Judging the Ojai Film Festival Nov 7-14, 2014

Posted by on Nov 17, 2013 in Catherine Ann Jones
Screenwriting Panel

Screenwriting Panel

Ojai Film Festival Nov 7-14, 2014

 When Steve Grumette asked me to be a judge for a new Film Festival in its then first year, little did I realize that 14 years later I’d still be doing this. The reason why is simple. The Ojai Film Festival is not just another film festival. It holds a specific theme: Enriching the human spirit through film. It honors those films that do not require exploitative or gratitious sex or violence to tell their stories: stories that raise consciousness.

The two best films from the narrative feature category represent this theme so needed in today’s world.

Narrative Feature Honorable Mention:

Nine misfits join a local improv group to overcome their personal demons that fuel their loneliness.  Here an example of the power of creativity to transform lives.  From Spain, honorable mention goes to Aficionados (Amateurs).

Best Narrative Feature:

It is Viet Nam in the Middle Ages when the Emperor’s fencing master soon to retire must find a suitable replacement, one not only with skill but with the spiritual and moral background to be a true master. We can thank the mutual collaboration of France/South Korea/Vietnam for this wonderful film, this year’s winning feature, Koan de Printemps.

This week has been full of consciousness-raising films from all over the world, long and short documentaries and narrative films. It confirms what I have always felt that there must be alternatives to the usual Hollywood blockbuster films.

OK, sometimes the roller coaster movies are fun. However, it is also necessary to view films that make you pause and reconsider your own life and the world around you. Necessary to fall in love with a story which has the potential to change lives and perspective. Stories which challenge us to be better than we are. To reach for the unreachable dream.

This is why I will be on  hand next year, my fifteenth year, as a final judge for The Ojai Film Festival with its theme of “Enriching the Human Spirit through Film. Bravo Ojai!!!