See this smiling face?

It is Judy Levine, winner of a Logitech squeeze box and mouse who recently picked up her raffle winnings at the Topanga Film Festival office. The raffle was conducted during the 6th Annual Topanga Film Festival, held August 19-22, 2010.

Check the list to see if you are a winner:

Liz Foster | Creative Handbook

Susan Frazier | Final Draft (feature)

Lisa Gabriel | Logitech keyboard

Victor Gonzalez | Logitech mouse

Celina Herrero | Festival poster signed by David Lynch

Ron Kramer | Book of Obeah CLAIMED

Ron Kramer | 2 Nights at Tuscali Inn CLAIMED

Ronnie Kun | Festival poster signed by David Lynch

Julie Levine | Logitech remote CLAIMED

Julie Levine | Logitech squeezebox CLAIMED

Karen Linderman | Showbiz scheduilng, budgeting & labor guide

Tom Lodgard | Creative Handbook

Kate Logan | Final Draft (feature)

Glen Martin | Book of Obeah

John McC (last name not complete) | Final Draft (feature)

Patti Medd | Book of Obeah

Fred Papp | Showbiz scheduling, budgeting & labor guide

Antonio Soriano | Book of Obeah

Sara Taylor | Logitech remote

Gill Toff | Final Draft (A/V)

Toni & Don (no last name on ticket) | Book of Obeah

Ronnie Yeskel | Final Draft A/V

Please let the Topanga Film Festival know if you wish to pick up your prize from our production office in Pine Tree Circle or if you would prefer to have your prize mailed.  With regard to winners of the Book of Obeah, author Sandra Carrington is happy to personalize your gift with a personal dedication.  If you wish for your copy of the Book of Obeah to be sent to the author for inscription, please inform us via email at:  milena@topangafilmfestival.com.

 After an extremely successful first session of Direct Connect, a speed networking functionality held during International Day at the Mountain Mermaid on Friday, August 20 during the 6th Annual Topanga Film Festival — the newly established Topanga Film Institute is booking high-profile participants for a Direct Connect redux in October.  This inaugural event melded two panels — Bettering the World with your Story and The Big Picture, addressing new and traditional media production, distribution and finance — brought the following experts together for a day of networking followed by an evening of celebration of short film and the evening's feature, Being in the World, by filmmaker Tao Ruspoli.

The following entertainment industry experts participated as either panelists or Direct Connect experts during the recent festival and are prospective participants in future Direct Connect events to be held by the Topanga Film Institute:

Paul Sparks.  Paul is the Creative Director with Elevate Studios is specialized in User Experience and Social Experience Design.  He loves to explore and always has his hand on the pulse of what's fresh and what's new and plays a pivotal role in brand development, concept development, and the creative direction of all media outlets. He knows everything that happens on the Internet, always.  Sparks is passionate about connecting the dots between disparate pieces of information so that their synergies are understandable, insightful, inspiring and enlivening.

Joan Scheckel. Joan is known globally for her filmmaking workshops has worked with the creators behind Whale Rider, North Country, One Hour Photo, Real Women Have Curves, the Academy Award winning Little Miss Sunshine) and several others.  Joan's visionary workshops are unique in their exploration of all the art forms involved in filmmaking, from a deep study of character, story and script, to liberating and illuminating scene work with actors, to the investigation of visual personality of the film and provide practical but profound tools for finding the essence of each aspect of the film.  Joan believes that a vital cinema illuminates life. "A great actor, a great director must find the courage and ability to reveal the consciousness of the story as well as the complex reality of a character. To do that, we must first connect to feeling, emotional depth, and to the music and rhythm of story,” Scheckel said.

