Ben Stein's Controversial Film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed Tops the Blogosphere

According to Technoranati's BlogPulse which surveys the hottest topics and sites in the world of blogs, a site featuring Ben Stein's controversial new film Expelled is the #1 blog on the net.

The web traffic spiked when P.Z. Meyers, a biology professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris, attempted to sneak into a private, invitation-only screening of Ben Stein's highly controversial upcoming movie, EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed (http://www.expelledthemovie.com/). But Myers, who is an outspoken atheist and author of the science blog "Pharyngula" got caught and has used his blog to bitterly complain about not being allowed to see the film before its release.

Myers, who was interviewed in Expelled, has apparently been asking supporters to sneak into the private screenings which are being conducted by marketing company Motive Entertainment, which handled grassroots marketing for blockbusters The Passion of the Christ and Chronicles of Narnia for various leaders as part of the grass roots marketing of the film.

Ben Stein's Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed opens nationwide on April 18th.

2008 Orlando Hispanic Film Festival

The Orlando Hispanic Film Festival (OHFF) has finalized its dates. The second annual OHFF will take place October 10-12, 2008 during Hispanic Heritage Month. The OHFF is excited to announce a new partnership with Premiere Cinema 14 in the Orlando Fashion Square, 3201 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL 32803, to host the 2008 OHFF.

Together OHFF and Premiere Cinema 14 will also bring 2007's feature film selection favorites every third Thursday starting May 21,2008 – August 20, 2008, titles to be announced. "We are excited to partner with Premiere Cinema 14 and Tony Delgado who are both huge supporters of independent and Hispanic films" said James Schoepflin, Executive Director OHFF.

The Orlando Hispanic Film Festival will also hold a free festival preview at the Orlando Public Library, 101 E. Central Blvd. Orlando, FL 32801, September 11, 2008. The OHFF will show one of its 2008 official feature selections to help kick off the Orlando Public Library's Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. The Orange County Library System continues to be a key supporter and partner of the OHFF. The Library showcases OHFF film related workshops twice a month, which provide local independent filmmakers valuable resources and support.

2008 Student Academy Awards Entry Deadline April 1

The deadline for U.S. student filmmakers to submit their films for consideration in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 35th Student Academy Awards is Tuesday, April 1. The Student Academy Awards is a national annual competition designed to recognize and encourage promising new filmmakers.

Applications and a complete list of rules are available online at www.oscars.org/saa/application/index.html. All entry forms for the 35th Student Academy Awards must be submitted electronically. Additionally, filmmakers must send a DVD of their film and a hard copy of their signed application to the appropriate regional coordinator. Complete entries must be received by the deadline to be considered (it is not a postmark deadline).

Each year over 500 college and university film students from all over the country compete for Student Academy Awards and the accompanying cash grants. Films are judged by Academy members in four categories: Animation, Documentary, Narrative and Alternative.

Past Student Academy Award® winners include Spike Lee, Gary Nadeau, Bob Saget, Trey Parker, and Oscar® winners John Lasseter and Robert Zemeckis.

At the 80th Academy Awards, honoring the films of 2007, two former Student Academy Award winners received Oscar nominations in the Documentary Short Subject category: James Longley for "Sari's Mother" and Amanda Micheli (with Isabel Vega) for "La Corona (The Crown)." Over the years, former Student Academy Award winners have garnered a total of 35 Oscar nominations and have won or shared six awards.

The 35th Student Academy Awards will be presented on Saturday, June 7, at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Additional information about the Student Academy Awards can be obtained by contacting Awards Administrator Rich Miller via phone at (310) 247-3000, ext. 131, or by visiting www.oscars.org/saa/2008/index.html.

9th Malibu International Film Festival Films & Special Events

The ninth edition of the Malibu International Film Festival announced its official film screenings and special events schedule for April 4 - 6, 2008. This year's festival is honored to screen 29 films from around the world. Countries represented in this year's festival are Canada, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Liberia, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom & USA. The Malibu Film Festival offers something for everyone with a diverse line-up of films and special events.

Website: http://www.malibufilmfestival.com/

G4 Acquires The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

G4 has secured exclusive cable rights from New Line Television for "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" Picturehouse's critically-acclaimed 2007 documentary that follows two men in their quest to achieve the world's highest score on arcade classic "Donkey Kong" The film will make its world network television premiere on June 1, 2008 on G4 The network will also be the first to offer the film via VOD.

Picturehouse, the joint venture between New Line Cinema and HBO, released the documentary in theatres in August 2007.

