Judges Set for 26th Annual Film Showcase

THE 26th ANNUAL PALM BEACHES STUDENT SHOWCASE of FILMS Actors, Musicians, Producers and Other Industry Professionals to Participate in Film Competition for Florida Students

 
(PRESS RELEASE)_PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (February 2, 2021) - The 26th Annual Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films (SSOF) submission window is officially closed, and entries will now move on to the judging process.  Today, the SSOF announces a dynamic list of industry professionals who will judge this year’s submissions. To read more about the 10 judges highlighted here and the entire international panel of new and returning judges – a staggering 56 in all, visit:  https://www.pbfilm.com/SSOFJudgesfor2021
 
Fabio Arber is a bi-lingual Cuban-American film and television producer who has supervised features, reality and scripted television throughout the U.S. and Caribbean. He served as line producer for TLC’s ground-breaking Miami Ink.
 
Cedric Dawson received his Master’s in Computer Animation and Special FX in 2006 from Digital Media Arts College.  A former G-Star School of the Arts teacher, he now runs Dawson Digital Art School, a head start program that provides students with the tools they need to develop their skills.
 
Ralfonso is a Swiss designer of large environmentally interactive, kinetic, light and sound sculptures. He pushes the boundaries of traditional, static art forms to introduce visual experiences through interaction with the environmental elements such as wind, light and water.

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Alicia Haywood is an award-winning producer who has been working in the professional media industry for 26 years. Her most recent project, A Way Forward, launched June 2020 and focuses on smart conversation about difficult topics including the realities of race, criminal justice, grief, ethics in the technology space, gender equality, and more.

Adam Howard is an accomplished visual magician, supervising and creating high end visual effects, animation and design work for the motion picture and television industry in both the USA and Australia. Adam has won 4 Primetime EMMY Awards and been nominated 9 times. His credits include the Michael Bay film Armageddon, Rush Hour 3, The Social Network, Unknown, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn I & II, Tower Heist, Last Vegas and Birdman.
 
Mike Kennedy is the star of Discovery Channel's Airplane Repo. He has spent his life as an aviator, skydiver, motorcycle racer, movie stuntman, zoologist and avid conservationist. Currently, Mike is using his aviation skills in Africa to fight poachers and help save elephants and rhinos from extinction.
 
Suzanne Niedland is an award-winning filmmaker, an actor and Broadway producer. Ms. Niedland serves on boards of the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, the International Committee for the Performing Arts, and the President’s Advisory Council at the Kennedy Center as well as DeVos Institute for Arts Management. 
 
Michael Orland spent 16 seasons as pianist, arranger, vocal coach and associate musical director on American Idol.  His work on this epic talent series led to collaborations with Kristen Bell, Sabrina Carpenter, Kristin Chenoweth, Jordan Fisher, Ariana Grande, Megan Hilty, and Patti LuPone.
 
M. Denise Simmons is an award-winning, Haitian-American, filmmaker and the female powerhouse behind MD Simmons Productions, a forward-thinking production company based in South Florida. Denise is currently working on a documentary entitled, “Rolle of an Icon: The Life and Legacy of Esther Rolle.
 
Ryan Shore is a two-time Emmy Award and Grammy Award nominated composer, songwriter, music director, and conductor for film, television, virtual reality, games, records, concerts, events, and theater. Shore Assistant Music Directed the 87th Oscars, working with Lady Gaga, John Legend, Adam Levine, and Jennifer Hudson. Other credits include Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures (Lucasfilm), Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (Lucasfilm), The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo (HBO Max), Love, Guaranteed (Netflix), and the upcoming Lin-Manuel Miranda movie musical In The Heights. 

And, in a continuing tribute to the legacy of film legend, Burt Reynolds, the SSOF will present to a Palm Beach County high school senior, The Burt Reynolds Scholarship Award, a $5,000 cash prize. Mr. Reynolds was a longtime supporter and frequent presenter at the SSOF Red Carpet Award Show.
 
Now in its twenty-sixth year, SSOF has awarded almost $2 million. 
 
The SSOF is the cornerstone of the education outreach initiative of The Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission.  The competition engages faculty and school administrators in guiding student participation.  The SSOF is funded by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners through the Department of Housing & Economic Sustainability and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission. Award sponsors include Suzanne L. Niedland (Suzanne L. Niedland Documentary Scholarship), Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful, Inc. (Environmental PSA Award), Film Florida (Sara Fuller Scholarship), and Michael Chasin (Nellie & Fred Chasin Screenwriting Award).
 
Website:      pbfilm.com/SSOF
Facebook:  facebook.com/StudentShowcaseofFilms
Twitter:         twitter.com/StudentFilmsFL
Instagram:   instagram.com/studentfilmsfl
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