Fausto Callegarini. Digital strategist and global distribution executive reporting to the president of Fox Studios, Fausto is a strategic visionary with a clear sense of purpose and urgency when faced with diverse corporate challenges during periods of both declining or rapid growth and demand.  Experienced in international film distribution as well as television, Digital Cinema Film Technology, procedures, film rejuvenation and digital restoration, Fausto has worked in both traditional and new media.  Formerly VP of Operations with Delux Film Services, and a long sting at Warner Bros. Television, Fausto has earned a reputation for formulating and motivatingcross-functional teams that exceed corporate expectations.

Beth Portello.  After graduating from U.C. Berkeley, Portello wanted to make movies.  So, she did the logical thing and moved to Portland, Oregon.  A temp gig at Nike led to a ten-year career in Sports Marketing. After Nike, she joined Adidas during the brand’s comeback.  During her eight-year tenure at Adidas, she contributed to re-building the brand, first as a Promotions Manager handling collegiate basketball endorsement relationships then promoted to Event Manager where she oversaw events across the sport spectrum.  Her contributions expanded when she was promoted to Director of Events, where she oversaw the brand’s major events including the NCAA Final Four, Women’s World Cup and several others  After relocating to Los Angeles in 2002, Portello was one of the founding partners of Cinema Libre Studio and is currently producing her first film, Phenom.

Steve Reiss.   Steve Reiss specializes in the development of content and intellectual property across all media and lends his expertise as an award-winning producer to his work as a consultant in the entertainment industry. He has worked with directors includingMichel Gondry, Peter Care, Joseph Kosinski, Phil Joanou, and Spike Jonze.  His company affiliations include time at Propaganda, Satellite, Partizan, and anonymous content.  In addition to film, Steve has worked on several high-end ad campaigns and produced several high-end music videos and is the author of two published books based on his experience in the music video business.  Steve's work in new media includes Artist in Residence (A+R), a serial print publication and web site.  He worked with Universal and Penguin/Putnam to create "Inside Sessions," a large-scale multimedia project that integrates DVDs and the web.  He started his career as a Post Supervisor at NBC Productions.

Soula Saad.  Writer-Director-Producer, Soula is a French-Lebanese world traveller, previously International correspondent for Equinoxe, currently Producer of multi-ethnic encounters and collaborations among artists, filmmakers and musicians. Her passion for world music, cultural diversity, and creative experimentation are reflected in her fusion style of filmmaking, where each documentary becomes a vehicle to celebrate cultural diversity while promoting themes of sustainability and social transformation.

Maggie Soboil.  Maggie’s acting, directing and producing career has taken her all over the world.  Born in South Africa, she became that country’s leading female satirist. As an actress, she won an Obie award in NY for her performance in Poppie Nongena, and starred in her own TV special for the BBC.  She has directed theatre in NY and Los Angeles, and her first feature Myron’s Movie has played numerous festivals in the USA, and garnered a best narrative feature award.  She now runs her own production company in Los Angeles.

Women in Film Co-Chair Arati Misro double majored in Anthropology and  Mass Communications , but her  true passion for storytelling was born in India during a 6-month stay where she documented and worked with East Indian women and their issues with violence.  After receiving her MFA from the American Film Institute,  she has worked with Fox and Discovery  in India, Europe and the US.  In 2005, she transitioned into independent film distribution and has attended all major world media markets.  Arati currently works social and new media marketing.  She has been honored for her work from the ASC, DGA, AFI and the Caucus Foundation for Producers and is the founder of the South Asian Women's forum in the bay area.

Pascale Rey.  Screenwriter and script doctor for the cinema, Pascale Rey (of Swiss and French nationality) lives in Paris. A veritable globe trotter, she divides her time between giving screenwriting workshops in France and abroad (Philippines, Senegal, Morocco, United Kingdom, Spain), and teaching dramatic arts (London Film School, Conservatoire Européen d’Ecriture audiovisuelle, International School of Cinema, Los Banos in Cuba). Pascale is Dreamago’s founder, and is fluent in four languages. She is motivated by her deep commitment to fostering international exchange, building cross-cultural solidarity, and respecting cultural differences.