"’The King of Kong' delivers an amazing look at the human aspect of the video game phenomenon" said John Rieber, Senior Vice President, Programming and Production, G4. "This is the ultimate underdog tale for the G4 audience, gamers and non-gamers alike"

"Hollywood could not write a better story – 'The King of Kong' has conspiracy theories, heroes and villains, twists and turns all bound together in a gripping documentary" said Matt Monos, Vice President, Programming, G4.

"The King of Kong" tracks the intense drama as a middle-school science teacher and a hot sauce mogul compete for "Donkey Kong" glory. Billy Mitchell is an icon in world of competitive gaming and holder of numerous world records One of his greatest achievements was his "Donkey Kong" score of 874,300 points, a record many thought would never be broken.

20 years later, that unbeatable record came tumbling down when 35-year-old family man Steve Wiebe lost his job at Boeing, but found solace in "Donkey Kong" Steve stumbled upon Billy Mitchell’s record online and set out to break it. He perfected his game and not only surpassed Billy’s record, but ended up with a thought-to-be-impossible 1,000,000 points.

A wave of media coverage followed and Steve quickly became a celebrity in his hometown of Seattle. Meanwhile, Billy hatched a plan to reclaim his fallen "Donkey Kong" record.

In the months that followed, Steve and Billy engaged in a cross-country duel to see who could set the high score and become the real King of Kong. Along the way, both men learned valuable lessons about what it means to be a father, a husband, and a true champion, discovering that you don’t always need to win to be a winner.

The official web site for The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is: http://www.billyvssteve.com/.

Filmmaking Scholarship Competition Seeking Entries

Vancouver Film School and YouTube(TM), announced the Vancouver Film School (VFS)/ YouTube "What Matters to You" Scholarship Competition. People from around the world will have the opportunity to share their film, animation, or creative pitch in a 3-minute video to win a full-tuition scholarship.

Artists from the 19 regions where YouTube has local sites will be eligible to submit their original videos from March 18 to May 9. VFS will then narrow the field to 10 finalists. Between May 20 and May 27, the YouTube community will vote to pick 3 winners. On May 30, the winners will be announced and will receive scholarships to VFS worth from $17,000 up to $52,750.

The three scholarship recipients chosen by the YouTube community will be able to attend any of the 14 entertainment arts programs VFS offers. Along with the school's long-standing reputation as a leader in the fields of animation and film, VFS offers world-class programs in disciplines such as makeup, acting, writing, sound design, digital design, game design, and entertainment business management.

Entries can be up to 3 minutes long and must be a film, animation, or creative pitch on the theme "What Matters to You." The competition is open to residents of 19 regions where YouTube has local sites, including the United States, Germany, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, Mexico, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Poland, the Netherlands, Brazil, Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Competition entrants must be 16 years or older and be legal residents of one of the regions listed above.

Winners of the VFS/YouTube "What Matters to You" Scholarship Competition must successfully fulfill all VFS admission requirements prior to commencing their studies and must begin attending no later than April 2011 (based on availability in selected program of entry). For more information on these requirements, visit vfs.com/admissions.

For more information about VFS and the scholarship competition, including a full media kit, visit whatmatters.vfs.com/media

Tickets on Sale for Fallbrook's First Film Festival

The first Fallbrook Film Festival will feature nearly 80 independent films from all over the globe, workshops, student productions and special recognition of those who work behind the scenes to make and distribute films.

Sponsored by the Fallbrook Film Factory, the three-day event runs April 25-27 and reflects Fallbrook's rich filmmaking traditions going back to the days when famed director Frank Capra and his family lived in the community.

"We are very pleased with the outstanding caliber of films that have been submitted and the excellent workshops and seminars that will be presented at our first Fallbrook Film Festival," said Brigitte Schlemmer, Film Festival director and executive director for the Art Campus of Fallbrook.

A Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to cinematographer and former Fallbrook resident Tom Del Ruth who worked on Clint Eastwood's "Outlaw Jose Wales," "Stand By Me," "The Mighty Ducks," "The Breakfast Club," "Look Who's Talking" and "The West Wing."

Adam McKay, the filmmaking partner of Will Ferrell, will be honored with a Spotlight Award to recognize his contributions to film, television and the Internet.

The selections were juried by a panel including members of the Writer's Guild of America (WGA), the Director's Guild of America (DGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Awards given for Special Jury Award, Best Student Film, and from film categories Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short and Animation will be presented to the winners during a special ceremony at the Fallbrook Art Center on April 27.

