View the official press release from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science:
www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2012/20121129a.html

GOING LONG ON SHORTSHD

Posted on: Friday, 5th Oct 2012

MultiChoice
by R. Thomas Umstead

London-based movie network ShortsHD is hoping to shine a spotlight on the movie shorts category with a package of star-studded films that will premiere on payper- view two weeks after debuting in theaters.

ShortsHD, a 24-hour HD channel distributed on AT&T U-Verse and DirecTV, is hoping to shine a light on the category with its Stars in Shorts package, which offers seven films that are 40 minutes in length or shorter and feature such stars as Jason Alexander, Keira Knightley and Lily Tomlin, according to CEO Carter Pilcher. The Stars in Shorts film began a 100-theater run Sept. 28 and will debut via PPV on In Demand Oct. 9.

The Stars in Shorts package includes such celebrities as Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Tomlin (The Procession); Knightley (Steve); Julia Stiles (Sexting); Alexander (Not Your Time); Kenneth Branagh (Prodigal); Wes Bentley (After School Special) and Judi Dench (Friend Request Pending).

Pilcher said the short-film genre — which in the past has mostly featured content from film students and upand- coming producers — has recently seen an uptick in the appearance of established actors and producers.

“The movie business is in transition — what’s happening is that movie shorts are now being seen in theaters and other platforms,” he said.

It’s also seen an increase in popularity among theatergoers in recent years. The network generated $1.7 million at the box office this past February with a run of 2012 Oscar-nominated short films, a nearly 800% improvement since 2006 when the network first offered that year’s Oscar-nominated shorts.

Pilcher said the network is talking to cable operators about distribution of the ShortsHD channel, which last year offered 4,000 short films, although no deals are pending.
By: R. THOMAS UMSTEAD

London-based movie network ShortsHD is hoping to shine a spotlight on the movie shorts category with a package of star-studded films that will premiere on payper- view two weeks after debuting in theaters.

ShortsHD, a 24-hour HD channel distributed on AT&T U-Verse and DirecTV, is hoping to shine a light on the category with its Stars in Shorts package, which offers seven films that are 40 minutes in length or shorter and feature such stars as Jason Alexander, Keira Knightley and Lily Tomlin, according to CEO Carter Pilcher. The Stars in Shorts film began a 100-theater run Sept. 28 and will debut via PPV on In Demand Oct. 9.

The Stars in Shorts package includes such celebrities as Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Tomlin (The Procession); Knightley (Steve); Julia Stiles (Sexting); Alexander (Not Your Time); Kenneth Branagh (Prodigal); Wes Bentley (After School Special) and Judi Dench (Friend Request Pending).

Pilcher said the short-film genre — which in the past has mostly featured content from film students and upand- coming producers — has recently seen an uptick in the appearance of established actors and producers.

“The movie business is in transition — what’s happening is that movie shorts are now being seen in theaters and other platforms,” he said.

It’s also seen an increase in popularity among theatergoers in recent years. The network generated $1.7 million at the box office this past February with a run of 2012 Oscar-nominated short films, a nearly 800% improvement since 2006 when the network first offered that year’s Oscar-nominated shorts.

Pilcher said the network is talking to cable operators about distribution of the ShortsHD channel, which last year offered 4,000 short films, although no deals are pending.

BIG SCREEN BERKELEY - STARS IN SHORTS

Posted on: Wednesday, 26th Sep 2012

BERKELEY, CA's INDEPENDENT NEWS SITE
September 25, 2012 7:00am
by John Seal

Ever wonder what Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench might look like in shorts? Wonder no longer: the two thespians appear together (but separately) in Stars In Shorts, a program of seven short subjects opening at Landmarks’ Shattuck Cinemas on Friday, September 28.

As you’ve probably guessed, Dench and Branagh aren’t alone — each of the program’s seven films includes at least one cinema big-shot within its cast. One might suspect such larger-than-life personalities would overwhelm the small-scale proceedings in which they’re involved, but thankfully that’s never the case.

Best of show is clearly Not Your Time, a very funny comedy headlined by former ‘Seinfeld’ star Jason Alexander. Alexander plays Sid Rosenthal, a film editor whose job it is to remove expletives from movies prior to their airline bookings. A frustrated musician with a thankless day job, Sid pitches a remake of Babes In Toyland entitled Babes in Toys R Us to some Hollywood bigwigs, who are immediately enamored with the gruesome concept.

This being Tinsel Town, however, the road from concept to greenlight is a long one, and Sid soon discovers that its sometimes just as frustrating to sell a script as not. Writer-director Jay Kamen clearly knows a thing or two about showbiz disappointment (he started his own career as a child entertainer in the Catskills), and Not Your Time provides an acerbic look at the machinations of the Hollywood sausage factory. If you’re a fan of Robert Altman’s The Player, you’ll get similar mileage from Kamen’s film.

Acerbic scribe Neil La Bute contributes his writing and directorial skills to Sexting, an eight-minute near-monologue in which Julia Stiles plays a woman who bares her soul to her lover’s wife, only to discover her confession is all for naught. La Bute also penned the slightly longer After-School Special, the story of a divorced dad (Wes Bentley) trying to pick up a single mother (Sarah Paulson) at the local playground; the film features a vicious sting in its tail which many viewers will find, to put it mildly, a little troubling.

The aforementioned Judi Dench is superb in Friend Request Pending, a delightful look at old age pensioners discovering the challenges of online social networking. Though the film drifts into comfy armchair territory, it’s still a pleasure to watch Dench and co-star Penny Ryder exchange catty remarks.

