Join us for the 7th Annual JRS Short Film Festival
Event Details
Sunday, October 14th @ Harmony Gold Theater
Doors Open at 5pm
Early Program begins promptly at 5:15pm
– 30 minute intermission –
Main Program begins promptly at 7:00pm
Exclusive After-party at The Pikey
(All Ages Welcome)
Now Introducing the 2018 Line- up!
Official Selection
P.E.E – Adam Gentzler
BUY THE DIP – Sam Lucas Smith
STONEGUARD – Marianne Bourg & Andrew Bridges
DONUTS – Megan Chumbley
SISTER WIVES – Lexi Pappas & Tessa Evelyn
OPERATION STAKEOUT – Ryan Garcia & Sterling Sulieman
BACK TO YOU – Aimee Mcguire
YOURS ARE MINE – Brooke Trantor
CAPSULES – Jack Shulruff
COLD FEET – Tim Blane
THE POTION – Jonny Loquasto & Clayton Froning
THE DATING EXPERIMENT – Jon Beavers
MAMBO NO. 1 – 4 – Minhdzuy Khorami
Honorable Mentions
DITTO – Britt Rentschler
IF TALK COULD KILL – Hayes Beyersdorfer
CAFE LISBON – David Otten
SECRET ISLAND ADVENTURE – Malie Mason
Special Thanks to our 2018 Selection Committee
Kristian Bruun
Kristian Bruun is an actor, writer and producer from Toronto, Canada who has worked on stages and screens around the world. Notable credits include: Carter (WGN America), Orphan Black (BBC America), The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) and Murdoch Mysteries (CBC).
Edd Benda
Edd Benda is an independent film producer, writer, and director. He is currently in post-production on his second feature film, The Kids Table, slated for release in 2019; his debut feature, Superior, is currently available worldwide. Edd’s company, Beyond the Porch, produces a wide range of content under his direction, including music videos, commercials, and short films.
Sarah Levy
Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Sarah Levy stars opposite Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Levy, and Chris Elliott in the scripted comedy series Schitt’s Creek. Other credits include Larry Crowne, opposite Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts; Working the Engels; and her video Whatever Your Name Is, which went very viral on Funny or Die.
Jennifer Jostyn
Jennifer Jostyn (Brothers McMullen, Deep Impact, House of 1000 Corpses, ER, Nashville, American Horror Story) is a professional actress who has resided in LA for the last 20 years. Jennifer now co-runs SPEAK LA, a company dedicated to helping new actors navigate a Hollywood acting career.
April Jorden
April Jorden is a Co-host and Producer of “It’s Time To Talk” Radio Show on UBNradio.com, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Social Media Strategist and Author of the positive affirmation book, “Speak Your Week” currently available on Amazon. She lives in Southern California where she loves spending time with her son.
Dedra Jorden
Dedra Jorden is a Co-Host and Producer of “It’s Time To Talk” Radio Show on UBNradio.com, Speaker, Spiritual Mentor, Creator and Owner of her own Natural Handmade Skin Care line, “Did It For Love” Natural Handmade Body Products and Skin Care available online at Diditforlove.com. She loves traveling and spending time with family and friends.
J Stuart
After fronting an indie band in NYC for eight years, J decided to find a more stable job, so obviously he chose Hollywood. He ended up at Mosaic as a Creative Executive where he got a world class education in comedy. After a couple years there, he joined the team at the new National Lampoon, acquired by PalmStar in 2017, as Director of Development & Acquisitions. He is kept very busy returning the brand to its classic status, while updating to modern times.
Gian Hunjan
Gian Hunjan is the Executive Vice President of Digital Media at National Lampoon where he focuses on the production of content ranging from short-form to feature length films. Prior to joining National Lampoon, Gian was a partner in a media company he co-founded, best selling author, and comedy writer. He graduated from Temple University, majoring in finance with a minor in entrepreneurship.
Toby Lawless
Toby Lawless has auditioned thousands of actors working every day in commercial casting for the last 10 years. Working with the top commercial casting directors in LA has given him the opportunity to work with the best commercial directors and agency both in front of the camera and behind it. Toby sees first hand what consistently booking actors do that make a difference: his philosophy centers around being relaxed, prepared and confident allows us to bring our best self to the room every time by focusing on being present, and not worrying about what we don’t control.
