Aspen Shortsfest (one of four Oscar (r.)-qualifying festivals in America exclusively dedicated to short films) is known as one of the leading short film festivals. It showcases the best in cinema from all over the world.
Celebrating three decades worth of shorts, the 30 Aspen Shortsfest will be Oscar -qualifying within the three categories animated, documentary, and narrative film. Shortsfest 2018 features filmmakers exploring fresh and timely topics in five categories: Animation Comedy Documentary Drama Short Short. The 2021 slate will feature 6 world premieres and 3 international premieres. There will also be 7 North American premier films and 15 U.S. premiers from filmmakers representing 26 countries and six continents. Nearly 3,000 films had been submitted to the Virtual Event. Eighty-eight of them were chosen. 69% are women-directed or codirected 55 films
The line-up features highly talented people from around the globe. Highlights include David, a starring comedian and “SNL,” alumnus, who was written and directed “Silicon Valley”, “The Office”, and” Roborovski by Dev Patel (TV’s The Practice, “Silicon Valley”, and” The Perks of Being a Wallflower, “Succession”), Silverstone starring Wyatt Cenac (Barry Jenkins’s Medicine for Melancholy, TV’s “The Daily Show”, and”), and”), and”) and Raykazehtabchi, first Iranian woman, to win for the “Wy Cenac’s Problem Areas,” and”), and the film, “St Cenac’s Problem Areas”, “Wyt Cenac’s Problem Areas”), Period, Rayka Zehtabchi, directed by Rayka Zehtabchi, Are You Still There, directed and Was It? End of Sentence.
Aspen Film Executive & Artistic Director Susan Wrubel: “We are proud to present another impressive roster of films, from around the planet for this year’s Shortsfest.” “While we’re disappointed we can’t hold our 30 th birthday at the Wheeler Opera House every year, this year we present an exciting line up interactive virtual events that will be presented as a sidebar portion to the festival screenings.
Jason Anderson, Shortsfest Director of Programing, says that Aspen Shortsfest is thrilled to mark its 30th th birthday by presenting a diverse selection of stunning new works from emerging and established filmmakers all around the world. The 80 titles this year demonstrate the variety, depth, and breadth that our audience has the privilege to see.
Shortsfest alum Meryam Jobeur, the Tunisian American director who won an Oscar (r-) nomination for Best Live Action Short Film, Brotherhood; Keya Khayatian of United Talent Agency; Rachel Rosen, a San Francisco Bay Area-based independent programmer and awards consultants who is currently a member on The New York Film Festival’s Selection Committee.
Shortsfest this year will include a variety of virtual panels. The panel includes a RED Digital Cinema camera Panel – Intro of RED’s James Lucarelli; and Glenn Kiser’s The Role of Sound Design. Also, a panel discussing the rapid growth of virtual Cinema presented by Iddo Patt.
Inga Derv, Toronto-based International Sales and Distribution company specializing with short films, and curator Opal hope Bennett are special industry guests for 2021.
Jason Anderson, Shortsfest Programming director, will host an in-depth discussion with Reinaldo Green (awarded filmmaker) on Saturday night April 10. Green, a Shortsfest alumnus, won in 2018 the Special Dramatic Jury Prize for Sundance with Monsters & Men. His second feature Joe Bell is written by Oscar award-winning screenwriters Diana Ossana und Larry McMurtry. It stars Mark Wahlberg. The film is scheduled to release in late 2015. It will also release his third feature King Richard which is a biographical drama for Warner Brothers. Will Smith plays Richard Williams who is the father and coach for Venus and Serena Williams. Paramount Pictures’ next project, which Green has been eagerly anticipating, will be the Bob Marley biopic.
Aspen Film’s FilmEducates offers interactive, online education to schools throughout Colorado’s RoaringFork County and beyond. Filmmakers to the Classroom will continue to be offered by Aspen Film’s FilmEducates. Young Filmmaker Labs, Making Movies Matter and Filmmakers to the Classroom will all be available online. Filmmakers can also join virtual classrooms to show their films and engage with students. The FilmEducates Youth Jury is meeting via Zoom every day to vote on the Youth Jury Award, which will be presented during the festival’s award event.
