KCET 18th Annual Finecut Festival 2017
In partnership with American Cinematheque, IndieWire and The American Pavilion, KCETLink Media Group celebrated the work of student and emerging filmmakers at the 18th annual FINE CUT Festival of Films at Hollywood’s iconic landmark, the Egyptian Theatre. Films are available for streaming at kcet.org/finecut and linktv.org/finecut.
Six short films selected as finalists were screened at the Egyptian Theatre and guests were welcomed with opening remarks from KCETLink Media Group’s President and CEO Michael Riley and Comedian Demetri Martin (an emerging filmmaker himself as the writer/director of CBS Films’ recently released feature “Dean”). Tom Teller, writer/director of the short film “Hum” was presented with The Jack Larson Southern California Student Filmmaker Award and a cash prize, while the Viewer’s Choice Award was accepted by Director of Photography Sargon Saadi on behalf of writer/director Bucher Almazain for the short film “The Outcast”. The event ended with a reception attended by FINE CUT filmmakers and judges.
Top films were judged by an industry expert panel that included MUST SEE MOVIES host Pete Hammond, the International Documentary Association’s Executive Director Simon Kilmurry, “Bloodline” actress Linda Cardellini, producer and former talent agent John Ptak, “Project Greenlight” Producer Effie T. Brown, IndieWire staff writer Steve Greene, Peruvian filmmaker Javier Fuentes-León and Academy Award® winning short filmmakers Corinne Marrinan and Chris Tashima.
Additional guests included writer/director of FINE CUT finalist “Dad” Antonio Aguinaga, star of the short film “Dad” Martin Morales, actor Steve Bannos of “Love”, KCET’s SOCAL CONNECTED Anchor Dija Dowling, Link TV’s TRUST DOCS Anchor Anikke Fox, KCET’s “Globe Trekker” Anchor Zay Harding, as well as KCETLink Media Group Chief Creative Officer Juan Devis.
Funding for FINE CUT is generously provided by The Bridges/Larson Foundation.