It’s a bit hard to determine precisely what’s wrong with director Rupert Friend’s Steve, but it’s clearly not Colin Firth. Superb as the title character, a high-strung Londoner who enjoys a chat and a cup of tea with anyone who’ll invite him in, Firth nails a stirring soliloquy during the film’s final scene. Keira Knightley co-stars as the woman whose kettle he chooses to latch on to, but the film is unfocussed and a bit flat. It’s not bad, just a slight disappointment.

Bringing up the rear are The Procession, in which Lily Tomlin plays a harridan driving her son round the bend on the way to a funeral, and Prodigal, featuring Kenneth Branagh as a research scientist conducting experiments involving a young girl and telekinesis. Certainly the most traditionally cinematic offering on tap, the film tries to say something profound but is overwrought, poorly acted, and utterly unbelievable. If by chance Prodigal brings up the rear in Stars In Shorts, save yourself 25 minutes and leave early.

EXAMINER.COM - STARS IN SHORTS

Posted on: Tuesday, 25th Sep 2012

Stars in Shorts - 7 short films studded with stars and loaded with fresh ideas

September 23, 2012
by Bonnie Steiger

Following the highly successful showings of its annual Oscar® Nominated Short Films, Shorts HD™ now presents STARS IN SHORTS, a celebrity-packed release of short movies featuring some of the world's most recognized and celebrated stars. The program is a tour de force of award winning talent including Colin Firth, Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, Keira Knightley, Julia Stiles, Wes Bentley, Jason Alexander, Lily Tomlin and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Prepare to laugh out loud, to be shocked and to love the endearingly quirky as they bring you some of your favorite stars as you've never seen them before.

The seven short movies showcased in ShortsHD™'s Stars in Shorts include:
View slideshow: Stars in Shorts

The Procession - Lily Tomlin seems to have a very fresh, new face in this short film, almost unrecognizable, but oh so lovely. She plays a mother to Jessie Tyler Ferguson's son, both going to the funeral of a girl who was a friend of Lily's daughter, but whom neither Lily nor Jessie had ever met. So, no emotional investment there. After the funeral, they get stuck in the car procession to the cemetery and stop at a red light. Now, the half of the procession behind them is following them and they don't know where they're going. This could happen to anyone, so we can all relate. But their emotionally roller coaster ride as they hunt for the burial site is something only these two comedians can pull off.

Steve - Colin Firth portrays an unusually needy neighbor to an exasperated Keira Knightley and a preoccupied Tom Mison in this intriguing and quirky movie. WIth each of Firth's unnecessary visits to his neighbors, the emotional ante is upped and his mesmerizing acting skill rivets the audience. Fifteen minutes is all it takes to get the whole story and thrill at the interplay of these characters.

Sexting - Julia Stiles gives a standout performance as a young woman fed up with her relationship with a married man in this Neil LaBute-directed comedy. I could see the payoff as soon as Stiles sat down at the cafe where a woman was sitting and drinking some iced tea. Still, a monologue of over 7 minutes, with the actress looking straight into the camera, is a thing to behold. Stiles pulled it off with a combination of whimsy and control.

Not Your Time - Jason Alexander is an aspiring Hollywood screenwriter at the end of his rope in this engaging musical comedy. We watch Sid Rosenthal as a child about to have a colitis operation, then inspired by Sammy Davis, Jr., in 'Golden Boy' on Broadway, through his musical comedy education to his disappointments in the real world of Hollywood, till he decides to put an end to it, all to a fun soundtrack, eight dancers and one singer in the style of 'All That Jazz' (1979).

Prodigal - Starring Kenneth Branagh, Travis Crim (also writer) and Jennifer Morrison. Parents of a paranormal child enact a dangerous plan to free her from the frightening grip of a clandestine organization in this suspense-filled sci-fi thriller. Another take on the protect-the-gifted-child-from-scientific-research genre. It could have even been shorter than the 25 minute running time, with its over long scene with Branagh discussing the child's future with her father, but the payoff 17 minutes in is worth the wait.

After School Special - Starring Wes Bentley, Sarah Paulson and written by Neil LaBute. A man and a woman have an awkward encounter at an indoor playground. I'm waiting to see if the stranger really has a child with him or if he's a stalker. But LaBute, ever since his debut film 'In The Company of Men' (1997), has always been full of surprises and shocks. He leaves us with a big 'Huh!?' at the end of this 9 minute story. Yes, it has a beginning, middle and end, with lots to think about after.

Friend Request Pending - Judi Dench captures your heart while trying to navigate the complicated landscape of internet dating; with Tom Hiddleston. If two 16 year old valley girls had played the parts of Judi Dench and Penny Rider, the dialogue would be the same. This is the influence social media has on all, horny teens to senior ladies living in the British countryside. And these actresses ring as true in their performances as anyone looking for love on the net. LOL.

Starts September 28 at Opera Plaza Cinema in San Francisco, Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley, Camera 3 in San Jose, and Summerfield Cinemas in Santa Rosa.

INDIEWIRE “THOMPSON ON HOLLYWOOD” BY MAGGIE LANGE

Posted on: Tuesday, 25th Sep 2012

September 19, 2012
INDIEWIRE

Review: Seven Shorts Showcase Rare Performances from Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Jason Alexander, Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh

This fall, ShortsHD will present a collection of several brief films unambiguously titled "Stars in Shorts." Each of these otherwise unconnected seven films features big name talent such as Judi Dench, Colin Firth, Tom Hiddleston, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh, Lily Tomlin, and Jason Alexander. The seven films, reviewed below, will premiere in theaters on September 28th, followed by an iTunes/Pay Per View release on October 9.

"Stars in Shorts" comes on the heels of a perceived audience demand for a showcase of bite-size movies, spurred by success of the Oscar-nominated short films program, which grew audience attendance in theaters by 800% from its launch in 2006.

