GEMS: October 30 – November 3, 2024
Jordan Ressler First Feature Award
$10,000 cash to the filmmaker (director, or writer/director) of the jury-selected best film made by a filmmaker making his or her feature narrative (60 min or longer) film debut. This special award recognizes and supports artists early in their careers as professional filmmakers. It was created by the South Florida family of Jordan Alexander Ressler, an aspiring screenwriter and Cornell University film studies graduate who, during his brief entertainment career, held production positions with the Tony award-winning Broadway hits 700 Sundays with Billy Crystal and Jersey Boys. He died in a tragic hiking accident while traveling in Nicaragua at age 23, before realizing his professional ambitions. This Achievement Award in the amount of $10,000 USD will be awarded to a film artist of a narrative first feature film by the Jordan Alexander Ressler Charitable Fund.
2024 WINNER
In The Summers, directed by Alessandra Lacorazza
2023 WINNER
I Like Movies, directed by Chandler Levack
2022 WINNER
You Resemble Me, directed by Dina Amer
2021 WINNER
Sabrina Doyle for Lorelei
Jury: Kira Davis, Karen Foster, and Gonzalo Maza
2020 WINNER
Gonzalo Maza for This is Cristina (Ella es Cristina)
Jury: Florencia Jimenez-Marcos, Leticia Jorge, and Naji Abu Nowar.
2019 WINNER
Alexandre Moratto’s Socrates
2018 WINNER
Xavier Legrand’s Custody
2017 WINNER
Tomás Alzamora’s Little White Lie
2016 WINNER
Lorenzo Vigas’ From Afar
2015 WINNER
Naji Abu Nowar and Bassel Ghandour’s Theeb *
2014 WINNER
Maria Gamboa and Adriana Arjona’s Mateo *
2013 WINNER
Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge’s So Much Water *
* Prior to 2019, Jordan Ressler awardees were given to the film’s credited screenwriters.
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