PJIFF 2019 will open with the Youth & Student Film
Festival on April 3rd at Gavilan College in Gilroy. The event
will feature screenings of short films by and for youth, high
school, and college age students; including films completed
in PJIFF’s youth workshops.
Two other PJIFF workshops will cater to adults aged 40
and older, and seniors aged 70 and older.
In addition to the workshops, local filmmakers created
a music video with Reggae artist Jordan T, for this year’s
Millennials Music Video, a popular program carried over
from PJIFF 2018. According to Scariot, Golden State Brewery
will host the Music Video screening and live performance
on April 6th, and the brewery’s owner, Seth Hendrickson,
is creating a “Poppy Jasper” beer for the film festival.
NEW & RETURNING SPONSORS
Scariot noted that returning major sponsors, including Leal
Granada Theater, Holiday Inn-Express, Golden Leaf Pictures,
the cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy, and
TODAY
Magazine continue to play an important role in making
PJIFF “one of Northern California’s fi lm festivals to watch.”
Returning sponsor Frank Leal has once again offered to
host both the opening Gala and its Awards Ceremony events
at the Granada Theater, an historic Morgan Hill landmark
gmh
that he restored and reopened as an elegant dinner and
entertainment venue in 2016.
“South County has enjoyed the festival for many years
and the Granada Theatre has been a centerpiece in show-
casing talented filmmakers,” Leal said. “What impressed
me most about the rebranding of the film festival last year
was the way it inspired community involvement, which will
keep the arts alive for generations to come. It’s important to
continue this tradition.”
“The Granada and PJIFF are a good fit,” Leal added.
“The film arts attract an international audience and our
region attracts international tourism. High quality dining and
entertainment play a big role in providing them with a sense
of excitement and memorable experiences that will inspire
their return visit.”
Another returning sponsor is Morgan Hill-based Golden
Leaf Pictures. Founder and CEO Dan Nelson has worked as
a successful film industry entrepreneur for many years and
has sponsored the Cinequest Film Festival.
“I look forward to sponsoring PJIFF 2019,” Nelson
said. “I was impressed with last year’s event and, knowing
Mattie’s vision and passion for the film tradition, I foresee
tremendous opportunities being generated by this festival
in our region.”
Scariot has cultivated relationships with new partners
including Pictoclik, a film distribution company that helps
emerging independent filmmakers find their way to market.
In January, Pictoclik did a soft launch online to give
PJIFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Andrea Nicolette
Maria Cid
Poonam Chabra
Mattie Scariot
Katie Khera
Bill Leaman
Lori Foster
Marilyn Pfifer
Matt Hendrickson
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