Tickets are $10 for each showing at the Mission Theatre, 231 North Main Street in Fallbrook. Other screening venues include The Art Campus, Cafe Des Artistes and JJ Purty Landers in downtown Fallbrook. One-day screening passes are $30, three-day screenings are $75, and VIP all access passes for all screenings, workshops and special events are $150. Tickets for the opening reception on April 25 at the Fallbrook Art Center are $35 each and include the opening night film. Tickets to the closing night awards ceremony are $35.

A series of filmmaking workshops are scheduled at the Art Campus at Fallbrook and a full weekend of festivities and special events are planned throughout the Village of Fallbrook. There is a Saturday night presentation by Dennis Martinez, one of the legendary skateboarders featured in "D.O.P.E.," a documentary on the rise and fall of skateboarding in the 1980s.

Tickets go on sale April 1 at the CAST Box Office at 200 N. Main Street. Phone: (760) 731-2278. To learn more about the film festival go to http://www.fallbrookfilmfestival.com/.

MonkeySee U Seeks Film Entries from College Filmmakers

MonkeySee.com, a destination for how-to expert videos, has launched MonkeySee U, their first-ever student filmmaker contest. College students across the country will have the opportunity to show off their video skills and win cool prizes.

The contest kicks off on March 10, 2008, and submissions are due by April 30, 2008. MonkeySee U will accept video submissions from any undergraduate student enrolled in a U.S. two or four-year college or university. Both the Grand Prize winner and his or her school stand to win big if their video is chosen.

The Grand Prize winner and his or her school will each receive a Sony Prosumer HDV video camera. The runner-up will be awarded $250 and an Apple iPod Touch, and five third-place winners will receive Apple iPod Video Nanos.

Videos submitted for the first-ever MonkeySee U Contest will be evaluated on creativity, quality, number of views, and peer ratings. After uploading a video, students can showcase and share their work through their own video channel. Videos are easily embedded and can also be shared on blogs and popular social networking sites. Students may enter as many videos as they wish, but videos must meet the MonkeySee.com UGV (User Generated Video) standards outlined in the contest rules, available online at http://www.monkeyseeu.com/

The Los Angeles Film School to Launch First Degree Program

The Los Angeles Film School has announced the start date for its first degree offering, an Associate of Science Degree in Film, set to begin in July 2008.

The Film Associate's Degree Program will replace the Immersion Certificate Program that the school has offered since its inception in 1999. The new degree, which would typically account for two years of credit hours at a traditional college, will be completed through 12 months of immersive study.

Continuing upon the success of the Certificate Program, the Film Associate's Degree will focus on the three elements that produce successful professionals in the film industry; the Art, the Technology and the Business. Students will be actively involved in learning skills in all major disciplines of filmmaking which include directing, screenwriting, producing, cinematography, art direction, production and post-production.

"The introduction of our very first degree program puts The Los Angeles Film School on the world map for quality filmmaking education," said Diana Derycz-Kessler, Chief Executive Officer. "It is one of many strides our school is taking to become an even stronger academic center for aspiring filmmakers."

In addition to the new degree offering, the school has recently expanded its campus by adding 100,000 feet of labs, studios, classrooms and administrative support facilities. The highlight of the expansion is a new Hollywood set, which is a two-story 3,000 square foot Victorian house in the main stage that utilizes age-old industry techniques such as green screen, painted backgrounds and a back-lit illuminated trans-light.

Los Angeles Film School graduates and current students enrolled in the Immersion Certificate Program will also have the opportunity to take advantage of the new degree program. The school will continue to enroll and graduate students on a monthly basis.

Website: http://www.lafilm.com/

FilmClick.com Launches Film Hosting Website

FilmClick, a film hosting website and online community, has launched the beta version of http://www.filmclick.com/. FilmClick aims to deliver a library of original feature-length films and shorts, as well as provide an online community for everyone involved in amateur, independent, and commercial films to connect and be discovered. Accompanying the launch of the beta website, FilmClick also announced its upcoming, online film festival, accepting entries through June 30, 2008.

FilmClick has many quality features, separating it from other video-hosting websites. FilmClick seeks true films as opposed to the viral videos found on many popular websites. The video quality on FilmClick is much higher than that offered on many other video websites, including full and widescreen capabilities, giving viewers a more enjoyable experience while viewing films over the Internet. Also, there are no restrictions on the file size or the length of films users can upload. FilmClick wants all filmmakers to take part in this online community and have their works seen by a global audience. FilmClick offers a free, mail-in service for conversion to digital format for films currently on tapes, reels and other media.

