The highly acclaimed SSOF is the largest statewide film competition and awards ceremony for Florida student filmmakers, writers, graphic design and digital media artists. The juried competition recognizes outstanding high school and college students by presenting over $20,000 in scholarships and awards in the following categories: Feature/Shorts, Documentary, Animation, Commercial PSA, Environmen
tal PSA, Music Video, Poster Design, and Screenwriting. Honoring the legacy of Burt Reynolds, the SSOF also awards an annual scholarship bearing his name, along with a Mel Maron and Sara Fuller Scholarship through a partnership with Film Florida. The competition is free and open to aspiring filmmakers, writers, graphic designers, and digital media artists currently enrolled in any high school or college in Florida. Entries are viewed and evaluated by a panel of 50 entertainment industry experts from around the globe. Some past judges include but are not limited to Rap star Vanilla Ice, Emmy-winning writer and show-runner Chic Egleem, American Idol and America's Got Talent musical director Michael Orland, ESPN filmmaker Billy Corben, award-winning visual effects superstar Adam Howard, casting giant Ellen Jacoby. Hollywood composer Hal Rosenfeld, Emmy-nominated actress Kelsey Scott, Emmy, and Grammy-nominated composer Ryan Shore, acclaimed international artist Ralfonso “Ralf” Gschwend, movie stuntman Mike Kennedy, TV and film producer Elayne "E.K." The awards show scheduled for Friday, April 21, 2023 at the Maltz Jupiter Theater and will be hosted by award-winning actor/director Frank Licari (South Florida PBS' On the Town in The Palm Beaches with Frank Licari.) The show has previously attracted a standing-room-only audience of more than 600 students, celebrity presenters, industry professionals, government dignitaries, media and more. Previous presenters include Vanilla Ice, singer Howie D. (Backstreet Boys); T.V. host Montel Williams; former Palm Beach Post pop culture writer Leslie Gray Streeter, actors Cheri Oteri (SNL), Linda Blair (The Exorcist), Bruce Campbell (Ash vs. Evil Dead), Clint Howard (The Waterboy), Thomas Ian Nicholas (American Pie), Anthony Anderson (Black-ish), Ice-T (Law & Order: SVU), Martin Kove (The Karate Kid), Billy West (Futurama), Hector David Jr. (Power Rangers), Conrad Ricamora (How To Get Away With Murder) and Zack Gottsagen (The Peanut Butter Falcon) and of course, the legendary Burt Reynolds. To view the awards breakdown and for other information, please visit www.pbfilm.com/SSOF. For further assistance or questions please call 561.233.1000 or email [email protected]. The SSOF is the cornerstone of the education outreach initiative of the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission. The competition engages faculty and school administrators in guiding student participation. The SSOF is funded by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners through the Department of Housing & Economic Development and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission. Award sponsors include Suzanne Niedland (Suzanne Niedland Documentary Scholarship), Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful, Inc. (Environmental PSA Award), Film Florida (Sara Fuller Scholarship), Michael Chasin (Nellie & Fred Chasin Screenwriting Award), and Ralfonso “Ralf” Gschwend (Poster Design Award). Website: pbfilm.com/SSOF
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