Submitted photo New Ulm native Natalie Sperl recently received the Best Supporting Actress Award for “Bardo Blues” from the 2018 Flicks Film Festival. She is the daughter of Arlene and Dennis Sperl.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A actress, director and rock & roll musician with New Ulm roots recently received an independent film award.

Natalie Denise Sperl, the daughter of Arlene and Dennis Sperl of New Ulm, received a Best Supporting Actress Award for “Bardo Blues” from the 2018 Flicks Film Festival.

Written by Anthony Taylor, the movie is about a man coming to grips with his haunting past by escaping to a foreign country with an unfamiliar, Eastern culture.

Set and filmed in Thailand and Los Angeles, “Bardo Blues,” a drama/mystery, follows Jack as he struggles to learn the truth about the mother that abandoned him and his own reason for existing.

In addition, the movie received film festival awards for Best Thriller/Mystery, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Ensemble Cast and Best Cinematographer.

“Wooooah. My first award for best supporting actress. Thrilled, humbled. Congrats to all who works on ‘Bardo Blues,’ said Sperl, a singer-songwriter and the front woman for the rock and roll band “Kill My Coquette.” The band also performs pop, alternative rock, punk and glam rock, ska, new wave, heavy, glam and alternative metal.

The group has performed at Whiskey a Go Go on the Sunset Strip, among other places. The club was the launching pad for The Doors, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Steppenwolf, Van Halen, and other bands. For more information, visit killmy coquette.com.

Sperl said she met “Bardo Blues” Director Marcia Kimpton flying home from a Rolling Stones concert. Kimpton walked past her on the flight and Sperl felt a strong urge to meet her.

The women talked and Sperl learned they had a lot in common.

“Here’s a woman who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. If it means making her own film to create her big break, then by God she was gonna do it. I told her about my struggles, that I felt the same,” Sperl said of Kimpton.

“I told her I’d love to collaborate in any capacity on her next project “Bardo Blues,” a drama centered on two brothers who must come to grips with their past and the choices they made in their lives.”

Sperl said she was cast as Elizabeth, the lead’s girlfriend who, after hearing of his booking a flight to Thailand on her dime so he can find his estranged mother, leaves him for the last time. Broken and lost, he starts his descent into self destruction and ultimate madness.

Kimpton directed, produced, acted and did all her own makeup in the movie. It was named Amsterdam International Film Festival Best Film. Kimpton received Best Director and Best Actress awards at the Le Femme Film Festival and Los Angeles International Film Festival respectively.

In addition, Steven McClintic received the Los Angeles International Film Festival Best Actor Award. The movie also has received best editing, best cinematography and best screenplay awards.

“Bardo Blues” is set to be released in May 2019 in select theaters. A movie trailer can be viewed on YouTube.

In addition, Sperl said she considers her first Best Supporting Actress Award from Flicks Film Festival for her role in “Bardo Blues” the result of her persistence that finally paid off.

“Don’t ever give up on your dreams. Ever,” Sperl said.

fbusch@nujournal.com