Festival Judge Profile: Rosario Dawson

Discovered on a stoop on the lower east side of Manhattan, Rosario Dawson began her film career at 15 in Larry Clark’s Kids.  Dawson – who is of Puerto Rican, Cuban, African, Irish and Native American heritage – went on to star in several New York based films that include Spike Lee’s He Got Game and 25th Hour, Side Streets directed by Tony Gerber, Light it Up directed by Craig Bolotin, Down To You directed by Kris Isacsson and Trigger Happy directed by Julian West.  Her Hollywood career features her in such blockbusters as Alexander with Colin Farrell, Men in Black II with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s Sin City.

This summer, Rosario played the role of Julia in Two Gentlemen of Verona in Central Park.  Look for her this November in the film version of the Broadway smash Rent.

Although she has recently moved to the West Coast, Rosario still cares deeply about New York and its vitality and we are very honored to have her as a judge for our festival.

Rent (2005)...Mimi
Little Black Dress (2005) … Haley
Sin City (2005) … Gail
This Revolution (2005) … Tina
Alexander (2004) … Roxanne
The Rundown (2003) … Mariana
Shattered Glass(2003) … Andy Fox
This Girl’s Life (2003) Martine
25th Hour (2002) … Naturelle
The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) …Dina
Men in Black II (2002) Laura
The First $20 Million is Always the Hardest (2002) … Alisa
Ash Wednesday (2002) … Grace
Love in the Time of Money (2002) … Anna
King of the Jungle (2001) … Veronica
Chelsea Walls (2001) … Audrey
Trigger Happy (20010 … Dee
Sidewalks of New York (2001) … Maria
Josie and the Pussycats (2001) Valerie
Down To You (2000) … Lana
Light it Up (1999) … Stephanie
Side Streets (1998) … Marisol
He Got Game (1998) … Lala
Girls Night Out (1997)
Kids (1995) … Ruby