There are few concert venues in this world as well-known or as well renowned as Red Rocks Amphitheater. Simply because this unique concert venue, one tucked away in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Morrison, Colorado, is in fact… the perfect place to hear bands play. For the incredible rock formations in this place, provide perfect acoustics. And that allows for any band that hits the stage there to offer up a flawless concert, one that stays with you long after it has come to an end and that in turn, has attracted many big-name bands to the venue, so they can hear their music sound as it was intended, such as Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and U2. 
​
But what’s amazing about Red Rocks, is that it is a venue that allows for so much more. For there are plenty of seats to fill, and that’s why there are often movies played there during the summer, and recently, a very special event took place. Because the good people at SeriesFest, really wanted to end Season 9 on a fun high note, one that was unique and engaging and entertaining, and what better way to do that, than with ‘A Night of Comedy’. Wherein four comics would take the stage and tell jokes and send everyone home with smiles on their faces. But not just any comics, oh no… to close out this event, SeriesFest pulled together a true who’s who of comedy. By having Adam Ray, Jay Pharoh, Joel McHale, and Chelsea Handler, bring down the house. 

Which they did by way of what turned out to be a supremely unique and memorable show. In part, because of the fact that the weather didn’t offer a model evening for outdoor stand-up comedy. For it was a whopping forty-five degrees by the time the show got underway, and it was raining quite hard, to the point where the venue was glimmering via the sea of ponchos and slickers present in the stands. But truly… that didn’t stop this venue form being filled up with eager fans, ready to laugh. Nor did it stop this crew of comics from just letting loose and keeping the audience in stitches. Which they did, courtesy of the right balance of low brow jokes, which are a wonderful thing by the way, and impressions and life stories… and there was even a touch of drama to be found at the event as well, thanks to some audience dissatisfaction. 

For this evening of comedy also (mostly) featured a screening of Joel McHale’s show, Animal Control, and well… Denver didn’t exactly put its best foot forward during that screening. For there were boos and jeers, and a beer bottle tossed at the screen. Which ended the screening early in an embarrassing manner, but… it did lead quite the pivot on Mister McHale’s part. Who came out and used that moment as fine material for laughs and that put the evening back on track and humbled the audience and set the stage for one incredible set from Chelsea Handler. Who headlined the event and just offered up laughs as only she can and well… in the end, and that one speed bump aside, this really was quite the incredible way to close out SeriesFest Season 9.

Because it made for a memorable evening, one that was filled to the brim with special moments and quite the experience, but that’s the stuff that great memories are made of and that’s what everyone walked out of Red Rocks with that night, and they were also part of history. Because while comedy shows have happened at Red Rocks before, they are suddenly happening with more frequency at the venue. Meaning that everyone there, was part of the early days of what is likely going to become a standard. Since there is something quite incredible about having nearly ten thousand people laughing together in harmony, and leave it to SeriesFest, a pioneering television festival, to blaze a trail when closing out another successful year of celebrating all that television has to offer.

Check out our interviews with Joel McHale, and Adam Ray, to learn more about what comedy means to each of them.  

It really is quite amazing how far the podcast has come. For it went from fun, niche idea, to an outright juggernaut industry, seemingly overnight. But it makes sense as to why the podcast has enjoyed such incredible success. For it truly is a bold new frontier for entertainment, where anything can be discussed and any kind of story can be told, and that is quite the draw. In fact, the endless possibilities of this format, is likely why so many celebrities have brought forth their own podcast, since it gives them unprecedented freedom to touch upon topics, they’ve never been able to, while at the same time giving longtime fans unprecedented access to their lives and their careers, something that people crave.

But what is truly amazing about the podcast, is that there is still a powerful excitement surrounding it. As though the format is still brand-new, and that compels to try any podcast our friends recommend or see how one comes together via a live recording. Despite the fact that we know how the sausage gets made. Because discovering a new podcast, and seeing how it comes together, just carries with it a fun sense of the unknown. As though we are embarking on a journey that could and likely will take us anywhere and well, that’s why one particular event at SeriesFest Season 9 is worth reflecting upon. Because SeriesFest tapped into that excitement and our love of celebrities by having screen legend Paul Giamatti and distinguished professor Stephen Asma come to the festival to record a live episode of their new podcast; Paul Giamatti’s ‘CHINWAG’ with Stephen Asma.

