PB Film

JUDGES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 30th ANNUAL PALM BEACHES STUDENT SHOWCASE OF FILMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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JUDGES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 30^th ANNUAL PALM BEACHES STUDENT SHOWCASE OF FILMS

Florida's Largest Student Film Competition and Award Show

 

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (February 20, 2025) – Let the judging begin! The 30th Annual Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films (SSOF) submission window is officially closed, and entries are now moving onto the judging portion of the competition. This year, a record-breaking 617 eligible submissions were received from 85 schools across Florida. With that, the SSOF is thrilled to announce the list of accoladed industry professionals from all over the world who will be judging this year’s submissions.

To access full biographies and headshots, and learn more about the entire international panel of new and returning judges – a record-breaking 54 in all, visit: pbfilm.com/SSOFjudges.

New judges this year include: Wes Ball, a director and producer best known for directing Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, The Legend of Zelda, and the Maze Runner trilogy, as well as past SSOF winner; Jane Rumbaua, an actor, director, and photographer, often recognized for her role in Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier; Gilbert Khoury, an award-winning international filmmaker with a portfolio of 18 fiction films and 20 music videos, who serves as a judging member for prestigious events such as the Daytime Emmy Awards and the Palm Springs International Film Festival; Alexa Sheehan, an accoladed director, writer, and producer who currently serves on the Board of Directors for Film Florida and Women in Film and Television-FL; Michael Campbell, a talented graphic artist, animator, and producer who put his expertise to work at Comedy Central and BET in NYC; Emily Skye, a director and cinematographer known for her dynamic storytelling, visual artistry, and work on Tubi’s Married to a Balla; Cindy Hing, an Emmy-nominated producer, Davey award-winning host/producer of Day Tripping in The Palm Beaches and face of the brand-new series Fest Quest of The Palm Beaches; Great Jaguar - formerly known as Donnell McCant, the host of Parks in The Palm Beaches, accomplished musician and youth mentor; and Kitty Lundan, a multitalented TV producer, entertainer, motivational speaker, and host of What’s Poppin’ PBC? – a Telly and Davey award-winning series.

Below is a snapshot of some of the returning, esteemed members of the SSOF judging panel: 

Molly Conners is an executive producer with over 15 years in the entertainment industry, working on films that have earned four Academy Awards and 11 nominations. She is the executive producer of Netflix's It's Bruno, and feature films The God Committee – starring Kelsey Grammar and Julia Stiles, Centigrade, and Like Father. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Television Academy, and the founder and CEO of Phiphen - an independent film, TV, and digital media company.

Suzanne Niedland is an actor, award-winning filmmaker, and Broadway producer - most recently, Spamalot on Broadway and Plaza Suite on the West End, London.  She serves on boards including The International Committee for the Performing Arts, The President's Advisory Council at The Kennedy Center, DeVos Institute for Arts Management, and The Film, Animation & Recording Arts Business Partnership Council at PBSC.

Vanilla Ice, initially known for his breakout, Billboard chart-topping hit "Ice, Ice Baby," transitioned from music to a diverse career in writing, acting, and hosting. With over 30 titles on IMDb, including roles in Adam Sandler comedies and hosting nine seasons of The Vanilla Ice Project on the DIY Network, he has received accolades, including the American Music Award for Favorite Pop Rock Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist.

Mo Fitzgibbon, a successful writer/producer, launched Walker Fitzgibbon TV & Film, a diverse production company with projects ranging from broadcast TV, commercials, animation, reality, documentaries, and music videos in both English and Spanish. She has post-production and special effects experience from work with HBO, MTV, and established LAFLA FilmNation to offer workshops and career programs for young filmmakers.

Laurence Gartel, a leader in digital art, is recognized globally for his innovative and eye-catching works. His work has been exhibited worldwide, including at renowned institutions like The Museum of Modern Art, and he has produced commissioned pieces for notable figures and corporations such as Britney Spears, Coca-Cola, and Absolut Vodka. In 2015, he served as the official artist of the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

Elsten Torres is a multicultural, bilingual artist who has earned two GRAMMY nominations, two BMI songwriting awards, and six Billboard top ten hits. He is credited as one of the creators of the Latin Alternative Rock sound and has been making waves in the music industry for over three decades.

Monte Young, a producer/writer, has worked on feature films such as Hitters, Gasp, and The Wave. He is the co-founder/managing partner of Studio Central, a post-production facility in Syracuse, NY, and recently founded Five Peaks Animation to create, produce, and direct children’s educational television content.

Returning to lead the grand 30^th anniversary event is none other than Frank Licari, a 3x Emmy-nominated host, Telly and Addy award-winning writer, producer, and actor. As the entertaining star of South Florida PBS's On the Town in The Palm Beaches and Living Longer | Living Well, Licari – also recognized for his role in Mayor of Kingstown, will host, bringing his signature personality and creative entertainment to the live show.

Finalists will be announced at the live awards show on Friday, April 25, 2025, at the Maltz Jupiter Theater.  The red carpet rolls out at 9:30 a.m. and the award show begins at 10:30 a.m.  For details, please visit pbfilm.com/SSOF.

 

Website:       pbfilm.com/SSOF

Facebook:    facebook.com/StudentShowcaseofFilms

Twitter:        twitter.com/StudentFilmsFL

Instagram:  instagram.com/studentfilmsfl

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About The Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films

The SSOF is the cornerstone of the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission’s (FTC) education outreach, celebrating Florida’s student filmmakers since 1995. This unique program is specifically designed to inspire and recognize the talent found within Florida’s award-winning educational system, with a goal to strengthen the workforce in Palm Beach County and throughout the state of Florida. The FTC is committed to promoting student filmmaking without fees for students to enter their work.

The SSOF is a partnership between the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, the Palm Beach County Department of Housing & Economic Development, the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission, and the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Together with our generous sponsors, the SSOF has awarded over $4.5M in cash, prizes, scholarships, equipment, and in-kind services to the program during its lifetime.