Editor

Marking its 16th year, Aspen Shortsfest will bring filmmakers from around the world for six days of celebration, April 3-8, 2007, at Aspen’s historic Wheeler Opera House and other locations. Widely recognized as one of the world's premiere short film and video showcases, Aspen Shortsfest will feature its esteemed Oscar-qualifying International Competition, as well as special presentations, panels and workshops for all who make and appreciate this trend-setting art form: the short.

Shortsfest Program Highlights
While not all special presentations are fully set, two of Aspen Shortsfest’s highlights are full steam ahead. This year’s highly regarded MasterWorks panel will focus on the art of film editing and include an award-winning who’s who of top-drawer talent. With a spotlight on France, this year’s Planet Cinema showcase will feature a panorama of recent outstanding French shorts curated by Roger Gonin, program director for the world’s largest short film festival, the Festival du Court Metrage Clermont-Ferrand.

Record Setting Entries
Over 2,200 entries from all over the world are currently being considered for Aspen Shortsfest’s International Competition, the core of the festival, from which a select jury of industry insiders will award $20,000 in cash and prizes.

Oscar Bound and on the Big Screen
A true incubator of talent, every year Aspen Shortsfest screens films that later bid for the big prize: an Academy Award. Torill Kove’s The Danish Poet, an SF06 winner, is currently up for Best Short Film – Animated and Borja Cobeaga’s Éramos Pocos (also an SF06 winner) is nominated for Best Short Film – Live Action. And that’s just the beginning. Aspen Shortsfest also introduces emerging filmmakers that go on to become accomplished directors, screenwriters and animators. A short list of the hot talent who once competed at Aspen Shortsfest includes Todd Field (Little Children), Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking), Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson), John Curran (The Painted Veil), Fernando Meirelles (The Constant Gardner) and Robert Luketic (Legally Blond), just to name a few.