All so we could have that perfect storm of creativity come to life and well, this podcast recording simply did not disappoint. Largely because Paul and Stephen were keen to have fun with the audience and entertain us before getting down to business. Which brought forth a musical number to open the show and once that magical little ditty came together, complete with the wonder of the Theremin, it was down to business, and that’s really where we went on quite the incredible journey. The kind that only a podcast can produce. Because when it comes to this show, there is no gimmick. Just the promise of two friends having the kind of talks that we’ve had many times ourselves. Those late-night chinwags where we talk about life, and anything and everything that comes into mind because those are… the best kinds of conversations and that… is precisely what the audience was treated to at this recording.

Because Paul and Stephen, went into a deep dive regarding quite the trendy new concept in the world, the Starseed. An idea that is incredibly complex and revolves around alien DNA, reincarnation and so much more, and well… that was indeed a heck of a topic to dive into. Because it truly sucked the audience in and engaged them and brought forth a supremely unique Q&A session at the end, and really… it was just an unconventional philosophical topic that would indeed be discussed by two friends late at night after some good drinks and some good food, and that unique sense of familiarity with this conversation didn’t end there. Since this duo drifted now and again, as we do during such discussions, to ponder upon the weirdness of the new King’s coronation and the quirkiness that heads of state tend to harbor, such as one John Adams. A man that Paul was intimately familiar with since he brought him to life on the small screen, allowing for more lighthearted and fun moments from a recording that truly… no one wanted to end.

But alas, all good things must, but the audience’s desire to keep this going, was because… it was just plain fun. It was that kind of conversation you want to just keep taking part in because it gets your brain juices flowing and well, that made for one memorable evening with a brilliant professor and a truly talented actor, and it also reminded us… what makes the podcast so special and why it continues to captivate us. Because it really is that rare form of entertainment that genuinely surprises us and makes us feel as though we’re part of the show. The latter of which was amplified by just being there and sharing in all the magical moments this recording had to offer, and well, in the end… this was something special and thanks are due to SeriesFest and Paul Giamatti and Stephen Asma, for letting everyone in attendance be part of a happening and a conversation for the ages.

To hear the episode of Paul Giamatti’s ‘CHINWAG’ with Stephen Asma that was recorded at SeriesFest Season 9, click here.

There are but a handful of film festivals out there that truly celebrate the writer and their contribution to crafting cinema and one such festival, happens to be the Austin Film Festival. For their programming is well-known for its celebration of screenwriting, and its annual screenwriting contest is one of the most prestigious in the nation. But their celebration of words often goes beyond wondrous programming and giving a new writer their shot at the big time. They also know… how to properly honor those that have put forth beautiful work on the screen, as evidenced by today’s announcement.
 
For earlier today, the Austin Film Festival announced that it will be honoring screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski with the prestigious Bill Whitliff Award at the festival this year. To properly thank them for all the work they’ve done throughout their wondrous careers, since they’ve given life to so many memorable films and shows and well, to properly understand the scope of their work and the importance of this award, here are all the details on this important announcement, courtesy of the Austin Film Festival.  
 
‘AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing writers’ and filmmakers’ contributions to film, television, and new media, is continuing its 30 years of support for screenwriters. Austin Film Festival is committed to supporting screenwriters at all levels, including our long-standing partnership with the WGA in their ongoing strike.
​
Austin Film Festival is excited to announce that writing partners SCOTT ALEXANDER & LARRY KARASZEWSKI will attend this year’s Festival to receive the 2023 Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting. Previous recipients include Buck Henry (1997), Lawrence Kasdan (2001), Frank Pierson (2003), Nancy Meyers (2016), and Scott Frank (2021). Alexander and Karaszewski's partnership led to prominent films and television such as ED WOOD (1994), THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT (1996), MAN ON THE MOON (1999), and AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON (2016).

Alexander and Karaszewski met when they were freshman roommates at USC’s School of Cinema. On a whim, they wrote a screenplay during their senior year, which sold a week after graduation. They are best known for writing very unusual biopics with larger-than-life characters. They wrote the highly-acclaimed ED WOOD, for which they were nominated for Best Screenplay by the Writers Guild. They followed this with THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, for which they won the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, as well as a special Writers Guild award for civil rights and liberties. They scripted the extremely postmodern MAN ON THE MOON, the life story of Andy Kaufman. They wrote BIG EYES, the strange-but-true story of Margaret and Walter Keane, for which they received an Indie Spirit Best Screenplay nomination. For their first television project, they created the hit miniseries AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON, for which they won the Emmy, Golden Globe, PGA and WGA Award for Best Limited Series. Their most recent film, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME, is the celebrated tale of Rudy Ray Moore.

