Movie lovers needed: Help judge the Highway 61 Film Festival in 2019

The Highway 61 Film Festival is seeking a few good judges to pick the festival winners in 2019.

“We’ve had hundreds of films submitted to our festival  this year, and we’re looking to send the very best ones to our judges,” said Patrick Schifferdecker, a director of the annual Pine City film festival. “If you love movies, you’ll love this job.”

Volunteer judges for the Highway 61 Film Festival can pick one or more categories of films: Drama Feature or Short, Documentary, Comedy Feature or Short, Action/Horror, Animation, Minnesota Made and finally Student Short.  Judges will be asked to watch up to 10 films, though for almost all the categories most of those films will be under 40 minutes.

“You’re going to see films from all over the world,” said Schifferdecker. “We’ve had great local and Minnesota movies come in, more from around the United States, and amazing entries from dozens of other countries too.”

Anyone interested in being a judge for the festival will need a computer and a good internet connection, since access to the films is only available online. Judges will receive access to the films on Jan. 30, and then have until Feb. 15 to watch them and rank them.  “In the past, some people watch the films by themselves, but some make it a party and invite friends,” Schifferdecker said. “The only real rule is you need to watch all the selections submitted to you, rank them as best as you possibly can – and send in your rankings by Feb. 15.”

Judges will receive an all-access weekend pass and free passes for friends to the festival in Pine City on April 4-7.

“This is the ninth year of the Highway 61 Film Festival, and might just be the best one yet,” Schifferdecker said. “We can’t wait for people to get a chance to see these fantastic movies.”

Those interested in helping judge films for the Highway 61 Film Festival – or who want more information – are asked to email highway61filmfestival@gmail.com saying why they are interested, any qualifications they might have,  and naming a few of their favorite films.

The Highway 61 Film Festival is sponsored by Pine Center for the Arts, Pine Technical & Community College, Pine City’s Pizza Pub and the Pine City Pioneer.