Like novellas or short stories, brevity is the soul of these short films. Their length ranges from 8 to 25 minutes. In some, the economy of the film allows for a satisfying bow to tie-up the plot; in others, the short timeframe permits a lingering sense of wonder or shock to continue after the audience has a chance to digest. Most of the seven meet a pretty high standard in short filmmaking -- and a few even dazzle with inventive imagery and punchy dialogue.

The Procession, 2012 (1)
Director: Robert Festinger
Actors: Lily Tomlin and Jessie Tyler Ferguson
Mood: Hysteric and hysterical gallows humor

The premise of "The Procession" is dark comic gold: a mother and son attend a funeral of a woman they don't know, but accidentally stop at a red light during the procession from funeral to burial, blindly leading half of the mourners to a randomly selected graveyard. Tomlin plays a preposterously hilarious, self-involved snoot, who is primarily concerned about the possibility of prosciutto at the reception. With convincing joy, Tomlin and Ferguson depict a mother-son duo to perfection, acting simultaneously annoyed with each other while effortlessly mirroring the other's body language. The pair find themselves navigating between exasperation, fits of laughter, and then horror as they remember the consequences of leading carloads of loved ones away from the burial. Festinger maintains the dark humor through the 12 minute short, from the tearful beginning to the darkly glorious "Thelma and Louise" denouement.

Prodigal, 2011 (2)
Director: Benjamin Grayson
Actors: Kenneth Branagh, Jennifer Morrison, Travis Crim, Jade Pettyjohn
Mood: Dreamlike JJ Abrams-inspired suspense

Benjamin Grayson's 25-minute short "Prodigal" comes across like a promising pilot to a breakout sci-fi series: a gifted child's parents must protect her from two different manipulative and mysterious agencies attempting to harness their daughter's strange gift. Branagh shows restrained power as one of the masterminds attempting to exploit the young child separate from her parents. A spooky, hesitant score and intriguing suspense underly the outstanding imagery and special effects in this short. The overall heart of the story is simply tragic: a tale of parents hopelessly trying to protect their fragile child.

Steve, 2010 (3)
Director: Rupert Friend
Actors: Kiera Knightley, Colin Firth, and Tom Mison
Mood: British sensibilities boiled over

Rupert Friend begins his short film, "Steve," with a striking shot of a tea bag releasing its inky flavor into water. The sensitive image sets the mood for this perplexing short: the mysterious ways that calm can be invaded. It begins with a young couple arguing, a heated moment bubbling over as a tea kettle screams in the background. It's a heavy-handed metaphor, but portrayed with lovely execution. At the height of the chaos, a neighbor named Steve (Firth) rings the bell, inviting himself in. His derangement begins to seep through as he demands more than a cuppa from his upstairs neighbors. Friend expertly controls the tension in his glowering fifteen minute short.

Friend Request Pending, 2011 (4)
Director: Chris Foggin
Actors: Judi Dench, Tom Hiddleston, Penny Ryder, Philip Johnson
Mood: Delightfully sweet and snarky

This short film is a delight throughout, as two elderly women fuss about with the myriad of technological options available to contact a recent crush. Mary (Dench) and her friend Linda (Ryder) are quite tech-savvy; they understand the subtle differences between poking, private messaging, posting, and chatting. Dench is as charming as you would expect. When she slams the laptop shut after Trevor signs online, running away from the laptop, she absolutely glows; it's a "You've Got Mail" gag in the right hands to revive the moment. Dench also delivers the hilarious one liners with fresh sweetness: "Maybe I should say 'Hello,' 'Hi' is a bit mid-90s, isn't it?"

Not Your Time, 2010 (5)
Director: Jay Kamen
Actors: Jason Alexander
Mood: Dark Hollywood satire

Like "The Procession," Jay Kamen's "Not Your Time" has a pitch perfect grasp of dark humor. This short musical surveys the life of Sid Rosenthal (played by Jason Alexander), who dreamed of creating musicals but now censors expletives from movies before they show on airplanes. After his latest Hollywood disappointment, in which a studio executive refuses to produce his movie, claiming that they liked it too much and feared it would conflict with the release of "Toy Story 12," Rosenthal decides to kill himself -- unless someone talks him out of it. In an attempt to find someone who suggests that he keep breathing, he calls everyone he's worked with announcing his impending suicide, and finds himself in an absurd situation only Hollywood could produce. The film is packed with a series of executives, directors, and producers all played by themselves including Amy Pascal, Sid Ganis, Joe Roth, Stuart Cornfeld, Jack Rapke, Lawrence Mark, Amy Heckerling, Neal Israel, and Chris Buck.

After School Special, 2011 (6)
Director: Jacob Chase
Actors: Sarah Paulson, Wes Bentley, and Sam Cohen
Mood: Uneven, awkward

The setting of "After School Special" is the most interesting aspect of this short film from Jacob Chase: a cheesy and cheery indoor playpen at a fast food restaurant. It provides a bright and simple contrast to the uncomfortable awkwardness of the social scenarios playing out next to the jungle gym. Written by Neil LaBute, the dialogue is intentionally stilted as an edgy divorced father (Wes Bentley) tries to woo his daughter's standoffish teacher (Sarah Paulson), while her eyes are clearly more focused on her young student (Sam Cohen).

Sexting, 2010 (7)
Director: Neil LaBute
Actor: Julia Stiles
Mood: Catty and confessional

This well-executed eight minute short is essentially a monologue, as Julia Stiles plays a mistress confronting her boyfriend's wife. In a overwhelming bout of nerves and catty one-upmanship, she brags about her lover's affection for her and then whimpers about his deceptive lies. She prods, probes, instigates, pleads, whines, and breaks down. She confesses she knows this woman's gym schedules, asks about her Pilates class, and then proceeds to inquire on the possibility of her lover's impending divorce. Stiles shines, as she impressively makes her way through a six-minute shot of her rant, ending in a well-timed twist.

