TOM WAITS is a two-time Grammy® Award-winner and Academy Award®-nominated singer/songwriter/musician/actor and in 2010 was inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. In a career that spans over 4 decades, Waits has recorded over 21 albums including his latest critically lauded Bad As Me, as well as contributing to countless soundtracks. Waits has also appeared as an actor in over 25 films including: Rumble Fish, Short Cuts, Down By Law, Ironweed, Coffee & Cigarettes, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus and the upcoming Seven Psychopaths, among many others.  (Please note: Mr. Waits will not be present at the festival itself but will be judging remotely from DVD).