On the weekend of June 12 & 13, EditFest NY makes its east coast debut at the Directors Guild of America, 110 W. 57 Street, New York. EditFest, presented by American Cinema Editors (ACE) and Manhattan Edit Workshop (MEWShop), will feature panels, hands-on technology training and an opening night gala reception. Aimed at content creators and those who work with them in the creative and the post production process, EditFest presents an opportunity to hear and meet a rare gathering of the industry’s successful and insightful experts.

Launched with great success last year in Los Angles, EditFest NY consists of panels of expert editors who will take attendees through the exploration of a career of editing as well as analysis of their own work and careers. The event features the most respected and well-known editors working in motion pictures and television today, every one an award-winning industry expert and artist. Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcast, will kick off the event with opening remarks before the first panel on Friday evening, June 12th.

“One of ACE’s highest priorities is to help educate and mentor the next generation of editors”, said A.C.E. President Randy Roberts, A.C.E. “EditFest is a unique opportunity for attendees to spend time with some of the most accomplished editors working in film and television today. We are very proud of this event and so pleased to be teaming up with Manhattan Edit Workshop to bring EditFest to New York.”

On Friday, EditFest NY lifts off with an opening night panel “Breaking Into the Editing Business,” followed by a gala reception at the DGA. Saturday’s panels include; “What’s So Funny: The Art of Cutting comedy,” “Truth and Fiction: The Documentary Edit,” “Small Screen, Big Picture: Editing Television,” and “From Dailies to Delivery: Feature Editing.” The event will close with a cocktail reception after Saturday’s event. The panels have been designed to cover the major interest areas: comedy, reality-documentary, television and feature film. Sunday at Manhattan Edit Workshop, a number of classes, including Certification and Tech Boot Camps have been set that offer working and aspiring editors the opportunity to learn about new tools and hone their skills.

A detailed schedule of EditFest NY events is available at www.editfestny.com, and registration is available online at www.americancinemaeditors.com or by calling (818) 777-2900. Information about Sunday at MEWShop classes is available at www.mewshop.com or by calling 212.414.9570.

Confirmed panelists, as of May 18th, 2009:

Michael Berenbaum (Sex and the City, film and television)
Ken Eluto (30 Rock, Oz, Homicide: Life on the Street)
Suzy Elmiger (Big Night, The Imposters)
Tom Haneke (Independent Lens, The American Experience)
Brian Kates (The Savages, Shortbus)
Craig McKay (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia)
Bill Pankow (Bonfire of the Vanities, Untouchables)
Sam Pollard (When the Levees Broke, Mo Better Blues)
Lee Percy (Boys Don't Cry, Maria Full of Grace)
Meg Reticker (30 Rock, Big Love)
Jay Rabinowitz (Requiem for a Dream, 8 Mile, I'm Not There)
Tim Squyres (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Syriana)
Kate Sanford (The Wire, Kings)
Thelma Schoonmaker (The Departed, Gangs of NY, Goodfellas)
Troy Takaki (New in Town, Hitch)
Chris Tellefsen (Kids, Gummo, The Village, Man on the Moon)
Jeffrey Wolf (The Longshots, Cecil B. Demented, Billy Madison)
Panelists are subject to change based on availability.