Other than biopics, Alexander and Karaszewski are quite eclectic. They wrote the hit Stephen King adaptation 1408. They produced the Bob Crane biopic AUTO FOCUS, and they wrote and directed the comedy SCREWED. They have also written numerous family films, including PROBLEM CHILD, PROBLEM CHILD 2, AGENT CODY BANKS, and GOOSEBUMPS.

Alexander, a native of Los Angeles, started his Hollywood career toiling on low-budget horror films as a music editor. As a director, his work has appeared on MTV and Nickelodeon. He also wrote for HBO’s TALES FROM THE CRYPT and the television series MONSTERS, which he directed. Scott is a Mentor in the USC School of Cinema, and he’s served four terms on the Writers Guild’s Board of Directors. He has volunteered as a Sundance Writing Lab advisor numerous times, as well as teaching at writing workshops around the world. Scott is married, with three children.

Karaszewski, born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, worked as a film critic for an NBC affiliate’s nightly news program, as well as writing and directing BEYOND OUR CONTROL, a weekly half-hour satirical television show. Larry is an active Los Angeles cineaste and is the Vice President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. His humorous commentaries on cult movies can be seen at TrailersFromHell.com.

ABOUT AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL & WRITERS CONFERENCE:
Entering its thirtieth year, Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television, theater, and new media. AFF champions the work of aspiring and established storytellers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation, and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. This project is supported in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts. The 30th Annual Austin Film Festival will take place October 26 – November 2, 2023. All attendees and events are based on permitting schedules and are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice. Badges and passes are available for purchase online at www.austinfilmfestival.com or by phone at 1-800-310-FEST.

ABOUT BILL WITTLIFF AWARD FOR SCREENWRITING:
Introduced in 1995, Austin Film Festival's Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting has honored the leading storytellers of film, television, and new media.  Past award recipients include Buck Henry (1997), Lawrence Kasdan (2001), Nancy Meyers (2016), Tony Gilroy (2018) and James Gray (2022).’

Ask anyone how their SeriesFest Season 9 experience went, and you’ll get back a variation of the same answer. In that, it was awesome. For as always, SeriesFest lived up to its reputation as the premier television festival in America and it once again wowed us with incredible programming that moved us through a bevy of emotions. But alas, the SeriesFest Experience has come to an end for the time being, and now we are forced to wait for SeriesFest Season 10. But while we do, there’s a lot to recap and discuss from the festival, such as who won awards for their hard work in assembling the many pilots that played out over the course of the last six days. 

Thankfully, SeriesFest wanted to make sure the world knows who received high honors, to properly celebrate their work, as quickly as possible. Which is why earlier today, they released the complete list of winners of the Independent Pilot Competition and the other Awards Recipients and well, without further ado… here is that list of the deserved winners, to kick-off our post festival coverage of SeriesFest Season 9.

‘SeriesFest, the award-winning international television festival and non-profit organization, revealed the winners of the Season 9 independent pilot competition at an awards presentation sponsored by Hyde Park Jewelers on Wednesday, May 10. Esteemed jurors screened 55 pilots from creative voices around the globe at this year’s virtual celebration of episodic storytelling, and selected winners in various categories including “Best Independent Pilot,” sponsored by Company 3,  (awarding $25K for post production support to the winners of the Comedy, Drama and Unscripted categories), “Best Digital Short Series,” “Late Night,” and “Pitch-A-Thon.”  See full list below including honorable mentions.
 
The independent pilot competitions are at the heart of our mission. It is why we founded SeriesFest,” commented Randi Kleiner, CEO and Co-Founder of SeriesFest. “It was to be a discovery platform for independent artists and give them the opportunity to get their voices heard, their projects seen by an audience and executives, and make new connections. Anyone who has made a pilot deserves to be honored.” 
 
At the awards ceremony, SeriesFest also announced the winners for two prestigious initiatives including the Level Forward Impact Award and Caz Matthews Fund. The Level Forward Impact Award, given to the episodic pilot and team who demonstrate, on top of their commitment to creative excellence, a thoughtful, thorough and deliberate approach to using storytelling as a means of leveling the playing field for underrepresented people including women, people of color, the LGBTQIA community and alternatively abled voices, was awarded to The Big Idea by Sarah Klein and Tom Mason. Supported by the Royal Bank of Canada, Sarah Klein and Tom Mason will receive a $5,000 cash prize and development deal with Level Forward. “The Big Idea” is the story when a cryogenics expert discovers that half of the world's vaccines spoil during the last mile, she dedicates herself to creating a solution. 
 