Sara Tehrani
Marina Bailey Film Publicity
323.962.7511 - office
818.679.6162 - cell
pr@marinabailey.com

SCREEN INVASION - INTERVIEW WITH RUPERT FRIEND

Posted on: Monday, 24th Sep 2012

Article: Eric Ambler
September 19, 2012

Interview: 'STEVE' Writer-Director Rupert Friend

Professionally-trained British actor Rupert Friend is probably best known to audiences (especially fans of “chick flicks”) for his roles in the period dramas Pride and Prejudice and The Young Victoria, but in recent years he’s also honed his skills as a writer, director, and producer of short films with his production company, Beat Pictures. His latest short, Steve, assembles an impressive array of talent, with Oscar-winner Colin Firth as an eccentric man who makes progressively bizarre unannounced visits to the flat of bickering couple Keira Knightley and Tom Mison.

Accepted into 15 international film festivals throughout 2011, Steve was also selected to be a part of the short film anthology Stars in Shorts distributed by the cable channel ShortsTV. Friend recently took the time to answer some of our questions about Steve ahead of Stars in Shorts’ theatrical release on September 28, and matched the droll wit of his film with his musings about the danger of allegories, the comforts of ambiguity, and how the project began as entertainment for a captive audience…

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about how Steve was first conceived?

A: Steve began as a short story I wrote for my friends to keep in the bathroom. Reading it lasted the right amount of time for the things that happen in there.

Q: Steve marks your directorial debut. What drew you to a new role behind the camera?

A: Truthfully, it just seemed easier than trying to explain to someone else what this was all about. The character treads such a fine line, tonally. I also charged myself nothing to hire myself.

Q: How did the casting come about? Did you envision Keira Knightley and Colin Firth in their roles, or were they looking to do something a little different?

A: I sent the book to Colin (for his bathroom) because we had long shared a similar sense of humour as well as a love of books and stories. He joked that “if they ever make the film of this, you know who should play Steve, don’t you?” I took him seriously. I had always wanted to see Keira do something very naturalistic and modern day, and the idea of combining that with a slightly dark surreality also felt like territory I hadn’t seen her in before. And her [Scottish] accent was flawless and needed using.

Q: What, if anything, did you apply from your own experiences as an actor during shooting?

A: I don’t think that telling actors what to do is helpful, and neither do I think a helpless “I don’t know, you’re the actor” shoulder-shrug is any use. Somewhere in between those two is a magic thing I have experienced, rarely, as an actor, where somebody helps you to find out for yourself what to do, and then is as surprised and delighted as you are.

Q: The film starts very much in medias res with a heated argument between a man and a woman, then becomes more dry and eccentric as Steve gets involved. What were you aiming for in terms of tone?

A: There is a sense that Steve’s timing couldn’t have been worse, yet paradoxically, he is distracting the couple from themselves, something we are often all to reluctant to allow to happen. His entrance is very deliberately the absolute boiling point of the argument, so that his arrival is not only a punctuation point, but a release valve for the couple and the audience.

Steve himself was a challenge that only an actor as gifted as Colin could have pulled off. He needed to have the jovial familiarity of a harmless eccentric and yet be able to spin that on a sixpence when things start to go wrong. Colin was fearless in his exploration of this, and we worked hard together on imagining a life for Steve prior to the film’s timespan. Some people have said that they wished the couple had given him some tea, and taken the chance to make a new friend, others are convinced that Steve kills and eats them at the end. This ambiguity is something I’ve always loved when reading or watching stories.

Q: Can you say anything about the film’s metaphorical slant? It almost seems like an allegory with the generic character names and Steve’s cryptic chatter (mostly comprised of strained small talk).

A: Allegories are very dangerous I always think. Steve is a story about a man who came to tea…

Q: What was the inspiration for the character of Steve? Is he partly based on any busybody neighbors from real life?

A: Steve got his name from a plumber who sold a story to a newspaper about me and then called me up for a chat to see if there was anything else I wanted to tell him. Fortunately my neighbour at the time Steve was written was a gentle pothead who was far too stoned to care about tea.

Q: Do you have any further plans to write and/or direct?

A: If the right idea came along I would love that.

Stars in Shorts (featuring Rupert Friend’s Steve) receives a limited North American theatrical release on September 28 and will be available on iTunes and VOD on October 9.

Sara Tehrani
marina bailey film publicity
323.962.7511 - office
818.679.6162 - cell
pr@marinabailey.com

JUDI DENCH SHINES IN STARS IN SHORTS

Posted on: Monday, 24th Sep 2012

BRITISH WEEKLY - Southern California’s British Accent – Since 1984™

September 20, 2012 11:58 pm

Dame Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, Keira Knightley and Colin Firth are among the British stars of a new collection of short movies entitled “Stars In Shorts”, opening in limited release in Los Angeles on September 28th.

The seven shorts – which range from eight to 25 minutes in length – are a presentation of Shorts HD, a cable channel whose programming is categorized into one-hour and half-hour themed blocks that cover a variety of genres, including comedies, musicals, documentaries, thrillers, dramas and animation. The shorts in question here range markedly in genre and quality, but there are no real duds. The pick of the bunch is probably The Procession, starring Lily Tomlin and Jesse Tyler Ferguson as mother and son who get lost on their way to a burial in this Los Angeles-based comedy. 12 minutes long and directed by Robert Festinger.

