After six days of screenings, Aspen Film announced Aspen Shortsfest’s International Competition winners, many of them International or North American premieres. The 2013 Awards Ceremony was held Sunday, April 14, at Syzygy Restaurant in Aspen. The festival, which brings filmmakers together with the film-loving public for nearly a week of screenings, panel discussions, education programs and informal networking, is widely recognized as a premier North American showcase for short film.
“Every festival could learn a lot by attending this festival,” said Scott Dwyer, Director of Programing for KQED in Northern California, one of the country’s most-watched public television stations. “It captures and celebrates the magic and power of short film, the people who create and those who appreciate this special art form.”
The festival’s centerpiece, the Oscar๏ฟฝ-qualifying International Competition, reflected the incredible diversity and creativity of today’s short filmmaking in drama, comedy, animation and documentary. Almost 2,800 submissions from around the world were considered, and 83 short films, representing more than 30 countries were ultimately selected for this year’s 10 International Competition programs.
“We wished there were more awards to give out, because we were so impressed with the quality, depth and sophistication of what we saw,” said International Competition jury member and screenwriter Andrew Schneider (Northern Exposure, The Sopranos). “Being on the jury was a great treat and privilege for us.” Other members of the jury included Dana Barrata (Dawson’s Creek, Red Widow), Diane Frolov (Northern Exposure, The Sopranos), and Lisa Kennedy (Denver Post Film and Theater Critic.)
More than 50 international film guests including Eric Overmyer (The Wire, Treme) and Donald Zuckerman (Colorado Film Commissioner) traveled to Aspen to participate in public screenings, in-depth conversations, and informal networking opportunities. Shortsfest also hosts a significant education component in which nearly 1,600 students and teachers from 19 regional schools participated.
“Aspen Shortsfest provides filmmakers ranging from beginners to veterans with a beautiful venue, enthusiastic packed audiences, amazing films and, most importantly, a familial atmosphere that creates a lasting bond between filmmakers, the staff and the audience,” said returning filmmaker Matt Morris, who this year screened his newest short documentary, “American Tintype”.
SHORTSFEST 2013 AWARD WINNERS
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION JURY AWARDS
BEST ANIMATION* $2,500
NIGHT OF THE BEAR
North American Premiere
(Samuel Guillaume & Fr๏ฟฝd๏ฟฝric Guillaume, Switzerland)
BEST COMEDY* $2,500
DO I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING?
(Selma Vilhunen, Finland)
BEST DOCUMENTARY $2,500
GRANDPA AND ME AND A HELICOPTER TO HEAVEN
International Premiere
(Johan Palmgren & ๏ฟฝsa Blanck, Sweden)
BEST DRAMA* $2,500
CALCUTTA TAXI
(Vikram Dasgupta, Canada/India)
BEST SHORT SHORT* $1,000
GIRL WITH CHILD
International Premiere
(Maria Abraham, USA/Ecuador)
BEST STUDENT FILM $1,000; Sponsored by Film School Shorts
A WORLD FOR RAUL
(Mauro Mueller, Mexico/Switzerland/USA)
*Academy Award๏ฟฝ-qualifying category
SPECIAL JURY RECOGNITION
CICADA PRINCESS
(Mauricio Baiocchi, USA)
EDMOND WAS A DONKEY
(Franck Dion, Canada/France)
IRISH FOLK FURNITURE
(Tony Donoghue, Ireland)
KALI THE LITTLE VAMPIRE
US Premiere
(Regina Pessoa, France/Portugal/Canada/Switzerland)
PIECES
North American Premiere
(Xacio Ba๏ฟฝo, Spain)
SATURDAY GIRLS
(Emilie Cherpitel, France)
AUDIENCE AWARD $500
SATURDAY GIRLS
(Emilie Cherpitel, France)
AUDIENCE RECOGNITION
DO I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING?
(Selma Vilhunen, Finland)
THE GUIDE
(Jessica Yu, USA/Mozambique)
OPEN HEART
(Kief Davidson, USA)
WALKING THE DOGS – North American Premiere
(Jeremy Brock, UK)
THE ELLEN $1,500
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