We are proud to announce that we are partnering with the new online video website Openfilm.com. We think that Openfilm helps us in our quest to provide evermore exposure to Philadelphia’s filmmakers. And they are doing it in HIGH QUALITY Flash video. This, for us, is the most important part. We would hate to bastardize the hard work filmmakers put into their films by compressing it for Youtube.

The website is still in beta mode, but we’ll let you know when it goes live. We’re very impressed so far with the quality of the content (both video quality and the actual product).

Best,
Yanik and Abhi
Co-Executive Directors
GPSFF

All comments on the videos in our online screening room are now published online. There was a minor administrative holdup that needed to be cleared up. Sorry for the inconvenience.

We ask that you please keep your comments civil and your criticism constructive. Unfortunately, some of the existing comments do not meet these criteria, but we decided it was best to leave them uncensored.

Let the discussion begin…

Yanik Ruiz-Ramón and Abhiraj Modi
Co-Executive Directors
GPSFF

I am proud to announce that Abhiraj Modi (Penn ‘11) will join me as Co-Executive Director for GPSFF 2009.

After 3 years at GPSFF Jason is heading out to the West Coast to make his first million. We wish him the best of luck.

We are in the planning stages for next year’s festival. If you would like to join our team please contact us at gpsff AT gpsff DOT com.

Yanik Ruiz-Ramón
Co-Executive Director
GPSFF

Today GPSFF will be at a forum being hosted by Temple University. We will be discussing the distribution and submission processes for our film festival. Representatives from Black Lily, NextFrame, PIFF and Temple’s Diamond Screen festival will also be there. We’re looking forward to hearing what our peers have to say, learning from them, and , most importantly, meeting Temple students. We’ll post an update letting everyone know how it went.

In other news, we have begun planning for next year’s festival. If you are interested in helping to promote GPSFF at your university please contact us.

Sincerely,
Jason Gurwin and Yanik Ruiz-Ramón
Co-Executive Directors
GPSFF

Just a reminder that the winners of the GPSFF will be screened in the 17th annual Philadelphia Film Festival. So come out and support your fellow student filmmakers.

The Ballad of Thaddeus Lowe (Best Animation)
April 8th, 7:00pm @ International House
April 12th, 2:30pm @ Black Box at the Prince

Thergood (Best Comedy)
April 9th, 2:30pm @ Ritz East Theater 2

Charlie and Guy (Best Documentary)
April 12th, 5:00pm @ Ritz East Theater 2

Noah (Best Drama)
April 12th, 12:30pm @ Ritz East Theater 2
April 14th, 5:00pm @ Ritz East Theater 2

Something in the Way of Things (Best Experimental)
April 10th, 7:15pm @ Ritz East Theater 2

Also, don’t forget to check out our online screening room, and our newest addition to the site, GPSFF Connect.

Best,

Jason Gurwin and Yanik Ruiz-Ramon
Co-Executive Directors, GPSFF

Hey GPSFF Fans,

All of the 2008 nominees have been added to our screening room. So, go grab some popcorn and watch the best in Philadelphia student film.

Best,

Jason Gurwin and Yanik Ruiz-Ramon
Co-Executive Directors, GPSFF

What an unbelievable night, and we thank all 500 of you for coming! I think we can safely say that our move to UArts was a success.

The placing of all the finalists can be downloaded here.

To recap some of our remarks at the event:
1) Name Change
We are no longer G - P - S - F - F, we are now GPSFF (jipsuff).

2) Want to Join GPSFF?
We are looking for campus brand managers and people to join the GPSFF board. If you want to join please email us. Descriptions of the postions can be found here.

3) New Screening Room
We launched a new online screening room in the fall which you can use to view, rate, and comment on all the finalists GPSFF has ever had. This year’s finalists will be available for viewing starting Monday, so please check them out.

4) GPSFF Connect
Tonight we announced the launch of a brand new feature on our site which will help student filmmakers find the crew they need to make their films. So if you are a director looking for an actor or actor looking for a film to star in, check out GPSFF Connect. It is located under the interact tab. This is our “baby,” so please use it.

