JURY - INTERNATIONAL FEATURES, DOCS, AND SHORTS
Deliberation Over Films

From the onset, AFI FEST 2007 presented by Audi was looking to comprise a heavily female populated jury. Since there are numerous women in the industry, to get them properly represented on a film festival jury is integral.

But gender was not the only parameter for guidance in booking the jury. As a member of International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) and an International Film Festival, AFI must have clear representation of foreign-born judges. The cornerstone of the judges began with Polish born writer and director Agnieszka Holland, (EUROPA, EUROPA) and continued with Chinese born actress Joan Chen (LUST CAUTION).

AFI wanted a female cinematographer, a position primarily held by a man, and secured Nancy Schreiber, Sundance winning cinematographer and one of seven women voted into membership in the American Society of Cinematographers. Missing now only was a producer. In looking for a powerful female producer, AFI first went looking for powerful A-list actresses with production companies. Maggie Biggar, VP of Fortis Films, Sandra Bullock's production company was contacted and confirmed her desire to participate in our jury. With the addition of Spanish Director Isabel Coixet (MY LIFE WITHOUT ME) it actually became difficult when dividing the jury into the three festival categories of features, documentaries and shorts.

The jury meets for orientation the first morning of the festival and then again at the end of the festival to deliberate.

The regulations for competitive festival juries include:

• They are made up of a minimum of two-thirds of people foreign to the host country
• They do not include any person in any way connected with the production or commercial exploitation of a competitive entry
• They include as jury members, only people selected for their knowledge of film They cannot be called upon to view more than two films a day for judgment or eventually three, on the last few days before the end of the festival.

INTERNATIONAL FEATURES JURY

Isabel Coixet, Filmmaker

John Ridley, Filmmaker

Henry Bean, Filmmaker

Joan Chen, Actress/Filmmaker

Agneieszka Holland, Filmmaker

Nancy Schreiber, Cinematographer

Doug Pray, Documentary Filmmaker

Kirby Dick, Documentary Filmmaker

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS JURY

Maggie Biggar, Producer and Sr Vice President at Fortis Films

Tate Donovan, Film and Television Actor

Ioan Gruffudd, Actor