Information provided by Poppy Jesper International Film Festival. Lea este articulo en español aquí.
The Poppy Jasper International Film Festival (PJIFF) has announced its film lineup for its 2024 edition. This year’s festival will take place from Wednesday, April 10 through Wednesday, April 17.
The complete PJIFF program includes 267 films from 30 countries including features, documentaries, shorts films, music videos and panels. The feature films include Cassie Maurer’s Booked, a coming-of-age comedy that explores the complex dynamics of childhood friendships and suburban tribulations; Joel Stern’s Bored Games that tells the story of six diehard board-gamers who hunker down in a bunker post-Armageddon but, as their rations diminish and treachery looms, survival quickly becomes the only game worth playing; and Kit Rich’s Isabel’s Garden about career-obsessed Maya Carlile who is determine to land a lead anchor position at the television network where she works. In addition, the festival will present 29 short film comedies including “Walking Fernando” directed by Max Mir and starring Javier Bardem; “Chairs” directed by James Hughes starring Georgina Campbell and Akemnji Ndilfornyen; “Pickled Herring” directed by Milana Vayntrub and “Come Correct” directed by Molly Coffee.
“The Poppy Jasper International Film Festival is dedicated to supporting new and diverse storytellers,” said Festival Director Mattie Scariot. “We pride ourselves on celebrating film and how the art form can bring audiences together, regardless of what else is going on in the world.”
The festival will also include a special day “México y Tú” dedicated to celebrating Mexican artists and culture on Monday, April 15. The day will be comprised of film screenings, panels and an award ceremony at the iconic El Teatro Campesino. On Tuesday, April 16 the festival will have its LGBTQ+ Day with films and filmmakers from the community as well as host panels to discuss timely topics and the importance of having LGBTQ+ stories showcased in the industry. On Wednesday, April 17 th the festival will have a special showcase featuring 19 films from Iran that will also include Q&A with the filmmakers.
In addition, the festival will present a “Women’s Panel” moderated by Zoe Elton, director of Programming at the Mill Valley Film Festival with Catherine Joy White, writer, director and actor for Prime Video’s “Ten Percent” and Channel 4’s “Threesome; filmmaker Tizzi Green who is currently producing the Michael Brown project, an adaptation of the book “Tell The Truth And Shame The Devil”, through her deal at Warner Bros Studios; Michele Krusiec, actor, writer and director most known for her award-winning short film “Nian”; SUKKI, writer director and humanitarian best known for her work on Netflix in the docuseries genre; and Norma Garcia, an industry expert on merging entertainment experiences and technology will discuss the role of women in the industry and what are the challenges that they are currently facing.
Post PJIFF, the Poppy Jasper Asian Film Festival will take place May 19th in partnership with DingDing TV to showcase 40 films and June 9th in Los Altos Community Center with a Gala Celebration. The festival will focus on Asian culture and identity, heritage, community, and experience through the filmmakers’ lens. The festival was created to have a platform to promote and uplift the wide range of voices in the Asian community throughout the world, with a day of film screening, Asian cultural celebrating, panel discussion, Q&A sessions with filmmakers from a diverse cultural background, and an award ceremony.
Tickets and passes are now available on PJIFF’s website HERE.