The La Costa Film Festival (www.lacostafilmfestival.org) announced today its 2013 jury, as well as a panel discussion about short filmmaking that will take place during the festival, which runs October 24-27, 2013 at the world famous Omni La Costa Resort and Spa.
From professional athletes to Academy Award winners, this year’s Jury will announce the grand prize winners of the festival’s signature Sports Competition at an Awards Ceremony on October 26. The ceremony will take place just prior to the screening of the closing night film, AT MIDDLETON, starring Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga.
The jury includes: former Chargers NFL kicker John Carney; former Laker and current CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad, Brad Holland; actor William Mapother (Another Earth, Lost), Academy Award winning filmmaker Freida Lee Mock (Maya Lin: A Strong Vision, Anita); and Sports Director of San Diego’s KUSI-TV, Paul Rudy.
The juried sports competition includes a variety of compelling documentary features: THE CRASH REEL follows snowboarder Kevin Pearce and the traumatic brain injury that kept him from competing for Gold in 2010; MAIDENTRIP reveals the journey of Laura Dekker, the youngest person to ever sail around the world alone; MCCONKEY is about Shane McConkey, a revered pioneer of free-skiing and ski-BASE jumping; and the story of two young surfers who battle nature in a remote, arctic island in Northern Norway in order to catch the perfect wave is the focus of NORTH OF THE SUN. The opening night film, THE SHORT GAME, will also compete.
Shorts in competition include: SLOMO, THE RED PILL, CROOKED LINES, and MAGNESIUM.
The festival will also feature a free panel discussion on Saturday, October 26 at 1:00pm at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. “How to Make the Most of Your Short Film” features a line-up of industry experts, including: Lauren Avinoam, a consultant for short film marketing and festival strategy; comedian, actor, and director Jeff Grace; programmer for the Newport Beach Film Festival, Max Naylor; and Jacques Thelemaque, filmmaker and former Chief Community Officer at Withoutabox.com. The panel will be moderated by Elliot V. Kotek, Editor-in-Chief of Beyond Cinema magazine and Celebs.com. Kotek is a filmmaker as well, having written and produced a number of feature and short films.