Supporting Future Filmmakers
Fine Cut features a collection of short films from schools across Southern California, including, winners in the categories of Documentary, Narrative and Animation.
This festival is a tribute to Fine Cut founder, Jack Larson. In the late 1990s, the actor, librettist, screenwriter and producer had the idea of creating a student film series that would provide talented students with the much-needed opportunity to have their short films selected for television broadcast. Mr. Larson thought that public television was an excellent platform for providing critical visibility to emerging filmmakers.
PBS SoCal shares Mr. Larson's enthusiasm for showcasing local student filmmaking and 25 years later, Fine Cut continues to be a flagship program for Southern California's flagship PBS organization.
The Student Mentoring Workshop offers students from over 4o colleges and universities a chance to meet with industry professionals and network with other students. Students pick a track that aligns with their area of interest: directing/writing, producing/writing, or animation and are placed into small groups with an industry mentor.
A panel of industry judges selects the best films in three categories: documentary, animation and narrative. All of the films selected as finalists in the Fine Cut Festival of Films will be included in a series of broadcast episodes on PBS SoCal and will compete for prizes intended to support the filmmakers’ future projects.