In addition to hosting films, FilmClick serves as a social networking arena for everyone interested and involved in film. FilmClick believes that everyone contributing to a film, not just actors and filmmakers, should be recognized. FilmClick welcomes and encourages behind-the-scenes crewmembers to join the FilmClick community. Those not working in the film industry but who enjoy watching films are also welcomed to join and view films, all while being able to connect and interact with those who worked on the creation. Users can create FilmClick profiles, view films, upload films, add friends, post comments, review films, create groups, join groups, and much more. It is not required to register with FilmClick to view films, however registration is recommended to explore the full services offered by FilmClick.

FilmClick also announced it will be sponsoring and hosting an online film festival, with entries being accepted through June 30, 2008. The categories for entry are: Comedy, Documentary, and General Films (includes all other genres). Each film can be entered into just one category; however, there is no limit to the number of films submitted by one user. Over $5,000 will be awarded in total, with registered FilmClick users determining the winners.

Green Eyed Monster and $10,000 Prize Lure Horror Movie Fans

Filmmakers Gabriel Barboza and Jose Sauceda have begun their cross-country trek in an unprecedented grassroots effort to spread the word about the new movie Green Eyed Monster and the $10,000 contest built into it. The pair financed the tour by auctioning off ad space on a large mobile billboard truck that will be driven from New York to Los Angeles.

The filmmakers completed a regional round through Texas - with a presence at Texas Frightmare Weekend, Texas Fearfest, and the Austin, TX debut of the movie at the Dobie Theater - and are headed eastward into New Jersey for the Monster Mania convention. The film will also screen in Queens, NY at the Hell Gate Social Club before they head westward toward California. The journey will culminate in Los Angeles for Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors at the Los Angeles convention center, and a screening of the film.

The film is a supernatural thriller based on Hispanic folklore. A group of young friends are drawn to an abandoned ranch by rumors of hidden money. Their hunger for the money grows as the grisly history of the land threatens to consume them all.

The official website, http://www.greeneyedmonstermovie.com/, follows the pair through video-logs and blogs about their journey. The tour schedule and locations can be found on the site as well.

Tour screenings include Queens, Atlanta, Tucson, and Los Angeles. To personalize the experience they have extended an offer to the general public for anyone who hosts a Watching Party by saying that they will make the parties official stops along the tour. The filmmakers will also hit colleges, horror conventions, and film festivals along the way.

"We want to tell the world about Green Eyed Monster," says Barboza, the director of the film.

Green Eyed Monster features a highly unique aspect. The film contains a number of clues throughout it that actually lead to real cash! Clues leading to prizes totaling more than $10,000 can be found throughout the film. "We wanted to create an exciting experience for the people who support Green Eyed Monster," Barboza explains. By engaging in the treasure hunt, people can reap great benefits from the film long after watching.

The film was shot on a modest budget with Barboza serving as Writer, Director, Producer, and Editor. The movie itself was written around a simple premise: If an audience is watching a movie about people digging for money why not let them dig for their own?

Warner Bros. Plans Two-Part Film Adaptation of Harry Potter

Warner Bros. Pictures announced that the screen adaptation of J.K. Rowling's final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be released in two parts. The announcement was made by Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Pictures Group.

Robinov also announced that director David Yates, who earlier helmed the 2007 summer blockbuster Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and is currently in production on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, will direct Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This marks the first time any one director will helm more than two releases in the Harry Potter film franchise.

In addition, David Heyman, who first brought the project toWarner Bros. in 1997, will be completing the film franchise as theproducer of all of the Harry Potter films. David Barron will also continue as producer. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be adapted by screenwriter Steve Kloves.

Los Angeles-Based Screenwriting Contest Helps Short Script Screenwriters Advance Their Careers

Los Angeles based screenwriting contest, Movie Script Contest (http://www.moviescriptcontest.com/) has announced a new award for short screenwriters from around the world. For their 2008 Movie Script Short Contest, the contest organizers will produce the winning short script, giving one lucky winner the chance to see their short script come to life on the screen.

Up to now, many writers of short scripts had to either produce their own work often at great personal expense; or let their short script collect dust on the shelf. While there are a number of screenwriting contests that accept short script entries; and prizes range from small cash awards, software and certificates, there are very few screenwriting contests that will produce the winner's short script in a professional and timely fashion.

