News

Easterseals Southern California has announced finalists for the 2021 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge: Home Edition 2.0.

Created in 2013 by Nic Novicki, the challenge gives filmmakers the opportunity to create short films that showcase disabilities in its many forms. The week-long filmmaking contest received a record number of submissions, with 93 from across the globe. Winners will be announced during a virtual awards ceremony on May 6 on the organization’s website.

Here is the list of finalists:

Awareness Award:

Couples Therapy – Melanie Rivera Waldman

The Roommates – Jennifer Msumba

So You Wanna Be an Actor – Rachel Handler

Social Fitness – Anna Pakman

Editor Award:

Archaic Intergalactic Extraterrestrials – Matthew Placencia

Breaking Cody – Victoria Elena Nones & Nathaniël Siri

The Home Office (The Making of Cartoon Hr) – Dani Bowman

Superheroes – Grace Kelly

Actor Award:

Breaking Cody – Cody Lascala

Dwarfo-psychosis – Pancho Moler

Extra Special – Andy Arias

Nay Nay Too Bomb – Natalie Trevonne

Director:

Dwarfo-psychosis – Maria Didomenico

Extra Special – Luke Terrell...

Nonprofit disability services provider and resource Easterseals Southern California announced today that Critics Choice Award-winning comedian and actor Michelle Buteau, Actor Matthew Jeffers (New Amsterdam), Academy Award nominee Paul Raci (Sound of Metal), and Tony Award-winning actor Ali Stroker (Oklahoma!), will all serve as presenters during the 2021 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge: Home Edition 2.0 virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, May 6.

Stroker will also serve as a mentor for one of this year’s winners, along with Gena Desclos, Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, Brett King, and Emerlynn Lampitoc (Vice President of Inclusion – Talent & Content for NBCUniversal).

The second at-home edition of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge saw a record-breaking number of submissions, with 93 films put forth from the US and places all across the world including India, The Netherlands, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and more. Entries can be viewed at disabilityfilmchallenge.com. Finalists will be announced on Thursday, April 29, with the virtual Awards...

The Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) have announced the launch of their inaugural Laura Ziskin Visionary Award.

Named after the late film producer, the award will recognize leaders in the film industry whose work exemplifies groundbreaking collaboration. This year’s recipients will be Andra Day and director Lee Daniels for their collaboration on “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.” The award will be presented on March 31 by Katie Couric, co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer, and will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Day and Daniels.

Established in 2008, Stand Up To Cancer raises funds to accelerate the pace of research and get new therapies to patients to save lives. As of January, more than 1,950 scientists representing more than 210 institutions are involved in SU2C-funded research projects. Ziskin, who co-founded SU2C, passed away from breast cancer in June 2011 after living with the disease for seven years.

Industry veteran recently made knight of the Order of Art And Letters.

Former AFI Fest director Jacqueline Lyanga has joined Film Independent as artistic director where she will be tasked with revitalising the year-round film, television and new media programme.

Lyanga, who was recently made a knight of the Order of Art And Letters by the French government, will also curate The Portal, a showcase of Vr and immersive storytelling produced in partnership with Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television that runs at the school’s Los Angeles campus from September 20-22.

Lyanga will oversee the expansion of...