This time last year the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival was preparing a weeklong celebration of independent filmmaking . With 200 films from thirty-eight countries scheduled to screen live at venues in Gilroy , Hollister , San Juan Bautista , and Morgan Hill , the festival ‘ faded to black ’ when organizers were forced into a last minute cancellation due to COVID-19 . After years of planning , Festival Director L . Matlock “ Mattie ” Scariot recalls how devastated she was to get the news .
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY POPPY JASPER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
“ I went into mourning for over a week ,” Scariot said . “ It was like a death in the family . It really helped that the volunteers and filmmakers were so supportive and understanding .”
To comply with the lingering health restrictions , the 2021 edition will be pre-sented virtually to an international audience . It will run from Wednesday , April 7 through Tuesday , April 20 and will include short and feature films , panel discussions , and musical performances . Additionally , this year ’ s festival will host China Day April 10 and Mexico Day on April 11 .
The award-winning regional festival ’ s stated mission is to promote inclusion , diversity and women ’ s empowerment through film , music , and art . Independent filmmakers from all cultures are invited to explore major issues of the day through the power of film . PJIFF was awarded FestForum ’ s Best of the Fest in 2019 and this year won MovieMaker magazine ’ s Top Fifty Festivals Worth the Entry Fee from an international field . In March , PJIFF was named Non-Profit of the Year by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce . GMH Today also featured Scariot and PJIFF Board President Maria Cid on the cover of its winter edition as " People to Watch " in 2021 .
Cid , who in addition to serving as board president chairs the festival ’ s Mexico Day committee , says she is honored and excited to be involved in the festival .
“ We ’ re looking forward to showcasing our different filmmakers from all over the world , for the first time ever featuring Mexico Day and China Day . I feel proud to help host such a beautiful celebration and show off our culture to the world .”
In her second year chairing the board , Cid applauds the hard work of all the volunteers .
“ They are so supportive and hardworking , often meeting every week . We are all here to support Mattie anyway we can .”
As co-owner of 152 West Productions , Scariot has created documentaries , corporate and music videos , and short and feature films for over fourteen years . She is also involved in many community organizations promoting the arts . She is a Gilroy Arts Alliance founding member and has served as an Arts and Culture Commissioner for ten years — including four years as chair .
In 2018 , Scariot took the helm as full-time director of the festival that was founded in 2003 in Morgan Hill . It originally limited entries to short films of thirty minutes or less until 2006 when it began inviting feature-length and international films .
China Day — April 10 , will feature streaming films , panel discussions and musical performances . The films include features Go with Your Gut and Unnamed Junior , and short films “ Pills and Joy ,” “ Family of Wusho ,” “ Left Behind Children ,” “ Underdog ,” and “ Angel ’ s Mirror .” All films will be followed by Q & As with the filmmakers . Musical performances from China and the USA will be featured including internationally recognized Chinese harpist Jieyin Wu , a frequent guest of the acclaimed San Francisco Symphony , and the Chinese classical instrumental band Zi De Giqin Studio . A Cheongsam fashion show will also showcase traditional Chinese dress from Manchu Origin .
“ China Day will display many authentic aspects of Chinese culture ," said China Day Chair Shanshan Whittall . “ It will be a feast of sights and sounds .”
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN SPRING 2021 gmhtoday . com
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