Each year, the Innovation Group of CNY Arts recruits a team of experienced film professionals from all across the country to serve as panelists for the CNY Short Film Competition.
We pride ourselves on selecting panelists with diverse backgrounds, both demographically and professionally. Our goal is to ensure that we are selecting people who know our region, and have an invested interest in seeing the local film industry flourish.
A Texas native, Brofer joined the United States Marine Corps and served 10 years as a combat correspondent. In 2010, she deployed for a year to Afghanistan as her unit’s Public Affairs Chief, coordinating news coverage of the Marines and sailors of the 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward). In 2012, she was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin.
Based in New York City, Jason Cicci has been working in the entertainment industry for decades, making his mark as a writer, producer and teaching artist. His independent production company, Monday Morning Productions, has produced new works by established playwrights featuring award-winning performers.
An accomplished producer, Jason has also produced the shorts “Superfriends” (also writer), “New Year’s Eve at Sunny’s” and “The Whisperer”.
John was born in Niagara Falls, New York, and has always had a penchant for the entertainment business. He is currently the President of the Syracuse International Film Festival and the owner of Paragon Found Productions. John is an accomplished screenwriter having placed in the quarterfinals in the Final Draft Big break competition and the Semi-finals in the Stage 32 Drama competition.
He is also a U.S. Army veteran.
Pavani is an experienced television producer who lives in Washington, D.C. She has worked on notable television shows like “Celebrity Apprentice,” “Sweet Genius,” “Teen Mom,” and “Ink Master.” A graduate of SUNY Purhcase, Pavani has been a long supporter of the arts and has served as a panelist on multiple programs for CNY Arts.
