Tallahassee Film Festival Announces 2011 Judges
February 24th, 2011
The Tallahassee Film Festival is right around the corner and as final preparations are underway, TFF has announced its 2011 judges. The group consists of 11 judges whose talents span different aspects of the film industry. They each have “Something Wild” to offer.
Judges are an integral part of a film festival. They hold a filmmaker’s future in their hands and can give an unknown filmmaker a voice and a rising star added credibility. A judge’s expertise in selecting film festival award recipients can help catapult a filmmaker to the next level, a critical step in identifying the next Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan.
“Selecting experienced judges is important to the success of the film festival and its continued growth,” said Carolyn Smith, TFF Executive Director. “This year’s judges are qualified professionals with a variety of industry and film experience who bring something fresh to the judging table.”
The festival award winners will be announced at the “Best of Fest” Awards Ceremony on April 9, 2011 at Mission San Luis.
The 2011 Tallahassee Film Festival Judges include:
- Dr. Malcolm Armstrong – An Associate Professor of Speech and Film at Tallahassee Community College, Dr. Armstrong received his B.A. and M.A. from California State University, Chico and his Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Florida State University.
- Dr. Valliere Richard Auzenne – A documentary filmmaker and associate professor, she teaches screenwriting, film history, professional development and documentary filmmaking. In 2007, she co-directed and co-produced two documentaries, Breaking the Silence: Torture Victims Speak Out and The Trees Have a Mother.
- Chip Chambers – Do you remember Melrose Place and the original Beverley Hills: 90210 ? Well I’m sure Chip Chalmers does. He directed the series. Chalmers is a director of film, television, and theatre with more than 100 credits. He is currently the Head of Production and a Filmmaker in Residence at the Florida State University Film School.
- Mark Hinson – A film buff and community advocate, Mark Hinson is the Senior Writer, Movie Reviewer and Columnist at the Tallahassee Democrat.
- Tim McNeal – Mr. McNeal is the Vice President of Talent Development and Diversity for Disney ABC Television Group (DATG). McNeal oversees DATG’s Talent Development programs. He expands the scope of these programs across DATG to include Disney Channel and ABC Family. Earlier in his career, McNeal was the Vice President of Drama Development for The WB where he was responsible for shepherding the development of the hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson’s Creek and Felicity.
- Valerie Peacock – Valarie Peacock serves as the Capital Region Film Commissioner for the Florida Film and Television Office in Tallahassee.
- Jeff Peters, Esq. – Producer, editor and novelist.
- Valarie Scoon – For seven years, Valerie Scoon, was the Director of Development for Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films. The American History and Literature Harvard graduate is currently a producer, creative director, professor and filmmaker in Residence at Florida State University Film School.
- Dr. Andrew Syder – Currently works as a filmmaker and assistant professor at the Florida State University Film School. Prior to joining FSU, Dr. Syder assisted in the development of USC’s Institute for Multimedia Literacy. He studied film at the University of Southern California (Ph.D.) and the University of Warwick (B.A. and M.A.).
- Tyler Turkle – He is an artist, sculptor and filmmaker and director of the Venom Research Institute. From 1975 to 1987, he taught art, photography and filmmaking at Florida State University as a Visiting Lecturer, Assistant Professor and Artist-in-Residence. Turkle’s films and videos have been shown with his paintings and sculptures in museums and galleries throughout the United States and Europe.