Caz Matthews, a Colorado-based supporter of SeriesFest and of the independent creators of television content, awarded two official selections from the Independent Pilot, Digital Short Series, and Late Night competitions including Puncher’s Chance and All At Once with a one-time financial donation from the Caz Matthews Fund subject to affording a producer credit to SeriesFest for that particular work. These recipients represent the independent filmmakers who have important stories to tell and have the desire to both create work as well as find distribution opportunities that further promote tolerance, acceptance and understanding of all cultures and persons in the general population. 
 
SeriesFest: Season 9 is presented with generous support from the following sponsors: Once Upon A Time Productions, Liberty Global, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Denver Film, Caz Matthews, Xfinity, and United Airlines.’

Jury: Ashley Holland (SVP Scripted Programming & Development, Onyx Collective), Anastasia Puglisi (SVP/ Supervising Producer, Wolf Entertainment), Mark Linsey (President, Scripted, BBC Studios), and Angie Han (TV Critic, The Hollywood Reporter);
​
Best Pilot: Humanized
Director: Colin Sevely-Ortiz 
Executive Producers: Gabriel Guimaraes, Radley Docekal 
Writer: Gabriel Guimaraes 
Producers: Delmo & Marilene Guimaraes, Shawn & Maureen Higdon, Greg & Cindy Lai, Jonathan Matheu, Alicia Farnam, Lisa Mykleby, Randy Cole, Cafo Boga 
Cast: Malcolm Quinn Silver-Van Meter, Jessica Krueger, Key Taw, Will McMahan, Marshall Bonny, Kyle Minshew  

Posing as a typical teenager, a humanoid robot must navigate the uncertainty of adolescence in order to conceal a haunting secret. TRAILER
 
Jury Statement:  Humanized grabbed our attention right away with its bloody opening tableau and topical artificial-intelligence premise. But it kept us hooked by grounding its thoughtful exploration of themes like technology, self-identity, parenthood in a vivid cast of characters — and in doing so, delivering an intriguing mix of excitement, dread and tenderness.
 
Best Pilot, Honorable Mention: The Empty Chair
 
Best Director: Elias Plagianos, Hit Man
Jury Statement:  Hit Man: Secrets of Lies was a beautifully directed pilot. Elias Plagianos crafted 
a complicated piece with layered and sophisticated performances from the entire cast, well 
composed shots that increased the feeling of the walls caving in on our characters, and he 
presented a world that explored the very gray areas of morality. Very rich ground for a series – 
we look forward to seeing more!
 
Best Writer: John Semander, The Empty Chair
Jury Statement:  The Empty Chair captured our attention with its compelling first act and overall narrative structure. We were struck by the creators ability to weave the high stakes plot line of the serial killers tactics and motivations with the emotional rawness of one family's suffering and one mother's determination.
 
Best Performance: Garland Scott, Puncher's Chance
Jury Statement:  The jury felt that Garland Scott’s performance in Puncher’s Chance just beat a number of great portrayals in a very competitive category. He was completely convincing as the ex boxer and single parent struggling to make ends meet and provide for his son. A power and compelling performance delivered with strength and sensitivity which is not only authentic to the role, but incredibly engaging and leaving us all wanting to know what next for the character.
 
Best Supporting Performance: Key Taw, Humanized
Jury Statement:  Key Taw's natural, charismatic performance as the prickly but empathetic Max brings disarming warmth to a series otherwise characterized by (purposefully) chilly, sometimes literally robotic performances.

​Jury: Nigel Smith (Senior Movies News Editor, PEOPLE), Yasmine Pearl (Talent Agent, United Talent Agency), Adam Ray (comedian)
 
Best Pilot: Chanshi
Creator: Aleeza Chanowitz 
Director: Mickey Triest, Aharon Geva 
Executive Producers: Guy Levy, Mirit Toovi, Meny Aviram, Ayelet Imberman 
Writer: Aleeza Chanowitz 
Producer: Ayelet Imberman 
Cast: Aleeza Chanowitz, Marnina Schon, Tomer Machloof, Henry Winkler, Caroline Aaron 
 
Chanshi (24) flees Brooklyn for Israel in order to fulfill her forbidden fantasies with IDF soldiers, but past traumas threaten to ruin her big plans. 
 