Robert Schwartz.  Robert is a veteran film producer of both studio and independent films for over two decades.  Robert has experience in virtually every phase of the production process.  Born in St. Louis, this prolific writer/producer/director has created numerous commercial, documentary, educational and dramatic feature films.  He is known for his expertise in developing scripts and getting movies made.  Robert's production company, Seismic Pictures not only finances and produces motion pictures, but effectively navigates them thorugh the constantly evolving film marketplace. 

Information on the Direct Connect event will be announced in September along with announcement of the initial membership drive for the Topanga Film Institute. 

To reserve your seat, please click here.

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The winners of the festival-wide raffle that was conducted from Thursday, August 19 through Sunday, August 22, 2010 were announced at last night's Awards Ceremony at Froggy's. If you are one of the lucky winners, please contact Milena Merrill at (310) 455-4700 or milena@topangafilmfestival.com to arrange for pick up or mailing of your prize.

Liz Foster | Creative Handbook

Susan Frazier | Final Draft (feature)

Lisa Gabriel | Logitech keyboard

Victor Gonzalez | Logitech mouse

Celina Herrero | Festival poster signed by David Lynch

Ron Kramer | Book of Obeah

Ron Kramer | 2 Nights at Tuscali Inn

Ronnie Kun | Festival poster signed by David Lynch

Julie Levine | Logitech remote

Julie Levine | Logitech squeezebox

Karen Linderman | Showbiz scheduilng, budgeting & labor guide

Tom Lodgard | Creative Handbook

Kate Logan | Final Draft (feature)

Glen Martin | Book of Obeah

John McC (last name not complete) | Final Draft (feature)

Patti Medd | Book of Obeah

Fred Papp | Showbiz scheduling, budgeting & labor guide

Antonio Soriano | Book of Obeah

Sara Taylor | Logitech remote

Gill Toff | Final Draft (A/V)

Toni & Don (no last name on ticket) | Book of Obeah

Ronnie Yeskel | Final Draft A/V

Please let the Topanga Film Festival know if you wish to pick up your prize from our production office in Pine Tree Circle or if you would prefer to have your prize mailed.  With regard to winners of the Book of Obeah, author Sandra Carrington is happy to personalize your gift with a personal dedication.  If you wish for your copy of the Book of Obeah to be sent to the author for inscription, please inform us via email at:  milena@topangafilmfestival.com.

Note that prizes must be redeemed within thirty (30) days from the date of this posting.

A great time was had by all at Froggy's Seafood Restaurant Sunday, August 22, 2010 as the 6th Annual Topanga Film Festival came to a close, but not without the requisite pomp and circumstance Topanga style.  A more complete story and recap will follow, however, for those in need of the skinny, here goes:

Panavision Young Filmmaker Award/Coveted Coyote Award for Best Director:  Christopher Hirsh, God of Love.

Coveted Coyote for Achievement:  Scott Garen

Best Actor:  Luke Matheny, God of Love

Dreamago's Best Screenplay:   Sara Adina Smith for The Sirens

Diamond in the Rough:  Tobias Gundrof Boeson, Out of the Forest

Suitable for All Screens People's Choice:  John D. Ross, The Key, which was viewed over 5,000 times

 Audience Award:  Pure Colombian Drywall, directed by Cameron Walser and Matt Robinson.

Honorable Mention: Director Ashley Charbonnet, The Price of Flowers

Waste Management's 2010 Topanga Film Festival Sustainability Award to Mattel, Inc.

If you have tried to purchase tickets through our on-line service provider, www.itsmyseat.com, you might have encountered some difficulting in purchasing your tickets. Please note that tickets still are avilable for today's screening, however, due to great demand, we suggest you arrive 30 minutes early. The picture will screen at El Coyote Theater — the huge screening tent in the middle of Pine Tree Circle — located at 120 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Topanga. Tickets are $10.

Good morning and welcome to the 2010 iteration of the Topanga Film Festival!