Judi Dench impresses in Friend Request Pending, a gentle comedy of internet dating among Britain’s mature generation. The twelve-minute tale follows Mary (Dench) and Linda (Penny Ryder) who spend an afternoon discussing the pleasures, pitfalls and problems with using Facebook to try and woo the local choirmaster Trevor (Philip Jackson). Directed by Chris Foggin, this is a short, slight piece which benefits from the cozy, one-room setting and the impeccable homey authenticity of Dench, who is watchable in just about anything. The best moment comes when she allows a slighly saucy smile to crease her benign English features as he refers to her prey as ‘a real fox’.

Slightly less successful is Steve, a 16-minute comic drama starring Keira Knightley as the shrewish Scottish wife of a procrastinating writer (Tom Mison) who over the course of three days is interrrupted by her whiny neighbor, Steve (Colin Firth). First Steve complains about a non-existent water leak, then a non-existent loud party with rap music playing till 3am, and finally about their feckless postman. Knightley’s character is no shrinking violet but even she is cowed by Steve’s raging demands on the third day, to be offered a cup of tea, a plate of biscuits and some conversation. There’s plenty going on here about classic aspects of British life including the ritual of tea, getting on with the neighbors and passive-aggressive relationships but it never really comes together and ends far too abruptly. Written and directed by Rupert Friend.

Prodigal is the longest of the offerings here and centers on the atttempts of a creepy Kenneth Branagh, representing some shadowy US government agency, to take control of a young girl with telekinetic powers. In an extended sequence in a café where he first charms and then bullies the child’s father, Branagh moves from deferential to menacing in short order, and though he’s never convincing as a heavy, he does finally get to make dramatic use of those annoyingly thin lips of his. He also comes to a sticky end thanks to the young girl’s powers, unleashed with some very b-movie special effects. Also starring Jennifer Morrison (of House fame), and directed by Benjamin Grayson.

The two other most interesting pieces here are both by Neil LaBute, who proves he can be as provocative and unsettling in the short form as the long. Sexting is an eight minute, near-monologue by Julia Styles as a married man’s young mistress, confronting her lover’s wife, and After School Special, an even creepier effort starring Wes Bentley and Sarah Paulson as a man and a woman who have an awkward encounter at an indoor playground.

Jason Alexander fans will find some comic relief seeing the Seinfeld alum star in Not Your Time, as an aspiring Hollywood screenwriter at the end of his rope in this musical comedy.
25 minutes, directed by Jay Kamen.

Stars in Shorts’ theatrical release on September 28th will be followed by release on iTunes and on cable and satellite pay-per-view on Oct. 9.

SHORTSHD™ BRINGS TODAY’S BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST STARS TO THEATERS ACROSS AMERICA IN THE THEATRICAL RELEASE OF STARS IN SHORTS

Posted on: Wednesday, 5th Sep 2012

Movie Premieres in Theaters September 28th
iTunes and Cable Pay Per View to follow on October 9th 2012

August 20, 2012 Los Angeles, CA - Following the highly successful release of its annual Oscar® Nominated Short Films this past February, ShortsHD today announced Stars in Shorts, a celebrity-packed release of short movies featuring some of the world’s most recognized and celebrated stars. The program, opening in theatres beginning September 28th, is a tour de force of award winning talent including Colin Firth, Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, Keira Knightley, Julia Stiles, Wes Bentley, Jason Alexander, Lily Tomlin and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Prepare to laugh out loud, to be shocked and to love the endearingly quirky as they bring you some of your favorite stars as you’ve never seen them before.

The seven incredible short movies showcased in ShortsHD™’s Stars in Shorts include:

• The Procession - Starring Lily Tomlin and Jessie Tyler Ferguson. Tomlin and Ferguson are
mother and son who get lost on their way to a burial in this laugh out loud, side-splitting
comedy.

• Steve - Starring Keira Knightley, Colin Firth. In Steve, Firth portrays an unusually needy
neighbor to an exasperated Keira Knightley in this intriguing and quirky movie.

• Sexting - Starring Julia Stiles, directed by Neil LaBute. Stiles gives a standout performance as
a young woman fed up with her relationship with a married man in this Neil LaBute comedy.

• Not Your Time - Starring Jason Alexander. Jason Alexander is an aspiring Hollywood
screenwriter at the end of his rope in this engaging musical comedy.

• Prodigal - Starring Kenneth Branagh and Jennifer Morrison. Parents of a paranormal child
enact a dangerous plan to free her from the frightening grip of a clandestine organization in
this suspense-filled sci-fi thriller.

• After School Special - Starring Wes Bentley, Sarah Paulson and written by Neil LaBute. A man
and a woman have an awkward encounter at an indoor playground in this Neil LaBute
penned slice-of-life starring Sarah Paulson and Wes Bentley.

• Friend Request Pending - Starring Judi Dench and Tom Hiddleston. Judi Dench captures your
heart while trying to navigate the complicated landscape of internet dating.

“Stars in Shorts brings audiences some of the most entertaining acting performances they will see this year. With all the varnish of Hollywood stripped away, this is riveting story-telling and raw talent at work,” said Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive of ShortsHD. “We’re thrilled to be bringing such talented filmmaking to theaters across America.”

Stars in Shorts, a collection of short movies, follows the success of the annual release of “The Oscar® Nominated Short Films”, which has become a key fixture of the awards season and charted a spectacular 800% growth in attendance since its inception in 2006. Stars in Shorts’ theatrical release will be followed by release on iTunes and on Cable & Satellite Pay Per View on October 9th, making each film available in 54 countries across the globe on mobile devices, DirectTV, and AT&T U-verse.

A list of participating theaters premiering Stars in Shorts can be seen by visiting www.shorts.tv/starsinshorts, or by checking your local theater listings.

