ZGI Shorts Film Festival
12th Annual Zaki Gordon Institute Shorts Film Festival
May 25-27, 2012 – Don’t miss the amazing student films from the Class of 2012. PASSES ON SALE NOW!
All Events at the Film School
4215 Arts Village Dr., Sedona, AZ 86336
This year’s festival will begin with a Career & Gear Fair on Friday night, May 25 from 5:30-9 pm. Equipment manufacturers, production companies and television stations will all be on campus to tout their wares. Students and festival attendees will have an opportunity to see the latest film equipment, watch demos and find out about job opportunities in the industry.
Screening Over 30 Films!
Saturday and Sunday will be filled with screenings of student shorts, High School Film Competition winners, Alumni films and ZGI Award winners from the Class of 2011.
Dan Gordon’s Screenwriting Awards will be presented Saturday evening, followed by a special feature film presentation. Cinephile’s will be treated to a Q&A with the filmmaker, after the movie.
Awards!
Sunday’s screenings will be followed by the ZGI Shorts Film Festival awards. Peer selected awards for Directing, Producing, Editing, Sound, Production Design and more will presented. Our volunteer angels will be busily counting ballots and the Audience Choice award, Sponsored by Tim & Judy Maloney, will be given to one lucky filmmaker.
The awards ceremony will be followed by a Wrap Party and B-B-Q. Plan to spend your Memorial Day weekend with us – we’ll keep you entertained!
PURCHASE PASSES & RAFFLE TICKETS at BOX OFFICE or BY PHONE: 928.649.4257
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• Career & Gear Fair, May 25, 5:30 – 9:00 pm – Check out internships, film equipment & watch demos!
• Film Screenings, May 26 & 27 – Saturday/Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm
• Reel Café – Food, Beverages & Popcorn, May 26 & 27
Saturday, 10:30 am – 4 pm/Sunday, 10:30 am – 3 pm, Hosted by Westside Deli
• “Bullied to Silence” followed by Q&A w/filmmaker – Sunday, May 27 @ 10:00 am
• Screenwriting Awards & Director’s Pick Feature – Saturday, May 26 @ 5:30 pm
• Awards Ceremony & Raffle Drawing – Sunday, May 27 @ 5:30 pm
• Wrap Party & BBQ – Sunday, May 27 @ 6:30 pm
Program and/or Prize Sponsors:
Sedona International Film Festival
Dairy Queen and Micah Johnson Productions
Sterling Financial
Arizona Psychoanalytic Society
JVC
Neil Singer, M.D.
Sedona NOW Network
Independent Feature Project- IFP/PHX
Marion Herrman
Harkins Theatres
Heartline Café
Sedona Arts Center
Euro Deli
Arms Contracting
Award Sponsors:
Tim & Judy Maloney – The ZGI Audience Choice Award
Donna Chesler of Gallery 527, Artist Mary Phoenix – The Muse Award
Raku Gallery, Artist Tracy Weisel – Purple Pear for the Spirit Award
A Day in the West – Jeep Tours – Horseback Rides – Cowboy Cookouts
Movie Magic Scheduling & Budgeting
Tiffen DFX
Wrap Party:
Featuring music by Nate Metro
Sponsored by Dairy Queen and Micah Johnson Productions
Supported by Sedona-Bell Rock Kiwanis
11th Annual Zaki Gordon Institute Shorts Film Festival
Announcing the Winners! 
ZGI AWARDS
Student balloting during the final in-class screening, earlier this month, decides the ZGI awards. These awards are given to the student by their peers.
BEST Writing
Bianca Luedeker, I Want to be Tom Savini
BEST Editing/EFX
Jesús Acosta, ACOSTA
BEST Production Design
Bianca Luedeker, I Want to be Tom Savini
BEST Sound/Music
Susanne Barr, Christel Clear
BEST Actor
Xavier Christian, The Musician by Jason Haven
BEST Actress
Bianca Luedeker, I Want to be Tom Savini
BEST Camera
Kyle Kolding (ZGI Alumnus), Symmetry by Jeremy Naranjo
Best Director in the Narrative Film Category
Jesús Acosta, ACOSTA
Best Director in the Documentary Film Category
Bianca Luedeker, I Want to be Tom Savini
Best Picture in the Documentary Film Category
Katja Torneman, As Long as They Soar: Anna, Emma & the Condors
Most Spirited Filmmaker – Mario Iochpe, received a hand-blown glass Purple Pear from the Raku Gallery in Jerome, AZ
Muze Award – Patrick Phelps, received a handmade mask from Gallery 527 in Jerome, AZ
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD (Decided by audience balloting at the weekend screenings)
Bianca Luedeker, I Want to be Tom Savini
Zaki Gordon Institute
Yavapai College’s Sedona Center
4215 Arts Village Drive, Sedona 86336
(89A and Cultural Park Place)
Click HERE to Download Saturday Schedule
Click HERE to Download Sunday Schedule
Click HERE to Download Film Synopses
Highlights from 2010
Last year the annual ZGI Shorts Film Festival was celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Zaki Gordon Institute! As always the film festival provided great short films, memorable celebrations and fabulous entertainment.
