf in California.

“Given that those festivals are composed of our peers… those are certainly very meaningful and massively appreciated by us.”

Joel Shapiro

“Gunner” has won a long list of awards from festivals around the world. Check out the cast and crew’s accolades by tapping each dropdown list.

Major Feature + Best Picture Wins

• Athens Indie Film Festival: Best Adventure Film & Certificate of Appreciation (New/Recent)
• Tokyo Film and Screenplay Awards: Best Feature Film
• Florence Indie Film Festival: Best International Feature
• Oslo Independent Film Festival: Best International Film
• New York Indie Film Festival: Best Feature Film
• Vancouver Independent MovieMaking Awards: Best Feature Film
• Santa Barbara International Movie Awards: Best Feature Film
• IndieMania Prague Film Awards: Best Picture
• Hollywood International Golden Age Festival: Best US Long Feature
• Hawai‘i International Film Festival: Best Feature Film
• City of Angels Film Festival: Best Action Film
• FilmHaus Film Awards: Best Action Drama
• YETI FilmFest: Best Feature Film
• IndieFEST Film Awards: Award of Merit (Film Feature)

Direction (Dimitri Logothetis)

• Bangkok Movie Awards: Critic’s Choice Award & Best Director
• LA Indie Film Fest: Best Director (Jury Award)
• Montreal Independent Film Festival: Best Director
• Hong Kong Indie Film Festival: Best Director
• Dublin Movie Awards: Best Director
• London International Filmmakers Festival: Best Director
• Tokyo Film and Screenplay Awards: Best Director
• Palermo International Film Festival: Best Feature Director
• New York Film & Actress Awards: Best Director
• Art Film Spirit Awards: Best Director
• LA Sun Film Fest: Best Director

Lead Performances

• Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards: Best Actor — Morgan Freeman
• FirstGlance Film Festival Los Angeles: Best Feature Actor — Luke Hemsworth

Why Birmingham?

The success of “Gunner” serves as a high-profile case study for why Alabama is becoming a premiere destination for filmmakers. Shapiro attributes this to a “combination of wonderful factors,” specifically citing:

• Diverse cinematography: Birmingham has it all, from the historic Civil War-era furnaces to the modern skyline of downtown Birmingham and scenic Railroad Park. The city can “double as almost any major city in America.”
• Production value: The lower cost of living in Alabama, compared to hubs like LA, New York or even Atlanta, allows producers to put more money into a production. “For the same budget, you make a much bigger, far better-looking movie.”
• Local support: Shapiro said the production was a “wonderful experience,” noting the community’s backing was one of the “pleasant surprises” of the project.

Working with the stars on-set

For Shapiro, working with Morgan Freeman was a “bucket list” milestone, but it was the actor’s legendary preparation that stood out.

“What pleasantly surprised me about working with him was just how incredibly sharp he was as an actor, a professional and a storyteller.”

Joel Shapiro

Freeman remained the “absolute constant professional,” arriving with a deep understanding of the script for every scene.

While Freeman brought the precision, Luke Hemsworth brought the sweat. Shapiro recalled the production “really beat him up physically” to get the right shots.

In one particular scene, Hemsworth was tasked with sprinting up a steep hill while lugging a massive backpack weighing between 30 and 50 pounds. After the director, Dimitri Logothetis, finally called “cut” on the punishing take, the crew didn’t see an exhausted actor.

“He had this huge smile on his face…He yelled at Dimitri, ‘Can we do that again?’”

Joel Shapiro

What’s next?

As “Gunner” continues to rack up accolades, fans of the thriller may not have to wait long for more. 

Shapiro teased an “unofficial rumor” that a sequel is already in the works, driven by the film’s commercial and critical success. 

“We love those characters, and I’m excited to see them come back to the screen.”

Joel Shapiro

For now, Shapiro is an enthusiastic unofficial ambassador for The Magic City. 

“I’ve become a cheerleader to other producers as to why they should consider bringing their projects to Birmingham.”

Joel Shapiro

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