Contact
Fabric Media
Theo Dumont
424-228-2114
(theo@dumontmarketing.com)

PITCH!

Posted on: Wednesday, 5th Sep 2012

London/Utrecht, 5 September 2012 ShortsTV, the short movie channel, is offering you the opportunity to pitch your next short film project and receive funding of €5,000 to produce it and get it on air!

THE CHALLENGE:

You have one take of 2 minutes and 15 seconds to sell your idea on camera. You must also provide a 45 second extract of your previous work (from either a short film or showreel with clearances) for our judges to see how well you can deliver.

The pitching sessions will be filmed in Utrecht at the Netherlands Film Festival on the 27, 28 & 29 of September from 10am until 12:30pm each day.

THE RULES:

• You must be registered at the Netherlands Film Festival 2012

• You must have already made a short film

• You may pitch only in Dutch or English

• You will need to give us a 45 second extract of your work (all rights must be cleared) no later than 22 September. File delivery and tech specs will be sent with the time slot confirmation.

• You must hold the relevant copyright to your pitch idea in order to protect the ownership of your idea (the idea must be your own).

• You must pitch your project in no more than 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

• Your pitch to camera will be eligible for broadcast on ShortsTV throughout Europe and the United States.

• REGISTRATION COMPULSORY BY EMAIL to pitch@shorts.tv BEFORE THE 18th of SEPTEMBER 2012.

Please include your FULL NAME, CONTACT DETAILS AND AVAILABILITY. A member of the team will contact you to confirm your appointment. There are a limited number of spots, which will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

The top pitches will be broadcast on the UPC Event Channel (channel 14) during the festival.

For more information, please contact Kim Partington on
+44 (0) 207 012 1598 or k.partington@shortsinternational.com

For press enquiries, please contact Judith Huisman on
+31 (0) 6538 31316 or judith@100procentpuur.nl

SHORTSHD™ GETS ANIMATED! WITH HOMAGE TO ANIMATION ICON BILL PLYMPTON

Posted on: Monday, 30th Jul 2012

July 25, 2012 Los Angeles, CA--- ShortsHD™ (www.shortshd.com), the world’s only TV network dedicated to short movies is launching this week a special collection of short films from animation icon Bill Plympton on Animate!. Airing tomorrow, the ShortsHD™ ANIMATE! Special will feature a series of animated short films from the award-winning animator.

The special will also feature the world premiere of the ShortsHD™ documentary film: BILL PLYMPTON RESTORES MCCAY’S THE FLYINGHOUSE, a short doc featuring interviews with Plympton and Mathew Modine (The Dark Knight Rises). Plympton and his team are hard at work restoring one of the earliest animations by the father of animation Winsor McCay—his animated classic 1921 short film The Flying House, which is being voiced by Modine.

The documentary short will be followed by other Plympton classic animation films including: THE COW THAT WANTED TO BE A HAMBURGER and INGRIDPITT: BEYOND THE FORREST

The special kicks off this Wednesday July 25 at 8pm and 11pm EST/5pm and 8pm PST and repeats on Saturday July 28 at 8pm and 11pm EST and 5pm and 8pm PST.

"Bill Plympton is a cult figure amongst animators, and is known by audiences for his distinctive style and hilarious imagination," said Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive of ShortsHD. "We're thrilled to bring our audiences some of Bill's most entertaining films plus the inside scoop on his restoration of Winsor McCay's historic 1921 animated short—it's an amazing undertaking."

Bill Plympton is an Oscar® nominated animator. He is a cartoonist, director, screenwriter and producer best known for his 1987 Academy Award® nominated shorts Your Face and Guard Dog. Plympton’s cartoons have appeared in such magazines as Viva, Penthouse, Rolling Stone, National Lampoon, and Glamour. Plympton’s credits include a slew of animated features, documentaries, live-action features, animated shorts, compilations, music videos and commercials.

Animation Magazine Coverage

Contact

Fabric Media
Theo Dumont
424-228-2114
theo@dumontmarketing.com

SHORTSHD™ TO PREMIERE VINTAGE JUBILEE SHORTS FROM BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE’S (BFI) NATIONAL ARCHIVE IN CELEBRATION OF THE DIAMOND JUBILEE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Posted on: Thursday, 5th Jul 2012

Shorts International To Honor BFI For Preservation of Historic Short Film at
London BFI Film Festival 2012

London UK, Los Angeles May 30, 2012---In honor of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the international celebration which marks 60 years of The Queen’s reign, ShortsHD™, the world’s only TV network dedicated to short movies, is teaming up with the British Film Institute (BFI) to world premiere Vintage Jubilee Shorts, a series of vintage short films and documentaries from the prestigious BFI national archive film vaults. The ShortsHD™ Vintage Jubilee Shorts promotion kicks off on the network on June 4 and 5 surrounding the actual dates of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and will feature vintage docs about the Queen and Britain during her era.

To commemorate the special, ShortsHD ™ is also announcing today that it will honor the BFI by presenting the organization a special “Shorts Award” for significant contributions to the “Preservation of Short Film” during the London BFI Film Festival in October (10-25, 2012).

Vintage Jubilee Shorts is a series of fascinating short vintage documentaries from the vaults of the British Film Institute’s national archive. A collection of memorable and influential shorts made in Britain between the 1930’s and 1970s, the films in the series all emerged from a vibrant public service tradition of filmmaking that started with pre-war General Post Office (GPO) and culminated in the vast post-war output of the Central Office of Information (COI). These films informed audiences in Britain and abroad about a range of issues from health and education at home to the UK’s role at large with skill, imagination and filmmaking brilliance.