Meg Dick
Meg Dick is an up and coming actress in Los Angeles. She is the co-founder of a 24 hour live performance show, dïCK Plays, performed at her dads (Andy Dick) art gallery in Hollywood. She is continuously creating her own sketch comedy shorts, starring in indie feature films and sitcoms, and now taking on freelance videography and editing jobs. Watch her rise and shine!
Jennifer Zahlit
Jennifer Zahlit is a director who recently moved back to LA from NYC. She most recently directed a sold-out run of Michael Weller’s Moonchildren and her first short film Linked. She directed a collection of one acts with Studio 7, assistant directed a musical workshop at NYU Tisch and The Seagull, part of the USC MFA Repertory. Jennifer also directed and produced a production of Proof while at USC. An attendee of Directors Lab West 2017 and co-founder of the play reading series Plays for the People, Jennifer graduated from the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts and has studied with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Ramón Goñi
His work has been featured on some of the most influential fashion publications such as W Magazine, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Marie Claire and SHOWstudio as well as in art galleries and fashion film festivals around the world. Some of his recurrent clients in the entertainment industry are Netflix, Amazon and StarZ.
A Law and Political Science graduate, he also holds a masters degree in International Relations from the Institut d’Études Politiques in Paris (Sciences Po). He also teaches at Paris College of Art and SCAD and gave lectures at Columbia University’s School of Architecture and Sciences Po School of Journalism.
Jared Mason
Jared Jay Mason received his bachelors in Psychology from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. He now resides in Los Angeles as an independent screenwriter, director and playwright. His debut feature film, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, is a psychological horror film about a young woman who’s new boyfriend attempts to convince her that he is, in fact, God. It will screen at multiple festivals before its LA premiere in 2019.
Brett Newton
Professional Actor, Filmmaker, Tap Dancer, & the co-founder of the successful production company LA REELS. Brett’s Acting career on stage and on screen has included working with Comedy Central, ABC, Netflix, Julie Roberts, Paul Newman, Toyota, Comcast, Esurance, as well as Texas Pet Hot Sauce as a giant Chicken Wing. Off Camera his career includes Producing the feature film “Scramble”, producing for The Hollywood Reporter, Clio, Saatchi Saatchi and many more wonderful companies. He’s recently made LA REELS bi-coastal with a new office in Atlanta, GA.
Jessica Schwartz
Jessica Schwartz is a freelance film/theater director from New Jersey. She also has had various assistant and associate positions in television. She has worked on shows for Lifetime, Nickelodeon, NBC Universal, and ABC.
Shepsut Wilson
Shepsut Wilson, who moderates the monthly Los Angeles Feedback Film Festival, won “Best Actress” in the IFP-Phx Breakout Challenge, “Best Film” in the AT&T Create-a-thon 2017 and co-hosted the CW6 TV show “Politics in the Yard.” For upcoming events and performances, be in the know @shepsutwilson on social media platforms.
Ryan Daniel Dobson
Ryan Daniel Dobson is an award-winning writer and director who got his filmmaking start in an acting-class film festival like this one! Ryan is currently in post-production on his feature film HOSEA (Camille Rowe, Avi Nash, Josh Pence). To date, he has written and directed several short films, featured in festivals around the world. He has sold projects to Fremantle NorthAmerica and Alloy Entertainment, and – through short film festivals – been hired to adapt the play THE BIG WOOP into a screenplay for Alhambra Pictures.
Steven Krueger
Steven Krueger is an actor from Sarasota, FL. He recently wrapped a 5 year run on CW’s The Originals, where he was a series regular playing fan favorite “Josh”. His other credits include a number of recurring and guest star TV appearances as well both big budget studio and indie films. Steven is also branching out into directing and will be applying to the Warner Brothers Directors Workshop later this year.
Michael Tenant
Michael Tenant attended the University of Arizona (the Harvard of Arizona) where he graduated with a BFA in both Acting and Directing. He then spent the next four years in New York City, hustling on and off the stage. Unbeknownst to Michael at the time, it’s apparently really hard to make a living doing Off (off, off… off) Broadway theater. He did his requisite New York Actor episode of Law and Order, wore a peacoat, and then decided he missed having a kitchen and returned to the West Coast. Since giving up coffee for juice cleanses and the subway for traffic, Michael has appeared on TV for major Networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS (He’s ready when you are FOX). He’s also appeared in every thing from major motion pictures to internet shorts.