Jury Statement: Strong story, acting is top notch. Started with a laugh - important in a comedy. Visually appealing to look at. Deeply flawed protagonist told with vulnerability. The vision was executed flawlessly. 
 
Best Pilot, Honorable Mention: Imposters
Jury Statement: Honest from the start with great distinctive character building. A timely and 
unapologetic story. Laugh out loud funny. 
 
Best Director: Sophia Peer, Who's Annie?
Jury Statement: Distinctive storytelling with an eye for visuals - Who's Annie is something we 
haven't seen before. Sophia Peer made us fall in love with Annie and we all want to see more. 
 
Best Writer: Jocko Sims, Grown
Jury Statement: Thoughtful character development for a coming of age story. The characters 
are layered in a very natural and vulnerable way and the actors did the dialogue justice. An 
interesting exploration of masculinity. 
 
Best Performance: Aleeza Chanowitz, Chanshi
Jury Statement: Experienced the most character wise from start to finish. Fearless. We were invested in Aleeza's performance from the start. The role was written for her. 
 
Best Performance, Honorable Mention: Annie Pisapa, Who’s Annie?
Jury Statement: Distinctive, brave, and raw - Annie owns her spotlight. She's a character you want to watch on screen. We are all impressed at how well she was able to play herself.  
 
Best International Comedy: Our Big Punjabi Family
Jury Statement: Free-wheeling storytelling with great chemistry among the whole cast. We really believed them as a family. This is the kind of diversity we want to see more of in a sitcom landscape. 

Jury: Tony Tackaberry (CEO, Station 6 Productions),  FredAnthony Smith (VP, Non-Scripted, SMAC Productions), Anne Chaisson (Executive Director, Hamptons International Film Festival).
 
Best Pilot: The Big Idea
Directors: Sarah Klein, Tom Mason
Cast: Kitty Liao

When a cryogenics expert discovers that half of the world's vaccines spoil during the last mile, she dedicates herself to creating a solution.
 
Jury Statement: The jury wants to congratulate the big idea for its dynamic filmmaking, premium execution, and deep meaningful storytelling. This project opens the door for viewers into the world of science that is not often seen yet incredibly important.
 
Best Pilot, Honorable Mention: Resisting 
Jury Statement: The jury wants to recognize, Resisting for shining a light on the horrific abuse by law-enforcement against black and brown people in this community. Resisting showcases the change Colorado has made that can be an example for the rest of the country.
 
Best Director: Sarah Klein and Tom Mason, The Big Idea

​Jury: Jason Hiro Kim (VP, Good Karma Productions), Bruce Robertson (Chief Storyteller, 11:11 Media), Matt Bolish (Managing Director, New York Film Festival, Film at Lincoln Center), and Julie DeJoie (President, Shoe Money Productions)
 
Best Drama Digital Short: Frederick Douglass Boulevard aka Food & Drink Boulevard aka F.D.B.
Director: Washington Kirk 
Executive Producers: Miles Hodges, Washington Kirk 
Writer: Washington Kirk 
Producer: Walker Hare 
Cast: Washington Kirk, Megan Robinson, Charles Everett, Jamie Lincoln Smith, Ron Canada 
 
Malcolm Jamal Turner, a struggling writer living in Harlem fed up with the neighborhood's changing demographics, concocts a ludicrous scheme to de-gentrify it. TRAILER
 
Jury Statement: A clever take on gentrification and the challenges it has in communities, F.D.B. provides an interesting commentary on today's New York with one of the clearest points of view. 
 
Best Comedy Digital Short: Pear
Director: Betsy Kenney 
Executive Producers: Madeline Mahoney, Peter Molesworth
Writer: Madeline Mahoney, Peter Molesworth 
Producers: Julie Balefsky, Christine Spang 
Cast: Madeline Mahoney, Peter Molesworth 
 
Two sociopathic wellness experts create a social media addiction rehab program which causes some participants to physically vanish. TRAILER
 
Jury Statement: Madeline and Peter created a fully realized world that invited you in and you wanted to stay. Insightful and satirical with good banter- we all want to see more.
 
Best Director: Washington Kirk, Frederick Douglass Boulevard aka Food & Drink Boulevard aka F.D.B.
Jury Statement: An honest love story to New York, Washington Kirk develops Harlem as a 
character that is fully embraced. The jury was blown away by Kirk's strong and honest point of 
view. 
 