The June 4 and 5 ShortsHD™ Vintage Jubilee Shorts special schedule will run as follows:

• “Daily Zone” - Weekend Premiers and Weekday Repeats:
• @1pm EST / 10am PST
• @5pm EST / 2pm PST

“We are delighted to be premiering these vintage short films and docs in celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, no other channel has anything like them on TV,” said Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive of ShortsHD™. “These authentic shorts have a tremendous amount of British historical appeal and it’s exciting to share with our viewers this great content from the BFI’s vaults. We also look forward to honoring the organization for its outstanding achievements in preserving film history at this year’s London BFI Festival.”

Marking 60 years of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will take place June 2-5. The Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002. She is today queen regnant of 16 sovereign states, 12 of which were British colonies or Dominions at the start of her reign.

About the BFI

The BFI is the lead body for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by:

• Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema
• Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for today and future generations
• Investing in creative, distinctive and entertaining work
• Promoting British film and talent to the world
• Growing the next generation of filmmakers and audiences

Contact
Fabric Media
Theo Dumont
424-228-2114
theo@dumontmarketing.com

THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

Posted on: Thursday, 26th Apr 2012

Time's 100 List: Charmeen Obaid-Chinoy Filmmaker
By Angelina Jolie - Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Photo credit: Bina Khan

Pakistan's first Oscar belongs to a monumental campaign that is changing the legal, social and political fate of survivors of acid-related violence. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's documentary Saving Face brought Pakistan's acid-violence problem to the world stage. Today she is bringing the film's message to towns and villages in Pakistan through an educational-awareness campaign. Her film not only gave her subjects sympathy and understanding but, more important, gave them dignity. The "victims" in Saving Face are some of the strongest, most impressive women you will ever come across. She showed us their scars, and we saw their true beauty.

Obaid-Chinoy, 33, is also shaping the dialogue on Pakistan. Saving Face depicts a Pakistan that is changing - one where ordinary people can stand up and make a difference and where marginalized communities can seek justice. New legislation spearheaded by female parliamentarians will impose stricter sentencing on perpetrators of acid-related violence. This is a huge step forward.

Giving voice to those who cannot be heard, Obaid-Chinoy has made over a dozen award-winning films in more than 10 countries. She celebrates the strength and resilience of those fighting against seemingly insurmountable odds - and winning.

I dare anyone to watch this film and not be moved to tears and inspired into action.
Jolie is an actress and director

Read more:

SHORTS AWARDS 2012 HONORS OSCAR NOMINEES, ‘WALLACE & GROMIT’ CREATOR

Posted on: Monday, 27th Feb 2012

Movies: Past, present and future
LOS ANGELES TIMES - 24FRAMES/Emily Rome
Awards Party Coverage - February 25, 2012, 5:08PM
Photo: "Wallace & Gromit" creator Nick Park
Credit: Carlo Allegri / Imagenet

The Film Independent Spirit Awards wasn't the only pre-Oscar ceremony happening this weekend: On Friday, the second annual Shorts Awards presented film slate-shaped plaques to the nominees competing in the short film categories at Sunday's 84th Academy Awards and honored "Wallace & Gromit" creator Nick Park with a lifetime achievement award.

Park was not at West Hollywood's Soho House to accept the prize, but in a video acceptance speech he said, “I’ve always loved making short films. It’s a good way to get ideas out quickly. Many see it as a stepping stone to features, but I will always go back to short films.”

An enthusiasm for shorts permeated the event, which was presented by ShortsHD, a cable network that exclusively airs short films.

“We are entering the golden age of short films,” said producer Marc Bertrand, on hand to support his Oscar-nominated animated short “Dimanche,” citing an increase in options for independent distribution, as well as the technology that makes it easy for anyone to make a film.

To honor that technology, ShortsHD this year created the Shorts Technology Awards, whose winners Friday night included the Apple iPhone 4S and the app Movie Slate by Pure Blend Software.

“I think audiences have now opened their eyes for short films,” said Norwegian director Hallvar Witzø. His 25-minute short “Tuba Atlantic” is nominated in the live action shorts category. He pointed to the success of ShortsHD’s limited theatrical run of the Oscar-nominated shorts, which had earned $1.196 million at the box office as of Friday, ShortsHD chief executive Carter Pilcher announced at the event.

“Nobody knows the directors. Nobody knows the actors. But people want to see them anyway,” Witzø said.

The event seemed to be a bit of a rally for the nominees. During a presentation of clips from the Oscar-nominated films, “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” got the loudest cheers of the animated group, to which the film’s co-director Brandon Oldenburg said off-stage, “Wow, we have fans."

“I’m king here,” said Luke Matheny, attempting to describe the small celebrity status that has followed his 2011 Oscar win for a live action short. “There are a few communities where people know who I am, and the Oscar-related short film community is one of them.”

Matheny told 24 Frames that he’s “rooting for ‘Raju,’ ” a 24-minute German-Indian film, to win the Academy Award in the live action category. “I thought it had a real battleship of a plot ... and just kept making the right artistic decisions throughout the whole movie until it was over,” said Matheny, who is prepping his first feature, “Love Sick.”

The Shorts Awards also presented visionary awards to Joan Collins, Ray McKinnon, Marcy Page and Bill Plympton, as well as the International Award to Turkey, an honor earned largely because of the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, which takes place each fall in Antalya, Turkey.

Marina Bailey Film Publicity
323.650.3627 - Office
323.819.1627 - Cell
marina@marinabailey.com

THE OSCAR® NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2012 BEATS BOX OFFICE RECORD

Posted on: Thursday, 16th Feb 2012

Los Angeles, CA, February 14th 2012 – An early Valentine present for The Oscar® Nominated Short Films 2012, which opened on 120 screens across the United States and Canada last Friday, February 10th, 2012 when the release beat expectations and broke its previous record from the year before. Ever since the programs started playing in theaters leading up to the Academy Awards seven years ago, they have been consistently outpacing expectations.

