LIVE BLOG: Inside Prize Fest's Battle for the Golden Fork, Music Prize and 'Big Exhale'

Shreveport's super festival, Prize Fest, is back.

Prize Fest, a creative competition and festival held in the heart of downtown Shreveport, captivates festivalgoers from all over the world annually with featured films, food, music, and comedy.

This festival is hosted by the Prize Foundation, a non-profit organization that activates and elevates creatives in the community and beyond through creative competitions in filmmaking, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, music, and design.

The Prize Foundation was created 13 years ago when the award-winning Film Prize was launched.

Since 2012, the Prize Foundation has encouraged and incentivized filmmakers to choose Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana as places to make movies and try out new ideas. This has led to the creation of over 1,000 short films featuring the work of thousands of creative entrepreneurs and resulted in over $25 million in economic impact.

Day Four features Battle for the Golden Fork, Music Prize and the Prize Fest "Big Exhale".

Battle for the Golden Fork will begin at 3 p.m. in the 700 block of Texas Street -- three finalist chefs will face off in a Chopped-style, live in-person event in the heart of downtown Shreveport. Those three finalists include: Alison Ward, Melvin Nelson, and Stu Dyson.

More: LIVE BLOG: Inside Prize Fest's Food Prize Come and Get It Culinary Experience

Music Prize will begin at 6 p.m. at the Prize Garage and will showcase five acts Friday night and five acts Saturday night -- these musicians are battling it out to win $10,000.

The ten musical acts include Alena Ciera, Big Wy's Brass Band, HAG, Hotel Burgundy, KindKeith, Mia Borders, Rachard + Ouro Boar, SUNKiSSED, Wild Ire, and Zach Edwards & The Medicine. Hugo Burnham, Jai Yoko, Sonya Kolowrat, Jay Weigel, David Pajo, Celeste Debro, Russell Ziecker, Rel Carter, Kev Russell, and Frank Gallagher will judge these musical acts.

Music Prize Night Two

11:30 p.m. The party has moved to Noble Savage. This party will go on until 2 a.m.We ran into Wendell Riley, Executive Director of RFC at Noble Savage and he said, “we at the Robinson love Prize Fest for us as a nonprofit with a mission to educate, enrich and engage through the medium of film, particularly as it relates to uplifting our local filmmakers. The Louisiana Film Prize is a really big deal for us, and it is the epitome of being able to showcase local filmmaking talent, and it's something that we look forward to every year, and we love having filmmakers come through our doors, and we love having audiences being able to connect with local films in a really meaningful way.” This past weekend, the Robinson Film Center was home to one of the viewing sites for the Film Prize.

11:08 p.m. The winner of Music Prize 2024 is Mia Borders. Borders said, “Thank you, PrizePort… come visit us in New Orleans.”

11:05 p.m. Second place for 2024 Music Prize is Big Wy’s Brass Band.

11:01 p.m. Third place for 2024 Music Prize is SUNKiSSED.

11 p.m., the winners of the People's Choice 2024 Music Prize have been announced. There were two winners, HAG and Rachard + Oar Boar.

10:35 p.m. Kallenberg said the announcement for 2024 Prize Music is just minutes away.

9:45 p.m. 15 minutes until the winner of Music Prize 2024 is announced. Big Wy’s Brass Band ended by saying, “Viva La Music Prize.”

9:33 p.m. We ran into the drummer for Wild Ire, Nick Turner, and he said, “We're from Portland, and so a lot of the music demographic we experienced here at Prize Fest is so much vastly different from back home. So it's so nice to hear like a diversity music. So we just can't help it feel like, wow, more than just a sad, moody rock that we play.”

8:25 p.m. what an entrance a whole brass band entered from the back of Prize Garage.Big Wy’s Brass Band is led by six ripping horns and a four-piece rhythm section and brings a frenetic party wherever it plays. The band has performed at iconic Austin, Texas, venues such as Antone’s Nightclub and Continental Club.

8:55 p.m. The crowd is very calm as rock and progressive artist Wild Ire entered the stage. Their love of jazz and funk makes appearances throughout their melodies and riffs.Wild Ire began in 2015 in the Pacific Northwest. Their love of jazz and funk is evident in their melodies and riffs.

8:20 p.m. Kallenberg is on stage and about to announce Rachard + Ouro Boar.Rachard Dennis is a Renaissance man and a working figure in Shreveport’s music scene. He blends personal nostalgia with a contemporary edge, capturing both his personal journey and the essence of today’s music landscape.Ouro Boar, a 14-piece Afrobeat/funk ensemble, will partner with Dennis to explore a new sound influenced by El Michels Affair, Menahan Street Band, and Surprise Chef. Their debut single, “Egomania,” and is paired with the instrumental track “Tortuga.”

7:57 p.m. Mia Borders a renowned singer-songwriter born and raised in New Orleans has taken the stage. She has captivated audiences with her soulful voice, electrifying performances and diverse musical style.

7:40 p.m. Gregory Kallenberg, founder of Prize, officially started Music Prize night two. Josh Mitchell, Prize Fest host said, “tonight is our second night. We have four bands playing tonight. We had six playing last night total. We have 10 bands playing for $10,000 kind of has a ring to it…Most excited about tonight, just everyone coming together and enjoying some good music.”

7:05 p.m. The second night of the Music Prize has not begun, but a crowd has formed outside the Prize Garage.

More: Get to know the 10 music acts competing at the 2024 Music Prize in downtown Shreveport

Prize Fest "Big Exhale" is the closing toast and will begin at midnight and will close out Prize Fest.

Battle for the Golden Fork

4:23 p.m. Chef Melvin Nelson was named the winner of 2024 Battle for the Golden Fork.

4:20 p.m. The judges have whispered their winners to Heidi Kallenberg, who is now working to announce the winner.

4:15 p.m. Ward’s dish is the third to be judged. Carman said, “you put a lot of thought into something that could have just been a garnish.” The judges are asking to take the dishes with them to continue judging the dishes.

4:07 p.m. Nelson’s dish is the second to be judged. Kennell said, “My first thought was very tender. The plate is very beautiful.” Carman said the spice level is very nice.

4 p.m. The chefs have completed their dishes and are now sharing them with the judges. Dyson’s dish was first to be judged. Judge Tim Carman said “it’s a beautiful mix.”

3:50 p.m. Chefs have 10 minutes. “Just keep swimming Melvin, keep swimming Stu, Keep swimming Alison,” said Chef Ernestine "Tootie" Morrison. Chefs are starting to plate up their food.

3:30 p.m. The chefs have started the battle with their ingredients — Rice Crispy, date syrup, shakshuka, steak, and salt and pepper pistachios.

3:07 p.m. Tiana Kennell, judge, and former Times reporter, said, “Yum.” All the competitors have love for each other. Alison Ward said, “If you need anything, just let me know. I love you guys.”

2:55 p.m. Gregory Kallenberg, founder of Prize said, “only five minutes till the competition.” The crowd is seated and ready for the show to begin. The Battle For the Golden Fork will begin in less than five minutes. This "Chopped"-style competition will include chefs like Alison Ward, Melvin Nelson, and Stu Dyson. “This is the culminating experience,” said Kallenberg.

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This story has been updated with additional information.

This story has been updated to add photos.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: LIVE BLOG: Inside Prize Fest's Battle for the Golden Fork, Music Prize and 'Big Exhale'