Jurying PBS Online Festival
BY CYNDI GREENING, ARIZONA, USA — Well, I got to serve as a juror for PBS's online film festival. Festival jurying is a bit more challenging than I thought it would be. The preliminary rounds were done by PBS so we only got the final 20 (much like the Sundance jurors getting the final 16 in their category from the programmers). We had specific directions on what to look for ... Innovation and Creative Risk! ITVS is committed to projects that are innovative in their use of the medium or are imaginative in the presentation of their content. Jurors are asked to consider innovation and creative risk not as mere aesthetic ends, but within the context of the Web as a powerful tool to engage, express, reflect and explore. We were asked to decide if the films inspired us, moved us, stuck with us. Last year's PBS winners can be viewed, where else, online.
We are sworn to secrecy ... unable to reveal our thoughts on our favorites until after the official announcement. What I am allowed to say is that there were some really interesting short films. Several were beautifully shot but a tad traditional. A few were really powerful AND innovative. I'm eager to hear what the other jurors thought. As a digital filmmaking instructor, I'm going to encourage people to enter this festival! There is a decent amount of prize money and several awards. The chances are pretty civilized.
The statistics on PBS/ITVS online submissions is as follows:
Genre |
|
Animation |
7% |
Documentary |
33% |
Drama |
23% |
Docudrama |
0% |
Experimental |
22% |
Mixed/Other* |
16% |
Region |
|
Midwest |
11% |
East |
21% |
South |
10% |
West |
12% |
California |
32% |
New York |
14% |
Gender |
|
Male |
50% |
Female |
50% |
Age |
|
18 - 29 |
37% |
30 - 39 |
27% |
40 - 49 |
22% |
50 + |
13% |