Contest Director, Jason N. Zimmatore says, "At Movie Script Contest, we go above and beyond to assist writers. While our feature contest offers cash prizes and industry exposure; we wanted to do something big for short script writers. Though anyone can produce their own short script, and many have with great results; it's more of a challenge in terms of locating top equipment, actors and crew outside of major film production regions. Based in Los Angeles, we have access to world-class film production professionals, many of these industry pros have worked on big Hollywood movies with multi-million dollar budgets and star casts. Movie Script Contest will utilize these professionals and top-notch gear to produce the winning short of the 2008 Movie Script Short Contest. The produced, winning short will then be entered into leading film festivals around the world."

Movie Script Contest expects that the combination of an award winning short script, produced by Hollywood production professionals, entered into top festivals is a winning strategy for the winning short script writer. The City of Burbank recently honored Movie Script Contest for its outstanding contribution to new writers.

Filmmaker Balks Tradition To Pave Unconventional Distribution Route

Filmmaker Jim Killeen will steer clear of contemporary release conventions and instead premiere his film "Google Me" on a free worldwide Internet stream. This is true to form for the entrepreneur who has a history of taking his future into his own hands rather than relying on others. The movie will premiere on YouTube.com on Friday, April 25th, 2008, with a DVD release to follow on Tuesday, April 29th, 2008.

"Google Me" is a feature-length documentary about Detroit native and LA resident Jim Killeen who, like so many of us, googled his name one evening in a moment of curiosity. The difference here that the filmmaker actually followed up on his findings by not only contacting the discovered namesakes, but also traveling to whatever remote location was called for to meet and interview the subjects of his search. Jim Killeen the filmmaker found, among others, Jim Killeen the Roman Catholic priest in Cobh, Ireland, Jim Killeen the retired cop in New York, Jim Killeen the CEO in Melbourne, Australia and Jim Killeen the sexual swinger in Denver. As a result of his genealogical journey, Killeen winds up forging life-long friendships with the previously unknown Killeens, as well as documenting a provoking commentary on today's society and how technology has transformed all of our lives.

"Google Me" has been given the search engine's blessing and even features Google's VP of Engineering, Douglas Merrill, in an insightful and entertaining interview voicing his sentiments on the subject.

The Washington Post calls Killeen "The Man Who Found Himself."

For more information on "Google Me," please visit: http://www.googlemethmovie.com/.

Call for Entries for the Fourth Annual Boston Bike Film Festival

Organizers for the Fourth Annual Boston Bike Film Festival ask filmmakers with a cycling habit to submit their work to be shown October 17-18, 2008 at the historic Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, MA. Among the benefits available to acclaimed and amateur filmmakers, the Festival continues to offer a chance to get their films in front of audiences who are intrigued and influential to the quality of cycling nationwide.

The event is a fundraiser for local cycling advocacy groups, including Mass Bike (www.massbike.org), and includes a buffet by local the BBQ extraordinaires, Redbones, as well as a cash bar. Film concepts from last year's festival ranged from home moving by bike, to a group of roving BMXers looking for the ultimate empty pool to ride in, to guerrilla bike mechanics

Types of films shown at the BBFF include animated shorts, digitally enhanced clips, and feature length documentaries. Clips from last year's festival are coming soon to: http://www.bostonbikefilmfest.org/

How to submit your film

Submissions for preview should be on DVD. Early-bird submissions must be postmarked by August 16, 2008. All submissions must be received by September 20, 2008. Signed Submission and Release forms should accompany each entry.

Festival information and details for submissions can be found at http://www.bostonbikefilmfest.org/

Screenplay-by-Email Wins First Prize

Screenwriter Jeanne McKinney lives in California. Author Anne Bradshaw lives a thousand miles away in Utah. With night owl McKinney writing through midnight, and early bird Bradshaw hitting the keys at five in the morning, they created a screenplay-by-email that beat competition from around the world for Fantasy/Sci-Fi entries in the International Family Film Festival's 13th annual screenplay competition at the Raleigh Studios in Hollywood.

"The Ardanea Pendant" tells the story of three 60's college students who save untold lives when an empowered relic guides them on a mind-bending mission to reform the past, creating a new Ireland. It's history with a twist -- or a possible new genre called "Twistory."

For those who read between the lines, this exhilarating movie carries a message for the world -- that each one of us reaching out today can make a powerful collective difference in the future.

The writers, who are already planning a sequel for their award-winning screenplay, are actively seeking a producer.