Friday Night’s opening celebration at Sedona Rouge Resort, was hosted by Chef Ron of REDS. The evening included mingling with filmmakers, celebrity guests, music, casino games and chances to win fantastic prizes and of course celebrating 10 years of filmmaking at ZGI!
Taking the Risk Pays Off!
Everyone had a great time mingling and playing the games. The big winners were showing off their lucky streak!
- Grand Prize: Two Gold Passes to attend the 17th annual Sedona International Film Festival, including accommodations!
Way to go Adam Cook - Private Photography Workshop with Lou Deserio!
Congrats Jake Kramer - Gift Certificates to the best local restaurants, including $100 value for Dahl & Diluca!
A sooo happy Marie O’Connor
10th annual ZGI SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL PROVES TO BE A BIG HIT!
Once again the annual film festival was entertaining, informative and inspiring! Premiere films and the filmmakers of the graduating class of 2010 enjoyed the best attendance ever. We had people wanting passes two hours before the first screening on Saturday,” said Kat Drayton, Box Office Manager. More than 850 audience members challenged the operations as volunteers managed screening rooms busting with excitement and enthusiasm.
Everything ran smoothly thanks to all the volunteers and the staff of the Film School and their commitment to excellence. Everyone did their part and it proved to be successful!
Friends and families traveled from as far as Los Angeles and New York to visit the Film School in Sedona, AZ to celebrate all the filmmakers accomplishments.
Screenwriting Awards Presented Saturday Night by Dan Gordon
The following students have been recognized for their screenplays. Chosen by mentor and professional screenwriter, Dan Gordon, the winners received a cash award!
UCLA
Nneka Samuel, “Do Nothing ‘Til You Hear From Me”
USC
Ankush Jindal , “Gol Gappa”
Columbia
Stephanie Wu, “A Chinese American Ghost Story”
ZGI
Maureen Eich VanWalleghan, “A Blue Uncertain Buzz”
Karin Kwiatkowski, “The Eleventh Commandment: Robin Hoods of the Bayous”
Jake Kramer, “Overture”
Marie O’Connor, “The Drive”
Leanne Lucero Award
In memory of ZGI Alumni Leann Lucero, this award is chosen by peers and given to the Most Spirited Filmmaker. Dan Gordon and the ZGI Class of 2010 honors Kyle Kolding!
ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOL SHORT FILM & MEDIA COMPETITION 2010
Students from across Arizona competed for the chance to win an award and screen at the ZGI Shorts Film Festival! Congratulations to this Year’s Winners.
Click Here for Details
PINNACLE AWARD
Given to individuals and business that support the development and mission of the film school.
- Kristine Frazier
Projects Coordinator for the Yavapai College Sedona Center and ZGI. - Chef Ron Moler his wife Liz & Daniel Carrillo
REDS and Sedona Rouge Resort supported this years opening celebration in Sedona.
ZGI Academy Awards Winners Represent the ZGI Class of 2010 !
All the graduates are considered winners for completing their thesis films! As peers they rated each others work and chose the winners to represent the best of in each of the following categories.
BEST
- Screenplay: Karin Kwiatkowski, Robin Hood of the Bayous
- Director of Photography: Joe Zamierowski, Strings Attached
- Production Design: Joe Zamierowski, Strings Attached
- Editing/EFX: Kira Shelton, Strings Attached
- Sound Design/Music: Kiel Greenfield, Purgatory
- Actor: Zach Brutsche, Strings Attached
- Actress: Emily Shaw, Overture
- Director:
Documentary Category- Tami Pivnick, Let it Begin: A Filmmaker’s Journey
Narrative Category- Jessica Noe, The Reverie - Picture: Karin Kwiatkowski, Producer, Robin Hood of the Bayous
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
After thousands of ballots were sorted and tallied the winner:
Let it Begin, a Filmmaker’s Journey, by Tami Pivnick
THANK YOU TO ZGI SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL SPONSORS!
The film festival is such a successful and polished event due to the support of many sponsors and volunteers.
[...] to a very scenic and informative tour of Sedona on a Sedona Trolley! let’s not forget the 11th Annual Zaki Gordon Institute Short Film Festival kicks off this weekend and if you are looking for a good old fashioned all “American [...]
[...] do not want to miss the opportunity to view the amazing student films from the Class of 2012 at the ZGI Shorts Film Festival taking place this Memorial Day Weekend in Sedona, [...]