Best Writer: Madeline Mahoney & Peter Molesworth, Pear
Jury Statement: Sharp, witty dialogue- both spoken and physically. Where's the second episode? 
 
Best Writer, Honorable Mention: Kevin Yee, A Guide To Not Dying Alone 
Jury Statement: Strong comedic voice with a clear beginning, middle, and end. A nice balance of 
comedy and drama, A Guide To Not Dying Completely Alone kept us surprised and engaged. The time flew by.
 
Best Performance in a Comedy: Meg Kelly, Jennifer and Chicken
Jury Statement: The first 30 seconds were some of the best clowning. We knew everything we 
needed to know in those first 30 seconds. Meg Kelly performs with physicality, likeability, and 
vulnerability. 
 
Best Performance in a Drama: Washington Kirk, Frederick Douglass Boulevard aka Food & Drink Boulevard aka F.D.B.
Jury Statement: Self-assured with flourishes of comedy, Washington Kirk is able to walk the 
razor's edge between drama and comedy. There's a subtly that is so strong. 
 
Best International Digital Short: Krystal Klairvoyant
Jury Statement: An innovative use of a new platform with outstanding production design, 
Krystal Klairvoyant has admirable ambition. It's not afraid to take risks, and more often than not, 
those risks are rewarded.
 
Best Cinematography: Bryan Redding, Black Creek 
Jury Statement: The cinematography of Black Creek accelerates our understanding of what this 
beautifully constructed world is. 

Jury: Erich Smith (Sr. Talent Agent, TCA MGMT), Arthur Meyer (Writer/Comedian), Valerie Steinberg (Producer, Valerie Steinberg Productions), and Saloni Gajjar (TV writer, The A.V. Club)..
 
Best Pilot: One Million Girls 
Executive Producers: Emily Dayton Evans and GARA 
Writers: Emily Dayton Evans and GARA 
Producer: Eileen Hanley 
Cast: GARA, Emily Dayton Evans, Eileen Hanley, Ryan Leach, Nadia Pinder, Sheria Mattis, Natalie Rotter-Laitman, Charlie Bardey, Dylan Adler, Vincent Ward 

One Million Girls is a wacky, absurd, and revolutionary all-LGBTQ+ sketch comedy series.
 
Jury Statement: “This series won us over with its nuanced, fearless portrayal of the queer experience, led by the magnetic relationship between two undeniably fresh voices. With an impressive range of comedic material, One Million Girls invites us into its world which feels both deeply rooted and just taking off. We can't wait to see what this team does next.”
 
Best Pilot, Honorable Mention: Manimorphs
Jury Statement: With a delightfully deranged premise and first-rate animation, Manimorphs took us on an unpredictable ride that kept us at the edge of our seats.  The three wildly different episodes prove the versatility and longevity of this concept, which shows us that ultimately, we are all animals.

Sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, Dilettante Productions, and Working Artists Group

Panel of Experts: Luisa Law: Executive Producer, Dilettante Productions; Sarah Minnie: Head of Artist Development + Production, OPEN TELEVISION, Zola Glassman: Vice President of Development and Production, Mighty Engine
 
Presented in partnership with Dilettante Productions and Working Artist Group 
 
Pitch-A-Thon Winner: The Death Doula
Creator:  Brittany Ballard 

When Shay, a seasoned Labor and Delivery Nurse, fails to prevent the traumatic loss of a Black 
birthmother, she strikes out on her own to forge a new path as a Death Doula. 
 
Jury Statement: We were drawn to Brittany’s project through an emotional access point that 
allows the audience to connect in addition to  a distinct POV. The Death Doula is not only an 
original, personal, and contemporary idea with a clear reason as to why it's being told, but it's 
deeply human and its themes are universal in a way that has the potential to resonate with a 
global audience.

Independent Pilot Competition Drama: I Didn't Mean To Go Mental
Independent Pilot Competition Comedy: Grown
Digital Short Series: All At Once
Late Night: Easily Solved Mysteries 
Best International: Bones of Crows
 
ABOUT SERIESFEST
SeriesFest, a non-profit organization, champions and empowers artists at the forefront of episodic storytelling by providing year-round opportunities for creators and industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and share stories, which inspire and impact global audiences. Each June, SeriesFest culminates in a highly-curated and celebrated Denver-based festival and marketplace. Dedicated to showcasing innovative episodic content, the annual festival includes in-competition independent pilot screenings, panels, workshops, live reads, parties and network television premieres.
 
Follow @SeriesFest on Twitter.