Palm Springs International ShortFest director Helen DuToit beamed as she introduced the sponsors, programmers, and jurists who announced the award winning films before their uninterrupted showing.
Announcing their winners were Cathy Peirce and Guy McVicker for the Panavision Best North American Short, La Laguna (Mexico) Aaron Shock; Bijan Tehrani with Cinema Without Borders for the HP Bridging the Borders Award, French (France), and Josza Anjembe, and Jan Maguire with Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors’ Bureau for Best of Festival, Home (Kosovo) Daniel Mulloly.
The five young jurists who adjudicated the Young Jury Award won the cute factor. Each gave one sentence about why they chose Taking Flight (US), by Brandon Oldenburg. This film also won Best Animated Short.
The winning talent in attendance were Best Live Action Short Over 15 Minutes, Bon Voyage (Switzerland) director Marc Wilkins with producer Joel Jent; Grand Jury Award Minh Tâm (France) producer Laurence Lascary; Best Live Action short 15 Minutes and Under Filip (Sweden) director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén; Audience Award for Best Live Action Short, The Chop (UK) director Lewis Rose; and special mention Thunder Road director-writer-performer Jim Cummings.
ShortFest jury members were David Ansen, Jeremy Boxer, Zorianna Kit with The Huffington Post, House of Cards actress Molly Parker, Rachel Samuels with Condé Nast, and Alison Willmore with BuzzFeed.
Small and large groups engaged in vibrant conversation at the Hyatt Palm Springs’ after party. Filmmakers exchanged cards and spoke of upcoming projects.
PHOTOS BY SHERRI BREYER
