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.
Robert Eggers and Willem Dafoe Reunite For “Nosferatu”
When Willem Dafoe enjoys working with a filmmaker, he'll often jump at the chance to do it again.
The list of directors with whom the 69-year-old has worked with more than once is extensive, including Wes Anderson,Yorgos Lanthimos,Paul Schrader,Lars von Trier and, now for a third time, Robert Eggers. "If it's good, you come back," Dafoe said plainly.
The pair spoke about Eggers' adaptation of "Nosferatu" that hits theaters Wednesday, some of the challenges they faced making "The Lighthouse" — their first project together released in 2019 — and the unique relationship that exists between actors and directors.
The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Willem, I read that you called Robert after you saw "The Witch." What did you say?
DAFOE: I want to meet you and I want to know who this filmmaker is.
Q: What is it about him that keeps bringing you back?
DAFOE: Well, if it's good, you come back. When I saw "The Witch," I thought, "Wow, this is a film about a period that I'm not particularly knowledgeable about, but I enter it so easily. This is relevant. It's rooted. It's my story. I'm with these people."
That's quite an incredible trick because a lot of period films, they're always pointing to themselves. They're always sending messages. They're always showing. This had a kind of energy and the kind of physicality and sensuality that I thought, "Who does this? I gotta see this guy." And then I had a wonderful experience in "The Lighthouse" and I played a part that was really fun in "The Northman." So, when he wants to do this passion project and offers me this beautiful role of Professor Von Franz, I say,... Read More