In just a few hours at high noon, we will start this year's festival adventure with a Tribute to Haiti at the main festival hub — the enormous (and air conditioned) screening tent — at Pine Tree Circle in beautiful downtown Topanga. Dozens of amazing short films, documentaries and features are scheduled throughout the event, so, come by and pick up a screening schedule, check out the vibe and join us for four magical days.

Other highlights this Thursday, August 19 include:

3PM Kelly Carlin tribute to her late father, George Carlin as a lead in to the 3:30PM showing of Oliver Stone's South of the Border.

6PM is the start time for Topangan Jim Chressanthis' No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos with an introduction by the filmmaker with many contributors to the documentary expected in attendance. This documentary will segue into the Opening Ceremony at Abuelita's Mexican Restaurant where Dennis Hopper will be honored, and his early signature film Easy Rider, the quintessential Americana Road Movie as often brilliantly depicted by Laszlo & Vilmos in their works — will screen creekside at the restaurant at 9PM.

Concurrent to the Abuelita's happening is an 8:30PM screening of Lost Angels, by another Topangan, Agi Orsi which brilliantly depicts portraits of individuals living on Skid Row.

Tickets are available on-site or on-line. Click here for a full festival schedule or drop by Pine Tree Circle to get a printed copy and a festival poster.

Check back daily for festival highlights.

Here's a link to our Facebook page that includes a photo gallery of the tent going up, yesterday.

The gigantic, air-conditioned, screening tent will come to life throughout the day, Wednesday, August 18th in preparation for the 6th Annual Topanga Film Festival that gets underway on Thursday, August 19 and runs through Sunday, August, 22, 2010 and production crews will begin reading the sleepy hamlet of Topanga for the biggest and best film festival ever which will be co-located at Pine Tree Circle, Abuelita's Mexican Restaurant, Trust Ranch at the Mesa, Froggy's and the Mountain Mermaid.

Festival organizers remind prospective festival-goers that this is a community-funded event with minimal corporate sponsorship.  This means that inasmuch as we wish we could put this event on free of charge to the public, we are not yet in a position to do so although many of this year's events — primarily those geared toward children and families — are at no cost. 

Please clilck here to view a complete schedule of this week's events.

We are proud to announce that we have locked participants for two highly informative and entertaining panels, the first, Better the World with your Story will take place from 3:30-4:15PM at the Mountain Mermaid and The Big Picture: Production, Distribution and Finance, will run from 4:30-5PM.  The panels will run concurrently with Direct Connect, a entertainment-related speed networking event in which many of the day's panelists will participate.

Our line-up:

Moderator | Women in Film Co-Chair Arati Misro will moderate both panels. Arati double majored in Anthropology and Mass Communications , but her true passion for storytelling was born in India during a 6-month stay where she documented and worked with East Indian women and their issues with violence. After receiving her MFA from the American Film Institute, she has worked with Fox and Discovery in India, Europe and the US. In 2005, she transitioned into independent film distribution and has attended all major world media markets. Arati currently works social and new media marketing. She has been honored for her work from the ASC, DGA, AFI and the Caucus Foundation for Producers and is the founder of the South Asian Women's forum in the bay area.

Panel | Bettering the World with your Story 3:30-4:15PM

Pascale Rey. Screenwriter and script doctor for the cinema, Pascale Rey (of Swiss and French nationality) lives in Paris. A veritable globe trotter, she divides her time between giving screenwriting workshops in France and abroad (Philippines, Senegal, Morocco, United Kingdom, Spain), and teaching dramatic arts (London Film School, Conservatoire Européen d’Ecriture audiovisuelle, International School of Cinema, Los Banos in Cuba). Pascale is Dreamago’s founder, and is fluent in four languages. She is motivated by her deep commitment to fostering international exchange, building cross-cultural solidarity, and respecting cultural differences.

