Mumbai: The Angelus Student Film Festival has secured an all-star panel of judges for its documentary film category. The annual festival, now in its 13th year, is accepting submissions in the documentary, live action and animation categories through 1 July.
Judging of the finalists’ films in Los Angeles and New York in all three categories will commence in August. Long-time Angelus supporter and sponsor John Priddy of Priddy Brothers, who is an indie film producer, has spearheaded efforts to assemble the documentary jury that includes industry executives as well as award-winning documentary filmmakers.
They include:
· HBO’s director of documentary programming Sara Bernstein
· Al Roker Entertainment’s vice president of development and production Michael Kaufman.
· New York-based director, producer and cameraman Doug Block, whose work includes some of the most acclaimed feature documentaries of the past 15 years.
· HBO’s supervising editor and an award-winning editor or supervisory editor of more than 100 films, Geof Bartz. His films have won two Academy Awards and four Primetime Emmys.
· John Priddy, co-founder of Priddy Brothers that develops, produces and distributes independent films that explore with respect, grace and artistry the depth and breadth of the human experience.
· Hilla Medalia, whose documentary film To Die In Jerusalem recently achieved a Peabody Award. She also won the 2004 Angelus Student Film Festival Outstanding Documentary Award for Daughters of Abraham.
· Wilfred Raymond, CSC, national director, Family Theater Prods.
"We are quite fortunate and excited by the caliber of this prestigious jury," comments festival director Monika Moreno. She adds, "Not only does it elevate the festival overall, it underscores our mission to assist emerging filmmakers in cultivating the professional relationships that will help grow their careers."
"Documentaries have clearly emerged as one of the signal art forms of our time, and are now capturing a broader and more diverse audience than ever before," notes John Priddy. "We want to support these films in the marketplace, and, in conjunction with Angelus, to nurture and encourage those who dedicate their talents to this medium."
Eligible films are 90 minutes or less and must have been completed between June 2006 and July 2008 while the filmmaker was an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited film school or university. Entries at $45 each can be submitted through www.angelus.org or http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1045.
The winning films in all categories will be screened, and more than $50,000 worth of cash awards and industry prizes will be presented to the winning student filmmakers on 13 September, at the Directors Guild of America, Hollywood.
