Speaker: Jay Israel is the program director of Aspen Film, a local non-profit that reaches 20,000 people a year, including 2000 students from 17 different schools in the valley. Founded in 1979 by Ellen Kohner Hunt, Aspen Film seeks to enlighten, enrich, educate, and entertain through film. Their primary focus, today, is on story telling so that great films start in Aspen and then reach out to the rest of the world. 

 

Their small team of four produces three festivals of the year and monthly programing, including; FILMFEST, SHORTSFEST, the ASPEN ACADEMY SCREENINGS. 

 

Shorts fest is the Oscar qualifying festival where over 3000 films are submitted and vetted through multiple avenues producing a festival with 70 individual films. Monthly programing supports workshops to provide a deeper appreciation for film, film making, and production, specifically, Aspen Film Educates, a program geared toward educating students from Aspen to Rifle to inspire story telling and give children a REASON! 

 

Aspen Film is membership driven, if you wish to get involved there are multiple levels of memberships to support their non-profit as well as support your learning and appreciation for film. https://aspenfilm.org

 

Lastly, this week is the launching of their 25th Anniversary Academy Screening which will be wrapped up with a New Year's Eve Celebration and the culmination of what is sure to be an incredible 11 days of film. Make sure you join them for a great finale ending! 

 

 

 

Guests: John Thew, executive director of Aspen Film, guest of Deborah Breen. Macy Morris, previous secretary of Paonia Rotary, guest of Roger Nickelson, and Lori Small, guest of Bill Small.