Aspen Film announced the members serving on the international competition jury for Aspen Shortsfest 2010, April 6-11. These noted film professionals will attend the festival to award cash and other prizes in several categories to films screening in the 10 competition programs, including the Oscar-qualifying categories of Best Animation, Best Comedy, Best Drama, and Best Short. Judges’ decisions will be announced at an awards ceremony on Sunday, April 11. The jury includes:
o Actress Meg Ryan whose range encompasses both the comic (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail) and dramatic (Courage Under Fire, Promised Land, When a Man Loves a Woman).
o Producer Sarah Siegel-Magness, managing partner and co-founder (with husband Gary Magness) of Smokewood Entertainment. Their most recent production, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and received Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
o Feature screenwriter David Arata (Brokedown Palace, Spy Game, with Robert Redford and Brad Pitt), who received an Oscar nomination for Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men, starring Clive Owen.
o Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Daniel Junge (Chiefs, They Killed Sister Dorothy, The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner). Junge’s short documentary Come Back to Sudan shared the Shortsfest 2008 Audience Award.
Creative consultations
In addition to its best of category awards, Aspen Shortsfest will introduce Creative Consultations, professional opportunities for a selection of winning Shortsfest finalists who demonstrate artistic distinction in writing-directing, documentary, editing, and cinematography.
These filmmakers will have access to accomplished film industry professionals in their field, including one of Escape Artists’ producing principals (Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black, Steve Tisch), cinematographer John Bailey ASC, editor Carol Littleton ACE, and documentary filmmaker Greg Barker (Sergio). Additionally, one finalist will have the opportunity to create a development deal with producer Daniel Dubecki (Up in the Air, the upcoming Passion Play, with Mickey Rourke.)
“At this juncture in their careers, short filmmakers seek direct contact with professionals at the top of their game,” said Aspen Film executive director Laura Thielen. “By connecting them to the industry in a meaningful way, we enhance Aspen Shortsfest’s mission to foster the creative development of new film voices.”
In addition to the international competition jury awards, outstanding Shortsfest films will also be recognized with the Los Angeles chapter of BAFTA’s (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) annual Award for Excellence, as well as the Ellen Award and Youth Jury Prize, both determined by local juries.
Established in 1979, Aspen Film is one of Colorado’s most active film arts organizations, presenting more than 200 programs and featuring dozens of guest speakers throughout the year.
Edelman Global CCO Judy John Named AICP Next Awards Judging Chair
Judy John, global chief creative officer at global communications firm Edelman, has been named as the 2025 AICP Next Awards judging chair. In this role, John has assembled a roster of jury presidents who will, in turn, select judges for all AICP Next Awards categories.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be named AICP Next Awards judging chair,” said John. “I’ve served as a Next jury president, and I know the caliber of work that’s entered and the level of talent judging that work. The Next Awards are special, as they recognize achievements through the lens of boundary-breaking innovations in marketing. Like great art, this work creates awe in the viewer, and reflects the times and culture in which it was created. The fact that the honored work is preserved in The Museum of Modern Art’s Department of Film’s archives for future generations adds a whole other level of significance.”
“Judy’s career in many ways reflects the DNA of the Next Awards, in that she is a globally-recognized expert in creating work using a wide range of techniques, media platforms and content formats,” said Matt Miller, president and CEO of AICP. “Her complete fluency in the current marketing communications landscape makes her an ideal judging chairperson. We’re delighted that she is serving in this role.”
The AICP Next Awards is much more than an awards competition; it’s also a platform for examining work through thought leadership and analysis. The entry deadline for the AICP Next Awards, along with the AICP Show: The Art & Technique of the Commercial and the AICP Post Awards, is Wed., February 26. Details can be found here.
Two new categories are joining the Next Awards this year, for... Read More