ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
ASCRS News
March 2023
by Ellen Stodola
Editorial Co-Director
This year, the ASCRS Film Festival moves to Sunday night at the Annual Meeting. EyeWorld spoke to Shachar Tauber, MD, and Denise Visco, MD, co-chairs of the event, about why they enjoy the Film Festival and what they’re looking forward to this year.
Dr. Tauber has been involved with the ASCRS Film Festival for years. “I came from the classic ASCRS Film Festival pre-COVID-19, came up the ranks, and got a call from Rich Hoffman, MD, to say I’m taking over,” he said. “I was so excited when I offered Denise the opportunity to join as a judge, and she said yes right away. I was doubly excited when I told her it was her turn to lead.”
Because of the pandemic, the event went virtual for a couple of years, with a return to an in-person event last year for its 40th anniversary. Dr. Tauber described the Film Festival as “the best part of the ASCRS Annual Meeting,” adding that he looks forward to it every year.
Dr. Visco said that she has continuously been impressed with the variety of films submitted and the ways that physicians are able to tell their stories. “Everyone’s telling a story about something in ophthalmology, whether it’s a surgical procedure or experience, and everyone has their own talent in how they reveal that story to the viewers,” she said. “That’s what I particularly enjoy about the Film Festival—some use humor, some use drama, some use data. It’s very interesting and entertaining, and it’s wonderful to have those characteristics in something that’s so educational.”
Dr. Visco described the experience seeing the films before the general audience as a judge like “a secret stash of candy.” She said it’s exciting to be able to share them at the Annual Meeting. “It’s a real privilege to have something so interesting because I’m not aware that other professions have such an event or are this passionate about filmography and how it can be used as a tool that teaches and innovates,” she said.
Dr. Tauber agreed, adding that it’s often like the judges get to help usher in technology. “We get to see ideas from new producers right out of residency, as well as seasoned veterans who have tackled problems that have vexed us,” he said, adding that he asks the producers who have won to find a young producer to mentor.
When EyeWorld spoke to Dr. Tauber and Dr. Visco, they had just begun the judging process, and Dr. Tauber said there were around 170 submissions, more than the last 2 years.
In order to judge the films, the judges do some of the work at home, then meet with the other judges virtually to discuss before getting onsite at the ASCRS Annual Meeting. “I think we do a better job judging the films when we have time to digest them,” Dr. Visco said. “I think it’s a much more equitable process for the individuals who submit films. They put a lot of effort into them, and I think by making a quick judgment in 1 or 2 days, things can get lost. I like having time to look through the films and to go back and look at something. … It’s a lengthier process but gives us more time to review each film.”
Dr. Tauber expects the event change from Monday night to Sunday night will be positive. The meeting is so packed, but he hopes that it will draw a larger crowd on Sunday night.
Dr. Visco agreed that while many people can now view the films online, there is still something about enjoying them in the moment with an audience. “It’s an event that you do not want to miss,” she said.
The judges for this year’s ASCRS Film Festival are John Hart, MD, chief judge, Minas Coroneo, MD, international guest judge, Jason Jones, MD, P. Dee Stephenson, MD, Tim Page, MD, Surendra Basti, MD, and Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, MD.
Contact
Tauber: pilota1@me.com
Visco: deniseviscoeyes@gmail.com