Website: http://www.annebradshaw.com/

PBS' Independent Lens Seeks Film Entries

PBS's "Independent Lens" invites you to make a statement about the politics of food. Enter to win the Filmocracy mashup contest. Make a short film using "KING CORN" clips and footage from Getty Images. You can even upload your own clips and mix it all up with the Eyespot online editing tool. When you're done, check out everyone else's videos and rate your favorites.

The grand prizewinner, chosen by the "KING CORN" filmmakers, will win $1,000 and have their short screened throughout the country. The most popular and highest rated videos will be chosen by Filmocracy site visitors. Additional prizes include the "KING CORN" soundtrack and DVD, gift baskets from Urban Rustic and a signed copy of "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. The contest runs from March 7 - May 30, 2008 and the winners announced on June 23rd. Contest information at: www.pbs.org/filmocracy

Want to make the best film you can? Learn how with tips from the pros! The "Learn From the Pros" mentorship feature provides an opportunity for anyone to access independent filmmakers' tricks of the trade. In Inside Indies Learn From the Pros, six short films cover topics including stop-motion animation, the use of archival footage, finding a point of view and more. Learn From the Pros can be found at: pbs.org/indep endentlens/insideindies/learn/

Toronto Student Film Festival Wants Your Submission

Toronto Student Film Festival organizers announced today that it is now taking film submissions and tickets are now on sale. High school students are invited to enter short films, at no charge, between now - March 31, 2008.

The TSFF is focused on youth achievement in media arts. Since its inception in 2006, this prestigious festival has received hundreds of submissions from Canada and around the world, giving students a voice to tell their stories. Open to youth 21 & under, the festival features short films across a range of genres from documentary, drama, animation, comedy, etc. Full details are available at http://www.tsff.ca/.

Prizes include a 4 day CTV "internship," $1,500 tuition to a New York Film Academy Digital Filmmaking Workshop, numerous cash awards, on-line feature on the "CitizenShift" web site, Canada's own on-line media community for social change - plus other film-related prizes.

Empire Film Group and IndustryWorks Join Forces for Suspense Thriller, "Shadow Vision"

Empire Film Group, Inc. has entered into a co-production venture with Vancouver-based IndustryWorks for the financing, production and distribution of the supernatural suspense thriller, "Shadow Vision." The $2 million dollar production budget has been arranged through a combination of distribution presales, tax incentives, production services and credit, with Empire retaining the film's copyright and North American distribution and IndustryWorks handling international sales.

"Shadow Vision" is one of three theatrical productions financed by Empire Film Group in the past two months to utilize tax incentives, partnerships and presales as the primary sources of production capital. Empire plans to finance nearly $20 million worth of productions in 2008 through co-productions, tax incentives, presales and service deferrals designed to conserve capital while building a valuable library of quality films for the company.

"Shadow Vision" is a supernatural-themed thriller about a blind woman's ability to remotely sense crimes and intentions. Second unit sequences with lead actress Vivian Schilling have already been filmed, with principal photography slated to occur in May and June in New York City, Los Angeles and Fayetteville, Arkansas. IndustryWorks plans to premier a promo reel of scenes at the Cannes Film Festival in May, with completed screenings slated for the American Film Market in November.

Casting is underway, with an announcement of final cast expected in April. "Shadow Vision" was written by Eric Parkinson, who will also direct the film. Producers include Vivian Schilling, Fred Shefte and Dean Hamilton-Bornstein, with Andrew Parke as cinematographer and visual effects by Bruce Branit ("Sin City," "King Kong," "Ghost Rider").

Artfest Launches New Film and Television Procurement Division

Artfest International, Inc. has launched their new Film and Television Procurement division. This new division is in part possible due to the American Job Creation Act of 2004 (AJCA), which provides Artfest with a 100% tax credit of up to $15,000,000 towards any film, television or radio project. This new division is expected to supplement Artfest's television network, http://www.artchannel.tv/.

The Artfest Film and Television Procurement division will be lead by Bruce Scambler, Certified Public Accountant and renowned Artist. "The IRS has created an incredible opportunity for growing companies like Artfest through the AJCA and specifically, IRS Section 181. We are able to raise up to 15 million dollars for Art Channel Networks and offer Investors a 100% tax write off," stated Scambler.

The AJCA of 2004 enables Art Channel to expand its program offerings on television and to develop film projects as well. Art Channel expects that the AJCA will rapidly expand the host of artists and program offerings the Company currently produces and broadcasts due to the 100% tax credit for all involved investors.