What a busy month of May the Shortz! Film Festival coordinators had!

On May 1st Brent and Renee Boyd traveled to Newport Beach, CA where Renee was invited to do press photography at the Newport Beach Film Festival.  Now in it’s 15th year, this eight-day festival screened over 350 films, in multiple locations. Renee, with Brent assisting, photographed the red carpet event for the movie “Chef” and took photos at final night gala.

They saw several stars, including Jon Favreau, who wrote and directed “Chef,” as well as other talent from the film.  Many know Jon as “Happy” in Iron Man and as the director of “Iron Man 1 & 2”, “Elf”, and “Cowboys and Aliens”.

While there they also met Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, the man whom the 1993 movie "Rudy" was based on.  Seen here with Renee, "Rudy", was a one of the first people to walk the red carpet and was a great guy to talk with during the gala afterwards.

One of the first people they met at the festival was co-founder, Todd Quartararo.   Even though he was busy organizing the evening’s events, he made time to introduce himself and to chat about Chico.  As it turned out Mr. Quartararo has a Chico connection; he was a former roommate of Michael Peck, the instructor who leads Pleasant Valley High School’s House of Blue film production class.  We are pleased, like last year, some of his students will be submitting their films to this year’s student block at the Shortz! Film Festival.

On May 3rd Scott Brown was honored to be a judge at the BSSM Film Festival  in Redding, CA. 

He had an awesome time and saw some great films from the students that attend the school.  The festival was held at the Redding Civic Auditorium and was highly attended.

Matthew & Joy Thayer, of Spiro Productions, and founders of the festival, help teach the students the craft  of filmmaking. 

You may remember a couple of last year’s winners came from Redding filmmakers; 1st Place Judges Choice and Audience Choice Short Film Winner “The Inbetween”, by Rachel Nichols, and 1st Place Brief winner, “Man’s Best Friend”, by Matthew Thayer.

On May 25th Brent, Renee, Scott, writer Janeane Rhoads-Peterson and photographer Art Martinez traveled to the Bay Area to attend HEROFEST in Berkeley, CA.  But before arriving there, they took a detour to St. George Distillery in Alameda, CA. As a “tasty side note”, St. George Distillery was voted best craft distillery in America.  They produce gins, whiskies, brandies, and liqueurs, among other things.  They were the first distillery to legally produce real absinthe in America after the ban was lifted in 2007.  And no, it won’t make you go blind.  ;)

But we digress, back to HEROFEST.  Now in its 8th year, HEROFEST Action Film Festival, which is organized by Disciple of Torrid Productions, was held at Berkeley Community Media Center. It featured independent action short films by several Bay Area filmmakers, some of which have submitted to the Shortz! Film Festival in past years. (2012 Audience Choice 1st Place Brief Winner, “Lady In The Kitchen”, by Bo! Campbell. 2011 Audience Choice 1st Place Short Film Winner, “Buster Jones-The Movie”, by Robert Parham)

We not only saw some great short films, but we also got to see Scott get his butt kicked in a scene from Robert Parham’s upcoming feature film “Bullets, Blades and Blood”.

The festival started with a reception where the public and filmmakers could meet and network.  Then a packed house was treated to action trailers, clips, and shorts, filmmaker Q & A, and raffle prizes.  It was quite a fun trip.

As we enter June our excitement grows each day we get closer to opening night. New and returning sponsors, along with other surprises, promise to make this year’s festival one you will not want to miss!  Put this on your calendar, Shortz! Film Festival, Sept. 12th-14th, 2014 at the El Rey Theater, in Chico, CA. 

Be sure to keep an eye on our website or Facebook page for information on how to get your tickets early!