Kyle Ruddick. One Day on Earth producer Kyle Ruddick is a Topanga-based filmmaker and is the founder of One Day on Earth. Kyle is very passionate about making this project the best it can be and is excited about participating in this global project that embraces community film-making. Kyle said, “I am one of those people who have had over the last few years to engage large amounts of people on a creative level.”

Paul Sparks. Paul is the Creative Director with Elevate Studios is specialized in User Experience and Social Experience Design. He loves to explore and always has his hand on the pulse of what's fresh and what's new and plays a pivotal role in brand development, concept development, and the creative direction of all media outlets. He knows everything that happens on the Internet, always. Sparks is passionate about connecting the dots between disparate pieces of information so that their synergies are understandable, insightful, inspiring and enlivening.

Joan Scheckel. Joan is known globally for her filmmaking workshops has worked with the creators behind Whale Rider, North Country, One Hour Photo, Real Women Have Curves, the Academy Award winning Little Miss Sunshine) and several others. Joan's visionary workshops are unique in their exploration of all the art forms involved in filmmaking, from a deep study of character, story and script, to liberating and illuminating scene work with actors, to the investigation of visual personality of the film and provide practical but profound tools for finding the essence of each aspect of the film. Joan believes that a vital cinema illuminates life. "A great actor, a great director must find the courage and ability to reveal the consciousness of the story as well as the complex reality of a character. To do that, we must first connect to feeling, emotional depth, and to the music and rhythm of story,” Scheckel said.

The Big Picture: Production, Distribution and Finance 4:30-5:15PM

Fausto Callegarini. Digital strategist and global distribution executive reporting to the president of Fox Studios, Fausto is a strategic visionary with a clear sense of purpose and urgency when faced with diverse corporate challenges during periods of both declining or rapid growth and demand. Experienced in international film distribution as well as television, Digital Cinema Film Technology, procedures, film rejuvenation and digital restoration, Fausto has worked in both traditional and new media. Formerly VP of Operations with Delux Film Services, and a long sting at Warner Bros. Television, Fausto has earned a reputation for formulating and motivatingcross-functional teams that exceed corporate expectations.

Beth Poretello. After graduating from U.C. Berkeley, Portello wanted to make movies. So, she did the logical thing and moved to Portland, Oregon. A temp gig at Nike led to a ten-year career in Sports Marketing. After Nike, she joined Adidas during the brand’s comeback. During her eight-year tenure at Adidas, she contributed to re-building the brand, first as a Promotions Manager handling collegiate basketball endorsement relationships then promoted to Event Manager where she oversaw events across the sport spectrum. Her contributions expanded when she was promoted to Director of Events, where she oversaw the brand’s major events including the NCAA Final Four, Women’s World Cup and several others After relocating to Los Angeles in 2002, Portello was one of the founding partners of Cinema Libre Studio and is currently producing her first film, Phenom.

Eleonora Granata-Jenkinson. Eleonora is known and respected for her extensive and impressive knowledge of the film market in the US and abroad. This year, she was hired to direct the Los Angeles office of FilmMaster, a multi-national media production company. Early in her career, Eleonora handled acquisitions at RAI and then as Sr. VP of Production at Pandora Cinema. In L.A. she was VP of Acquisitions at Turner Pictures, later the Venice Biennale's Los Angeles representative. Eleonora’s missive is to meet the needs of her Italian clientele who are looking for American talent, and also to satisfy the major studios’ requirements for Italian production services.

Steve Reiss. Steve Reiss specializes in the development of content and intellectual property across all media and lends his expertise as an award-winning producer to his work as a consultant in the entertainment industry. He has worked with directors includingMichel Gondry, Peter Care, Joseph Kosinski, Phil Joanou, and Spike Jonze. His company affiliations include time at Propaganda, Satellite, Partizan, and anonymous content. In addition to film, Steve has worked on several high-end ad campaigns and produced several high-end music videos and is the author of two published books based on his experience in the music video business. Steve's work in new media includes Artist in Residence (A+R), a serial print publication and web site. He worked with Universal and Penguin/Putnam to create "Inside Sessions," a large-scale multimedia project that integrates DVDs and the web. He started his career as a Post Supervisor at NBC Productions.

