Arkiv

"Leofest" announces online film fest

Leonardo DiCaprio Establishes First International Film Festival on Official Internet WebSite.
 

Arkiv

"Leofest" announces online film fest

"Leofest" announces online film fest

Leonardo DiCaprio Establishes First International Film Festival on Official Internet WebSite.

LOS ANGELES, California. -- November 9, 1999 -- Birken Interactive Studios, Inc. (BIS) announced today the establishment of the 1st Annual Leonardo DiCaprio International Online Short Film Festival (LeoFest).

BIS - the production company established by actor Leonardo DiCaprio - will produce the festival, to be conducted exclusively on the internet at http://www.leofest.com/, beginning next month.

LeoFest is being produced with the technical support of Apple Computer, Inc., making LeoFest one of Apple´s showcase sites for all future upgrades to their QuickTime software.

According to BIS director of production, Chuck Smith, "LeoFest has entered into a number of significant and mutually beneficial relationships with other festivals and film organizations for cross-promotional and resource-sharing purposes, including: The American Film Institute and The Independent Feature Project/West."

All net proceeds will be funneled to various ecologically-motivated groups and programs dedicated to saving the environment and endangered species around the planet, through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Said Mr. DiCaprio about the fest, "Breaking through - especially when you´re just starting out - can seem impossible. This festival seeks to change that; to offer a forum - a place to show your talent - a place for your work to be seen and for you to see the work of others just like yourself."

But the festival´s goals go beyond the discovery and nurturing of talent.

"This will be a festival devoted to the marriage of film and computer technologies," LeoFest executive director Jonathan Cutler elaborates, "as well as the development of the Internet as a viable - even convenient - distribution alternative for filmmakers working in or outside of the Hollywood system."

Hoping to attract as many hopeful filmmakers on the Web as possible, DiCaprio stated, "We all know how fast things grow and change in the world of computers. We see this as the perfect opportunity to try something new, something positive - something that takes advantage of the best the net can do."

A copy of the rules and regulations, as well as an official entry form for submissions, are available for downloading beginning today at http://www.leofest.com/.

Entry Details:

Because of the anticipated volume of submissions, LeoFest is limiting films to 15 minutes (and under).

LeoFest will accept submissions on VHS, SVHS, PAL, DV, 3/4", SPBETA, DIGIBETA and QuickTime format only.

Films will be judged in the following four (4) categories: Narrative (any filmed fiction story, comedy or drama), Documentary, Animation and Alternative (anything experimental).

Filmmakers and their films will be divided into two age groups: Youth (17 years old and under) and Adult (18 years old and over).

Soon after LeoFest launches, eight (8) Weekly Festival Choice winners will be announced and the chosen films screened for one week at LeoFest´s Weekly Choice Theater, until the festival ends. Weekly Choice, Award Nominees and LeoFest Award Winning films will always be available for streaming video in the LeoFest Archives.

All submitted films must be accompanied by a completed and signed copy of The Official LeoFest Entry Form, available for download at http://www.leofest.com/ as well as at http://www.leonardodicaprio.com/ .

All entries originating from the United States must be accompanied by a Cashiers´ Check or Money Order to cover the entry/processing fee of US$35.00.

If originating from outside the United States, only Postal Money Orders in the amount of US$35.00 will be accepted. Do not send cash.

Awards will be announced - and the winners screened - at http://www.leofest.com, sometime in the early Summer of 2000.

Publicerad 1999-11-09

Senast uppdaterad 2004-07-20 17:09

 
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