‘Dungeons and Dragons’ Scribe, ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ ‘Chicago Fire’ Producers, MarVista VP Lead Key West Film Fest Shorts Jury

Riding the wave of being named to Moviemaker Magazine’s esteemed “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World,” The Key West Film Festival has assembled a revered group of industry leaders and artists to judge the 12th edition of the festival, which is set for November 15-19 in the Sunshine State. The collective includes Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves writer Michael Gilio, Hell’s Kitchen Producer Eric Rudnick, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit actor Mouzam Makkar, MarVista’s VP of Development Beth Bruckner O’Brien, Chicago Fire Former Co-Producer Daniele Bernstein, and Late Night with Seth Meyers Associate Producer Amanda Cowper. The jury will also be led by Florida industry leaders and award-winning filmmakers from across the country.

Awards include Best Live Action Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film, and Best Florida Short Film. Two student filmmakers will receive the Kimberly Peirce Student Filmmaker Scholarship presented by the Diana King Foundation. Winners will be announced during the Key West Film Festival Awards Ceremony on Saturday, November 18th.

Florida industry leaders on the jury include Key West and Florida Keys Film Commissioner Chad Newman, Miami filmmaker Sasha Levinson, Executive Director of the Florida Keys Council of the Arts Elizabeth Young, University of Miami’s Margaret Cardillo, University of South Florida’s Tim Ritter and Mark Schimmel, and Key West Filmmaker John Cunningham.

Rounding out the jury are award-winning director and former Sundance Film Festival Programming Associate April Wright, Omeleto Head of Programming Kat Ascharya, Australian arts advocate Augusta Supple, Second City and AMAW Los Angeles veteran Sommer Austin, Comedian Erick Esteban, and Dallas Film Commissioner Tony Armer.

Visit keywestff.com for the full festival lineup.

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