Derek Zemrak is the Founder and President of the California Independent Film Festival (CIFF). Under his direction, the Festival began in 1999 and is now the fastest growing film festival in California, screening over 1,000 independent films from across the United States and around the world. Each year, a gala tribute night is held to honor a variety of celebrities who have added to the spirit of independent filmmaking. Such honors have included Spirit Award, Golden Slate Award, Maverick Award, Diamond Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Slate Award. Attending and accepting the awards, the CIFF has been honored by the presence of Penny Marshall, Pauly Shore, Michael Crerenzie, Mary Stuart Masterson, John Daly, Cloris Leachman, Martin Landau, Tony Curtis, Rita Moreno, Ed Asner, Loni Anderson, Wayne Knight, Oliver Stone, Dick Clark, Mary Tyler Moore, Rich Little, Shirley Jones, Marty Ingels, Pete Bogdnovich, James Whitmore, Dick Van Patten, Christopher Knight, Adrianne Curry, Clint Howard, Peter Graves, and Mark Hamill - just to name a few.
Due to the large success of the CIFF, in 2003, Derek Zemrak co-founded the Danville International Children’s Film Festival in Danville, California. This has now become the annual children’s film festival known as the festival “For Children and by Children” soon to celebrate its 6th year.
Derek Zemrak, himself, is a writer, director, and producer. Inspired by Edward D. Wood Jr. and the B-Movie cult classics, this San Ramon, California resident decided to enter the low budget moviemaking arena himself. He wrote, directed and produced his first feature entitled Ice Scream which interestingly enough starred “The King of Bad Movies” and Ed Wood alumni Conrad Brooks. Ice Scream got both national and international attention. Ice Scream was reported in the LA Times as one of the Best of the Worst movies ever made. Ice Scream was nominated for Best Villain at the B Movie Awards in New York. In 2008, Ice Scream the ReMix will be released by August 12th. Zemrak’s second feature film Taxider-ME!, another dark horror comedy, was nominated for two B Movie Awards in 2000 for Best Villain and Best Musical Score. Zemrak’s third feature was a 1950’s Sci-Fi comedy spoof entitled Bikini Planet which received national distribution through Tower Records and is still available today.
Zemrak’s award winning independent film Fallen Angels, which stars Michael Dorn, Adrianne Curry, Bill Moseley and Oscar Nominee Kevin McCarthy, was distributed by Warner Bros on November 13th, 2007.
Zemrak recently wrapped up filming and producing Ryan and Sean’s Not So Excellent Adventure starring the # 1 YouTube comedy team of Ryan Higa and Sean Fujiyoshi. This pre-teen comedy has received thousands of YouTube views, internet buzz, and has forums and chat rooms dedicated solely to the film!
Zemrak is also President of Yankee Films Inc., a domestic and international film distribution and music publishing company. Yankee Films has several award winning films in their library such as Flowers On A Muumuu, Chimera House, and The Failures. Yankee Music, has provided music for NBC, FOX, MTV Network, WB, and Lifetime Television for such shows as America’s Next Top Model, Last Comic Standing, Beauty and the Geek, Dice Undisputed, White Rapper and Jamie Kennedy’s Blowin’ Up.
Zemrak is currently producing a feature length children’s animated film entitled Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm, which is planned to be released in late 2010 featuring the voice talents of Dom DeLuise, Rob Paulson, Ruth Buzzi, and Debi Derryberry.
Derek Zemrak’s producing experiences are not just limited to feature films and music. In 2001, he produced the national acclaimed stage play “Time Flies When You Are Alive”, starring veteran actor Paul Linke. “Time Flies When You Are Alive” was nominated for a Cable Ace Award. Also his screenplay “Any Man’s Son” was adapted into a novel by Lisa Richardson and is currently available at books stores across the country.
Zemrak is a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild of America.
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