PJIFF’s selected films first-look priority for its distribution
services such as priority vetting and expedited film screening
opportunities. The company’s founder and CEO, Rebekah
Renne, plans to host an information table at PJIFF to connect
filmmakers with resources.
“It’s a great time to be a filmmaker, but it’s hard to be a
first-time filmmaker. We can help them get representation
and tap low- or no-cost distribution resources to create a
solid distribution strategy before they make the leap.”
“South County has a rich heritage in the arts and a lot of
local talent that should be nurtured to grow,” Renne added,
“and I think PJIFF can be a contender to the Napa Valley
Film Festival and Cinequest.”
WOODSTOCK NATION
Scariot is working with
Dan Nelson, David Svec,
Albert Sandoval, Maria
Davies and Michael
Gamin as co-producers
of “Woodstock Nation,”
a feature-length docu-
mentary about the iconic
Woodstock Festival. A
sneak preview will be
shown at the PJIFF.
PJIFF AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Upon his arrival at the festival, returning guest (and Gilroy
native) Randy Spendlove, President of Motion Picture Music
at Paramount and a Grammy Award winner, will be presented
with a commemorative guitar hand-painted by local artist
Terry Gwinn. ICON awards will be presented to Spendlove
and to Polo Jones, a world-renowned musician, music
director/producer and a Morgan Hill resident, at the Awards
Ceremony on April 7th.
During the Awards Ceremony, the festival will also
recognize local leadership and philanthropy with its
Community Achievement Awards. This year’s honorees
include Cecelia Ponzini from the Edward Boss Prado
Foundation, Karen Seeker from Seeker Winery and
David Cox from St. Joseph’s Family Center in Gilroy.
A BRIDGE ACROSS CULTURES
Last year, “Black Head Cow” was an invited fi lm at PJIFF.
Student fi lmmakers from Tanzania spoke with the audience
about making their award-winning documentary about
child brides. The Q&A discussion was moderated by
Chike Nwoffi ah of the Silicon Valley African Film Festival.
According to Nwoffiah, “A film festival enriches a city’s
brand and opens windows to tourism, trade and cultural
diplomacy. This is what Mattie Scariot and her team
began last year with the transformation of PJIFF into a
destination event.”
“Recently, Mattie joined me at the Zuma Film Festival
in Nigeria, where she advocated passionately for PJIFF and
South Santa Clara Valley as a welcoming place and people,
ready to engage with the world.”
Among the Nigerian film industry leaders Scariot met was
Emmanuel Eyaba, President of Nigeria’s 2 ET Media. He will
participate at PJIFF 2019 as a guest speaker and show one of
his films in the spirit of a new partnership with the festival.
PJIFF 2019 SPECIAL GUESTS
Randy Spendlove,
Grammy winner, President of Paramount Motion Picture Music
Polo Jones, Musician and Music Director/Producer
Kevin Rubio, Emmy winner, Writer, Director and Producer
Albert Sandoval, Founder & CEO, RadioactiveGiant
Gerald T. Olson, Director and Producer
Michael Thau, Editor, Director and Producer
Dan Nelson, Founder and President, Golden Leaf Pictures
Tedd Faraone, Producer
Doeri Welch, Director of Recruitment, DreamWorks Animation
Chike Nwoffiah, Executive Director, Silicon Valley African Film Festival
Consuelo Alba, Director, Watsonville Film Festival
Sharon Daniel, Professor, Film and Digital Media, UC Santa Cruz
Jan Krawitz, Professor, Documentary Film and Video, Stanford University
To learn more or order tickets, visit www.pjiff.org.
EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS FEBRUARY 14th. For festival updates, follow PJIFF on Facebook.
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
february/march 2019
gmhtoday.com