That’s it for now. Stay tuned in the next couples weeks for a sneak peak of what’s to come for GPSFF09.

Best,

Jason Gurwin and Yanik Ruiz-Ramon
Co-Executive Directors, GPSFF

The time has finally come. This Friday is the big day! Tickets can still be purchased right here at GPSFF.com. If you need directions to the event, please visit the Septa Trip Planner or Google Maps. Doors will open at 6:30 for the 7:00pm event, so please arrive early, especially if you are purchasing tickets at the door.

Many have asked how the event will be structured, so here is the basic outline. Following a fantastic keynote by Mark Rosenthal (Screenwriter of Mona Lisa Smiles and Planet of the Apes), we will be showing films in each of our five categories: Comedy, Drama, Documentary, Animation, Experimental.

We will go category by category and show clips of the the 2-4 honorable mentions in the category, followed by the two finalists in their entirety. After screening the finalists, we will then announce the winner in the category and have the winning filmmaker come up and give an Academy Awards-style acceptance speech (without the annoying music if they drag on too long).

Following the event, we will have a reception with a FREE taco buffet sponsored by Qdoba. This will give you a chance to mix and mingle with the best student filmmakers and film buffs in the city.

Well that’s it. Tickets will be available at the door, but to ensure seating, we advise you to purchase tickets online.

We hope to see you on Friday, it’s going to be a blast!

Best,

Jason Gurwin and Yanik Ruiz-Ramon
Co-Executive Directors, GPSFF

Hi GPSFF Fans,

Our professional judges are presently hard at work choosing the next great Philadelphia student filmmakers. In the mean time, I am proud and privileged to announce our 2008 Keynote speaker, Screenwriter, Mark Rosenthal.

Featured in WHY WE WRITE: PORTRAITS OF 25 TOP SCREENWRITERS, Mark Rosenthal has been a highly respected Hollywood screenwriter for twenty-five years. In addition to his active career in the film world, which has included writing on such films as ERAGON, MONA LISA SMILES, THE PLANET OF THE APES, and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, he has lectured extensively at film classes, seminars and universities and worked with numerous arts organizations. He is an active supporter of progressive causes. He has also had a tele-documentary made about his career by the La Salle College communications department.

At the present, Mr. Rosenthal (with his partner Lawrence Konner) are presently writing THE A TEAM which John Singleton will direct for FOX and THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE starring Nicholas Cage at Disney.

Please join us on March 28th at 7pm at the Levitt Auditorium of the University of the Arts, to hear Mark wise words about making it in the film industry. Oh yeh, we will also be having the best student films in Philadelphia.

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!

Best,

Jason Gurwin and Yanik Ruiz-Ramon
Co-Executive Directors, GPSFF

Hi GPSFF Filmmakers and Fans,

We are proud to announce the nominees for the 2008 Greater Philadelphia Student Film Festival in the following categories: Best Comedy, Best Drama, Best Documentary, Best Experimental, and Best Animation.

List of Nominees

Judging these films was incredibly difficult, since there were so many strong films this year. We want to thank everyone again for submitting to the festival. It is a real privilege to watch the work of all you talented filmmakers in the city. If you were not nominated this year, we encourage to submit again next year.

Nominees, expect to receive an email from us sometime this week about the next steps.

TICKETS ARE ALSO NOW ON SALE!

Last year, tickets went very fast, and we expect that to happen again. Remember, the event will be held on March 28th, 2008 at 401. S. Broad St. at the Levitt Auditorium of University of the Arts. There will be a FREE post-awards reception sponsored by Qdoba, with massive amounts of a free burritos.

Next Monday we will be announcing the Keynote Speaker for the 2008 GPSFF, so be sure to check back in for that.

But for now, have a great week!

Best,

Jason Gurwin and Yanik Ruiz-Ramon
Co-Executive Directors, GPSFF