Chairman Harold Matzner welcomed the sold out crowd at the Camelot Theatre to the 21st annual Palm Springs International ShortFest.
Matzner thanked Camelot owners Ric and Rozene Supple for their support in building the theater to house ShortFest, and for their support of the International Film Festival held annually in January.
The 700 filmmakers will attend seminars and workshops and meet other festival programmers during the six-day festival, which ends June 22. The Short Fest represents a $500,000 investment in the filmmakers of the future, according to Matzner.
Festival director Darryl Macdonald announced that 330 films will be shown culled from 3,400 screened submissions. Top feature film directors Jason Reitman (who will be a keynote speaker at a June 21 luncheon) and Ava DuVernay made their starts at ShortFest.
Development director Harriet Baron again thrilled the audience with her fictional tale in which all the ShortFest sponsors were mentioned.
Seven delightful short films opened ShortFest 21 with the theme of “Make ‘Em Laugh."
Taylor Ann Trad and Ian Cush.
Simon Tillaas, director of “The Little Death."
(From left) Producer Alexa Fraser-Herron, director Michael Phillis, and actor Amie Sarazan of “Mini-Supreme” that aired opening night.
(From left) ShortFest Executive Director Darryl Macdonald, ShortFest Chairman Harold Matzner, and Harriet Barone, ShortFest development .
“Restoration” writer director Tim Tsiklauri and producer Nicola Peeperkoorn with “Flat Daddy” co-producer and editor Trevor Holcomb.
“Silver Waters” co-writer David Keresctes (left) with brother co-writer-director team Andrew Keresctes.
Karen and Tony Barone.
Gordon and Jorie Parr.
Lulu California Bistro in Palm Springs hosted the Opening Night After Party.
Deborah Deejah and Michael Childers.
(From left) “Night Light” Producer Joel Jent and Director Samuel Fleuchiger with ShortFest Artistic Director Helen DuToit.
(From left) Steven Wilson, Lulu Manager Chris Cellini, Helen DuToit, Ron Hofmann, and Ashley Patterson.
(From left) Cynthia Sasse, ShortFest board member Sid Craig, and Halston Hair.
(From left) Teddy Grouye, Consul General of Switzerland Jean-François Lichtenstern, and Giannina Toaxene.