Poppy Jasper
International Film Festival
Written By Robin Shepherd
T
Left: Randy Spendlove, keynote speaker
at April 6 Gala with daughter Alex and
Katy Perry. Above: Poppy Jasper
International Film Festival Director,
Mattie Scariot.
PJIFF is for Filmmakers
In recent years, independent filmmakers
have won Oscars—a trend predicted to
continue. Like any other film festival
worth its salt, PJIFF aims to discover the
next great talent and help them on the
path to stardom.
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This year, 100 short and feature-length
films from twelve countries were submitted
for consideration in the festival’s juried
competition. A panel of film experts selects
the best films in each of eleven categories—
including drama, comedy, science fiction
and documentaries. Winners are invited
to PJIFF to screen their films, followed by
onstage commentaries and Q&A with the
audience.
PJIFF is for The Community
Festival goers get to see great new
films, rub elbows with filmmakers, and
hear from notable guest speakers. The
four-day event is also an opportunity for
family and friends to gather at popular
downtown Morgan Hill and Gilroy
venues where the film screenings and
mixers will be held, and there’s more.
During the run-up to the festival,
PJIFF organizers have invited local
community members who want to try
their hand at filmmaking to sign up for
one of three Pre-Festival Programs:
learn moviemaking using smartphones
and apps.
Millennials Music Video
A group of local directors will create a
music video of a live band performance
in South County (schedule/location will
be announced). Community members,
21 years of age or older, will have an
opportunity to be “audience extras”
during a portion of the filming.
Online registration required.
40 & UP Filmmaking Workshop
Film fans (40 or older) who want to try
their hand as part of an instructor-led
filmmaking crew can attend one or
several workshops taking place over
three Sundays: February 11, 18 and 25;
from 10 am to 6 pm. Online registration
required.
Films created in these programs
will be shown at the festival and their
creators will receive recognition and
awards. Space in these workshops is
limited. Register online at pjiff.org.
Young Filmmakers (ages 4-14)
PJIFF is for Film Lovers
This winter, four workshops were
coordinated by Community Media Access Here’s a sampling of what’s in store for
the PJIFF 2018 film screenings.
Partnership (CMAP) and hosted by the
Gilroy and Morgan Hill Libraries. These
• A French documentary, “With My
free workshops gave kids a chance to
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018
gmhtoday.com
INTERNATIONAL
his spring, South
County will roll
out the red carpet
and shine a spotlight on the rebirth of a
local tradition—the Poppy Jasper Inter-
national Film Festival. It’s a rare opportu-
nity to see films from around the world
and meet the artists who created them.
According to Festival Director Mattie
Scariot, “There’s been a dramatic change
in the way films are being created
and consumed. We have incredible
technology like the RED camera. We
have broad distribution thanks to
companies like Netflix. And we have
a new generation of filmmakers with
stories to share. It’s through film festivals
that they can make their voices heard.”
Popularly referred to as PJIFF, the
2018 festival will host filmmakers, film
fans, and even a few celebrities. If you’ve
never been to a film festival, or if you
have been but didn’t quite get the hang
of it, read on.