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April 27, 2007

For Immediate Release

$25,000 in Cash and Prizes
Awarded to Young Filmmakers

(Palm Beach County, FL) At the 12th annual Palm Beach International Film Festival's (PBIFF) Student Showcase of Films, high school, community college and university students from across the state of Florida are being awarded over $25,000 in scholarships, cash awards and prizes. The highly acclaimed program has become known as the largest and most prestigious competition for Florida student filmmakers. The event was held at Palm Beach Community Colleges Duncan Theatre in Lake Worth, and was hosted by comedians Frank Licari and Jesse Furman from Gated Community Improv. Surprise guest, Vincent Pastore from the Sopranos, made a special appearance to announce the Feature/Short winners. The winning films were showcased at a special screening at The Theater on Sunday, April 22, 2007.

The winners in the Feature/Short category are:

Feature/Short, University/Community College: First Place ($1,500) Aaron Brownlee, University of Central Florida for American Deluxe; Second Place ($1,000) Erika Bagnarello, Florida State University for Inner Sight; Third Place  ($750) Patrick Alexander, Florida State University Film School for Rundown. Feature/Short, High School: First Place ($1,500) Stephan Tirado, South Tech High School for City of Dreams; Second Place ( $1,000) Debra Siew, G-Star School of the Arts for The Will; Third Place ($750) Marie T. Zielinksi, G-Star School of the Arts for In Transit.

The winners in the Commercial/PSA, Music Video and Animation categories are:

Commercial/PSA, University/Community College/High School: First Place ($500) Grant Yansura, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts for West Palm Beach Public Library PSA. Music Video, University/Community College/High School: First Place ($750): Danny Daneau, University of Central Florida for Dirty Jeans; Animation,University/Community College/High School:  First Place ($750) Jason Harder, Design and Architecture Senior High School for Stop the Madness.

The winner in the screenwriting category:

University/Community College/High School: First Place ($500) Louis J. Frezza, Stanton College for The Power Reserves.

The 2007 Student Showcase of Films poster design winners ($1000) are Joseph Gerbino and Alison Schwartz of A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. The winners of the two $5,000 Burt Reynolds Scholarships are Ruby Hernandez of A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts and Rafael Canuto of G-Star School of the Arts.

The Palm Beach County Film and Television commission announced a partnership between Mandalay Integrated Media Entertainment, Lions Gate Films and CBS that will provide student filmmakers with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity through a grand prize announcement.  Student filmmaker, Aaron Brownlee, was selected for the film American Deluxe as "having a future on the big screen." The winning filmmaker will be awarded the opportunity to attend a private one-on-one development and pitch workshop with Conrad Bachmann, former Governor of the Performers Peer Group of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, meet with top studio development executives and studio VPs to pitch his film and receive private back-lot tours of major motion picture studios. The special trip is scheduled to take place sometime in the summer.

Industry professionals from around the country participated in judging the 160 films submitted by Florida students. The judges for the 2007 Student Showcase of Films are: Conrad Bachmann, Dan Chinander, Tom Cunningham, Mike Daniel, Frank Eberling, Irv Goodnoff, Jonathan Krane, Jim Lewis, Mel Maron, Michael Marcus, Nick McLean, Suzanne Niedland, Tim Powell, Joe Reilly Monte Young and Media Sub-Committee of CEBLC.

The sponsors for the 2007 Student Showcase of Films are: Atlantic Arts Academy, Available Teleprompting, Bak Middle School of the Arts, Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum, Gated Community, G-Star School of the Arts, Lions Gate Films, Mandalay Integrated Media Entertainment, Moving Picture, Palm Beach Community College, Lake Worth, Duncan Theatre,  Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, Palm Beach County Palm Beach County Economic Development Office, Palm Beach County Education and Government Television Channel 20, Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission, Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council, Palm Beach Film School, The Palm Beach International Film Festival, The Education Network-Channel 19 and WR Productions.

The Student Showcase of Films also welcomes back the panel discussion, allowing students to interact with industry experts and gain practical advice and valuable information about making the jump from classroom to career. Panelists and presenters include Mary Elise Hayden (Actress - Popstar, Kathy T, Redline), Grady Bishop (Owner, Extreme Stunt & Driving Team - Miami Vice, 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS), Jeremy Emerman (Senior Photojournalist - Getty Images), Heath McKnight (Director/Producer 9:04AM, Writer Videomaker, MovieMaker), and Mel Maron (Distribution - Castle Hill Productions, Dr. Zhivago, Gone With the Wind, 2001: A Space Odyssey)

The Student Showcase of Films is an official program of the Palm Beach County Economic Development Office.

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For More Information Contact:
Michelle Hillery, Director of Operations and Programs
Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission
561.233.1000.