Event hosts are panelist, Pascal Rey and:

Soula Saad. Writer-Director-Producer, Soula is a French-Lebanese world traveller, previously International correspondent for Equinoxe, currently Producer of multi-ethnic encounters and collaborations among artists, filmmakers and musicians. Her passion for world music, cultural diversity, and creative experimentation are reflected in her fusion style of filmmaking, where each documentary becomes a vehicle to celebrate cultural diversity while promoting themes of sustainability and social transformation.

Maggie Soboil. Maggie’s acting, directing and producing career has taken her all over the world. Born in South Africa, she became that country’s leading female satirist. As an actress, she won an Obie award in NY for her performance in Poppie Nongena, and starred in her own TV special for the BBC. She has directed theatre in NY and Los Angeles, and her first feature Myron’s Movie has played numerous festivals in the USA, and garnered a best narrative feature award. She now runs her own production company in Los Angeles.

 Concurrent to the announcement of this year's jury is an eleventh hour sponsorship on the 6th Annual Topanga Film Festival by Printplace.com, an on-line printing firm based in Arlington, Texas with two additional facilities — one in Ft. Worth, Tx. and another in Santa Fe Springs, Ca.  The 2010 festival runs Thursday, August 19 through Sunday, August 22.

Click here for a link to the schedule.

 Topanga Film Festival sponsor PrintPlace.com was established in 1996 by CEO Shawn Petersen and specializes in high quality, quick turn commercial printing.  PrintPlace.com’s printing process is 100% offset/sheet-fed and heat set web, for easy online ordering of custom printed products including postcards, brochures, magazines/publications, flyers, business cards, presentation folders, letterhead, envelopes and invitations.

The sponsorship includes not only a substantive printing donation to the Topanga Film Festival, but also extends extensive discounts to festival sponsors and patrons as well as gratuitous printing of 250 business cards per festival attendee.  To access this offer, please click here.

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Co-founder Urs Baur today announced the jury for the 6th Annual Topanga Film Festival.

The festival received over 420 entries this year of which eleven will compete for the Coveted Coyote Award for Best Director that provides the winner with a $60,000 Panavision Young Filmmaker Award camera package. The jury will also award honors for Best Actor and a Diamond in the Rough.

Members of the jury include:

Randall Einhorn (Director/Cinematographer) — Randall’s first foray into scripted film was on the first season of The Office, where, wielding a handheld camera, he shaped the character of The Documentarian. He directed his first episode of the series in season three, and has since become their most prolific director as well as a creative consultant for the multiple Emmy-winning series. He segued into It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and for the past two seasons, served as a resident Director/Producer. Randall just wrapped his first pilot, the half hour comedy Wilfred for FX. His other television credits include Parks and Recreation and Modern Family, and the project White Water which he is developing with Lorne Michaels and Broadway Video. Randall is excited to have signed onto his first feature film, entitled Late Bloomers for Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros Pictures. Filming is scheduled to commence this year. Randall is a Topanga resident. 

Stephen Nemeth (Filmmaker) — Stephen founded Rhino Films, which originated as a division of iconoclast record label Rhino Records. The company has produced Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Dogtown and Z Boys, War/Dance, Fuel and many other iconic documentaries. He is also involved with Amnesty International Films and produces Public Service Announcements for Rock the Vote where he is also a board member. He is also involved with the Graphic Arts Council of the LA County Museum, Children’s United Nations, the Wildlife Ecostation and Amnesty International’s Artists for Amnesty. He is a board member of The Collaboration Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to creating collaborative art and films that address various social issues. 

