2018 Festival

In 2018, we introduced our Ambassador to the Arts Award, premiered The Russian Cousin, a bold pilot by acclaimed playwright Theresa Rebeck, and proudly hosted the Worlds Within Worlds art exhibit by Anne Sherwood Pundyk and Bridget Elkin.

Official Festival Selections

AMERICA
Creator: Jonathan Avigdori, Rani Sa’ari
A group of Israeli immigrants new to Los Angeles learn the harsh challenges of pursuing the American Dream.

THE RUSSIAN COUSIN
Creator: Theresa Rebeck
A young Brooklynite is fully unprepared to host her quirky, sultry and slightly suspicious cousin visiting from Russia.

RUSSIAN ROOM
Director: Ante Novakovic
Struggling to remain on the right side of the law, a Russian family seeks sanctuary in the United States in the 1980s.

ALIVE IN DENVER
Creator: Michael Levin
When a meteor fails to wipe out all life on Earth, a group of young twenty-somethings struggle to cope with surviving the End of the World.

Award Winners & Panelists

Aida Turturro / Actor (THE SOPRANOS)
Canopy Award

Bridget Moynahan / Actor (BLUE BLOODS)
Ambassador of the Arts Award

Jennifer Oxley / Creator (PEG AND CAT)
The Award for Achievement in Children’s Television

Panelists:
Eka Darville / Actor (JESSICA JONES)
Italia Ricci / Actor (DESIGNATED SURVIVOR)
Brian J Smith / Actor (SENSE 8)
David Greenwalt / Showrunner (GRIMM)
Rockne S O’Bannon / Showrunner (DEFIANCE)
Keith Eisner / Showrunner (DESIGNATED SURVIVOR)