The Ninth Annual PBS Short Film FestivalCelebrates Independent Filmmakers and Showcases Diverse StorytellingTwenty-Five Films Exploring Culture, Environment, Family, Humanity and Race Relations to Stream July 13–24 on All PBS Digital PlatformsOFFICIAL PRESS RELEASENEWS PROVIDED BY PBS ARLINGTON, VA – PBS announced today its Webby Award-nominated PBS Short Film Festival will return for a ninth year from July 13-24 to all PBS and station digital platforms, including PBS.org, YouTube and Facebook. The festival features 25 short-form independent films presented in five categories: culture, environment, family, humanity and race. The PBS Short Film Festival is part of a multiplatform initiative to increase the reach and visibility of independent filmmakers and to provide a showcase for diverse storytelling that both inspires and engages. “At PBS, we have been committed to bringing a diversity of voices into American homes,” said Ira Rubenstein, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer. “As we celebrate independent filmmakers once again this year, we’re especially proud to showcase a variety of features and perspectives across multiple platforms and help to elevate important stories.” Starting at midnight on Monday, July 13, audiences can watch, share and vote for their favorite film to win the “Most Popular” award. In addition, a panel of seven jury members will select their favorite film of the festival for the Juried Prize. This year’s jury members include Simon Kilmurry, Executive Director, International Documentary Association; Mike Sargent, Founder, Black Film Critics Circle; Eric Gulliver, Producer, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE; Chloe Walters-Wallace, Documentary Lab Manager, Firelight Media & Films; Adnaan Wassey, Digital Media Executive, formerly of POV; Pamela A. Aguilar, Senior Director, General Audience Programming and Development, PBS; and Judith Vecchione, Executive Producer, WGBH Educational Foundation. Films featured in the PBS Short Film Festival have been selected and provided by 18 public media partners and PBS member stations. This year’s lineup includes films from Black Public Media, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), Independent Television Service (ITVS), Latino Public Broadcasting, National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), POV, Reel South, Vision Maker Media and World Channel, as well as PBS local member stations, Alabama Public Television (APTV), Illinois Public Media, KQED, KLRU-TV Austin PBS, Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), MPT Digital Studios, WNET (New York) and WSIU (Illinois). Generating more than nine million streams over the course of the festival’s history, the PBS Short Film Festival continues to be an engaging annual digital event. The festival also received a 2015 Webby Awards nomination for Online Film & Video: Variety (Channel). For more information and updates on the PBS Short Film Festival, visit www.pbs.org/filmfestival. Viewers are also encouraged to engage in online conversation by tagging @PBS and using #PBSFilmFest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Below is the full list of short films featured in the 2020 PBS Short Film Festival, separated into the five presenting categories of culture, environment, family, humanity, and race. CULTURE “Knocking Down the Fences” (REEL SOUTH) “Paddle Together” (ILLINOIS PUBLIC MEDIA) “You Know the Drill” (ILLINOIS PUBLIC MEDIA) “Edwin” (KLRU-TV/ AUSTIN PBS) “How Turfing Became Synonymous with Oakland” (KQED/PUBLIC MEDIA FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA) ENVIRONMENT “Standing Above the Clouds” (PACIFIC ISLANDER IN COMMUNICATIONS/PIC) “The Seed Saver” (INDEPENDENT TELEVISION SERVICE/ITVS) “One Way” (WNET/NEW YORK PUBLIC MEDIA) FAMILY “In This Family” (CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN/CAAM) “To Infinity” (LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING) “Maria” (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS / NALIP) “Joyride” (LATINO PUBLIC BROADCASTING) HUMANITY “Quilt Fever” (REEL SOUTH) “Sweetheart Dancers” (VISION MAKER MEDIA) “Birth of Afrobeat” (BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA) “Happy Hounds” (MPT DIGITAL STUDIOS) “All Inclusive” (POV) “Beep” (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS / NALIP) “Do Not Disturb” (WSIU-TV/ILLINOIS) RACE “Celestia Morgan” (ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION/APTV) “Preston’s Gone” (LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING) “We Gon’ Be Alright” (INDEPENDENT TELEVISION SERVICE/ITVS) “A Night at the Garden” (POV) “Embers” (KLRU-TV/AUSTIN PBS) “History of White People in America” (WORLD CHANNEL) AboutAbout PBS Short Film Festival Throughout the festival, viewers can watch, love and share their favorite films on a variety of platforms. At the close of the festival, a prize is awarded to the film chosen by the hand-picked jury. The 2020 PBS Short Film Festival represents a celebration of independent films and filmmaking, and a love for the craft. For more information, visit www.pbs.org/filmfestival.
Source PBS
June 19, 2020 8:00am ET by PBS |