Pietro Scalia (Film Editor/Director) — Pietro spent his early years in Switzerland. He then earned his MFA from UCLA and returned to Europe to become a film director. He began as an editor on Andrei Konchalovski's Shy People and later worked for Oliver Stone on Wall Street, Talk Radio, Born on the Fourth of July, The Doors and JFK. He and co-editor, Joe Hutshing won an Academy Award for the film. Pietro also worked with Bernardo Bertolucci (Little Buddha and Stealing Beauty), with Sam Raimi on The Quick and the Dead, was honored with two more Academy Award nominations (Good Will Hunting, Gladiator), and won a second Academy Award for Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down. Subsequent films include Levity, Memoirs of a Geisha and Ridley Scott’s American Gangster.

Nadine Velazquez (Actress) — Nadine has spent the last four years as a series regular on the multi-award winning NBC comedy My Name Is Earl, playing Catalina, the sweet and sexy hotel maid/stripper, where the cast garnered a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Originally from Chicago, Nadine graduated from Columbia College with a B.A. in marketing. She is currently appearing in the FX comedy The League and has had guest starring roles on shows such as CSI:NY, Scrubs, Gary Unmarried and CSI:Miami. Nadine is currently studying at The Groundlings and is happily writing the book and lyrics to her one-woman review, I Hate You: A Love Story.  After attending her first Topanga Film Festival, festival organizers invited Nadine to come back asone of this year's judges.

Ronnie Yeskel (Casting Director)– Ronnie, a Topanga-based casting director best known for her work with Quentin Tarantino in Reservoir Dogs began her career in the entertainment industry in Washington, D.C. at the Folger Theatre making shotes, boots and brass armor from scratch for Richard III. She continued work in theater in positions ranging from props to production that took her to New York.  Since then Ronnie has worked on films including Pulp Fiction, L.A. Law, Walking the Dead, Bean, Orphan, Bread and Roses, Permanent Midnight, Things to do in Denver When Your Dead and several others.  Ronnie recently completed casting Atlas Shrugged, The Perfect Family and Language of a Broken Heart.  Currently, she is working on the Reach, The Trouble with My Sister and Zen Dog with W. H. Macy and director Gillian Armstrong.  In the words are three features through The Factory for Warner Bros.  Ronnie is a year-long Topanga resident and returning second year juror for the Festival.  She is also a Board Member of Jewish Women's Theatre and the proud parent of Emily Yeskel.

A separate jury will be announced for the on-line Suitable for All Screens compeition.

The Topanga Film Festival will be held August 19 through August 22, 2010 in Topanga, California. Click here for a link to the schedule.

Local biker hangout the Rock Store on Mulholland Highway has come on board as the latest sponsor of the 2010 Topanga Film Festival. Owners Ed and Veronica Savko recalled a time during the 1980s when Topanga bikers rallied to their assistance during a raging Agoura fire that sucked the oxygen out of the area and they – and a handful of others – hid in a beer cooler for hours until conditions improved.

Steve McQueen is credited for having brought the initial notoriety to the Rock Store. Since then, it has become a weekend motorcycle enclave where people come to stargaze. A couple years ago, producer/director Christopher Leps chronicled the Rock Store history in a 42-minute documentary, appropriately entitled Ed & Vern’s Rock Store, that took home several awards in 2008, the year in which it completed production.

Cradled between Paramount Ranch, Troutdale and the Pacific Ocean, the Rock Store has drawn bikers and celebrities to its doors since 1961 when Ed, a former bakery goods salesman and his wife, Vern, opened a deli that morphed into the restaurant that it is today that attracts a clientele that ranges from hardcore and weekend bikers, celebrities, locals, tourists and others who come for the home-cooked fare and ambient.

The real action, however, takes places outside where on some weekends, hundreds of bikes are parked ranging from Harleys, Indians to every brand of crotch rocker and cruiser under the sun.  Bikers from all walks of the sport socialize, admire each other’s wheels and soak up the California sunshine,along with a good breakfast or barbeque, at the Rock Store is located at 30354 Mulholland Highway, Cornell, California 91301. Click here to check out their web site for upcoming events.