Judges

Who are the judges?

Every year the ReelFast 48 Hour Film Festival invites six individuals to be on the jury that determines the Top 10 films shown for the Gala Screenings at the Commodore Ballroom. We work hard to cast a panel that represents various aspects of the filmmaking process with individuals who have contributed to our film and art communities. These industry professionals are chosen to provide an impartial, experienced perspective. Jurors include directors, writers, DOPs, actors, producers, casting directors, past participants, journalists, and broadcasters. These are the very people who constitute our community and with whom you may one day be working with as colleagues.

Past judges include Bruce Sweeney (Writer/director), Steve Heydges (Producer, Brightlight Pictures), Babz Chula(Actor), Larry Sugar(Producer), Greg Middleton (Director of Photography) Gabrielle Rose (Actor), Stuart Aikens (Casting director), David Spaner (Film journalist and writer), John Meadows (Writer and first ReelFast ‘Best Film’ winner), Blake Corbett (Producer, Anagram Pictures/writer), Candice Elzinga (Casting director), Nancy, Maureen Webb(Casting Director), Ken Eisner (Film journalist and writer), Carl Besai (Director), Bill Millerd (Artistic Director of the Art’s Club Theatre), Suzie Payne (Actor), Laara Sadiq (Actor), Chris MacGregor (Director), Katherine Monk (author/film journalist/Vancouver Sun), Frank Borg (writer), Tracy Friessen (Producer/NFB).

How does the judging work?

A master tape of five to six hours is produced from the completed films and is distributed to the judges with a list of each team’s inspiration package. If the number of hours of produced film exceeds this length the producers make a preliminary cut of the films so as not to overwhelm judges in the limited time they have available. Each judge is then asked to screen the films on their own and to create a list of their favourite films in order of preference. Judges are looking for well-made films that utilize the elements of the inspiration package, tell great stories and exhibit innovation and excellence.

Each of the judges lists are amalgamated on a points-for-placement basis. Each film is then given a numeric ranking based on the number of times it appears on the judges’ lists and in what position. This numeric system gives us a fair and unbiased rating of the films produced each year. In the case of ties we will screen 11 or 12 films at the Gala.

The judges are invited to the Gala where they, like everyone at the event, get to see the unfolding of the Top 10. In essence the judging begins anew. It’s a very exciting time. The jury deliberates after the final film and determines our award winners for best picture, director, actor, actress, and editor. The producers of ReelFast also award two significant achievement awards that are considered out of all completed films (In previous years these have been awards for best writer, best cinematography and best ensemble).

ReelFast is extremely grateful to our judges for their valuable time, considered opinions and deliberations at the Gala.