Pacino to Serve as Lead Juror for Lee Strasberg Film Festival- Film News in Brief

Al Pacino will return as lead juror for the 10th Lee Strasberg Film Festival this November, selecting independent films and performances for the event’s milestone edition. Pacino, who studied method acting under Lee Strasberg, will head a judging panel that includes Henri Esteve, Hayley Orrantia, Wade Allain-Marcus, Hyejin “Grace” Park, and Brittany Alexia Young. Festival Director David Lee Strasberg said the jury reflects his family’s long-running vision, with “an extraordinary range of voices” from established icons to emerging alumni actors and bold independent filmmakers. The 10th LSFF runs Nov. 13–15 at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in Los Angeles, ending with an awards ceremony at the Marilyn Monroe Theatre. The festival will recognize categories including Best Short Film and Best Screenplay, alongside multiple acting honors. In a separate announcement, the Vashon Island Film Festival (Aug. 13–16) released its 2026 lineup.