The box office grosses for the weekend of 2/10 – 2/12 totaled $412,304 with a per-screen average of $3,436. Besting last year’s previous record of $300,706 with a per-screen average of $3,165. This represents a 37% increase over last year and a consistent, significant increase in gross income every year since the program’s inception in 2006.

“We had a great opening weekend—our best ever.” said Carter Pilcher, ShortsHD’s Chief Executive. ”This just shows the enduring popularity of first-rate short movies while increasing the odds of winning Oscar pools.”

The program will roll out to additional markets in the coming weeks and will eventually be in over 200 screens nationwide and Canada prior to the 84th Academy Awards® ceremony on February 26th. The Oscar® Nominated Short Films 2012 is comprised of three programs, Animated, Live Action and Documentary.

The Oscar® Nominated Short Films has become a key fixture of the awards season. Last year, the theatrical release broke all records, grossing over $1,350,000 nationwide and playing in significantly more theaters than in previous years. Since the inception of the program in 2005, attendance has grown by 800%.

Nominations for the 84th Academy Awards® were announced on January 24th. For more information, visit www.shorts.tv/theoscarshorts or find us on Facebook: facebook.com/shortshd and twitter: twitter.com/shortshd.

Press Contact:

Los Angeles
Marina Bailey
Marina Bailey Film Publicity
(+1) 323-650-3627
marina@marinabailey.com

New York
John Murphy
MURPHY PR
(+1) 212-414-0408
jmurphy@murphypr.com

New York
Jason Damata
Fabric Media
(+1) 917-279-8706
jason@fabricmedia.net

SHORTSHD ANNOUNCES SHORTS TECHNOLOGY AWARDS NOMINEES

Posted on: Wednesday, 15th Feb 2012

Award Ceremony to Honor 2011’s Extraordinary Tech Contributions to Short Film Industry

Contact: Jason Damata 917-279-8706 jason@fabricmedia.net

February 15, 2012- Los Angeles- ShortsHD , the world’s only TV network dedicated exclusively to short movies, is pleased to announce the nominees for technology innovation at the second annual Shorts Awards 2012 on February 24, 2012 in Los Angeles.

In addition to the ceremony’s original award nominations, which last year honored Lifetime Achievement in Short Film, Visionary Awards, and the Oscar Nominated Short Filmmakers, “The Shorts Technology Awards” includes four categories to honor the technology industry’s contributions to short film, which will showcase the tools reshaping the short movie industry.

“Technology changes everything,” said Carter Pilcher, CEO of ShortsHD. “Our creative geniuses couldn’t tell their stories without the men and women who bring us brilliant pieces of technology.”.

ShortsHD invited the public to submit their nominations for the winners of each of the Shorts Technology Awards. The committee reviewed the nominations and recommended their final picks to the judging panel that is set to make the final decision on the winner and runner-up in each category.

The nominees are:

BEST VIDEO CAMERA FOR A SHORT FILM
Nominees:

Canon C300
Canon 5 D
Nikon D4
Red Scarlet

BEST NEW “POINT-AND-SHOOT” VIDEO CAMERA
Nominees:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Go Pro HD Hero
Iphone 4 S
Nikon cool pix P100
Sony Handycam HDR SR1E

BEST TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION TO ASSIST IN SHORT FILM EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Nominees:

Apple Final Cut Pro X
Adobe After effects
Autodesk 3DS Max

BEST FILMMAKING APP OF 2011
Nominees:

Movie Slate by Pure Blend Software
(iPhone/iPod Touch, OS: 2.1 or later)
Contour 1.2.0 by Mariner Software
(iPhone, ipad)
pCam by David Eubank
(iPhone/iPod Touch, OS: 2.2.1or later)

Last year’s Shorts Awards event was highlighted by its honor of Pixar director John Lasseter for Lifetime Achievement in Short Film, Oscar winner Melissa Leo for Visionary Actress, Oscar nominated actor and director Kenneth Branagh for Visionary Director, and voice actress June Foray for Visionary Leader.

ADDITIONAL SHORT LIVE ACTION AND ANIMATED FILM SCREENINGS

Posted on: Wednesday, 8th Feb 2012

Dear Academy Member,

Beginning February 10, a program of this year's nominated live action & animated short films will enter national theatrical release, presented by Shorts International and Magnolia Pictures.

Screenings will be held in over 200 theaters nationwide and in Canada, including several in the Landmark chain. Landmark theaters are offering members free admittance Monday-Thursday upon presentation of their membership cards. The IFC Center in New York will be honoring the same arrangement. If you wish to see the program but do not live near a Landmark theater or the IFC Center, email Neal Block of Magnolia Pictures (nblock@magpictures.com) to make arrangements with another local theater. Please do not contact the Awards Office.

If you cannot attend any of the Academy's regular nomination screenings in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco or London, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to see these films in a theatrical setting. Once you have, you will be considered eligible to vote in either or both of the short film categories. Simply contact the Awards office by phone (310.247.3000, ext. 1117) or by email (mayala@oscars.org) by Thursday, February 16 to establish that you have seen all the nominated films and to request a ballot.

To find the dates, times, and locations of these screenings, please visit the ShortsHD website at www.shorts.tv/theoscarshorts. Additionally, there is a current list of theatrical engagements attached to this email.

It is with great pleasure that the Academy makes these films available to you on the big screen. Thank you in advance for seeing them and for your participation throughout this awards season.

Kimberly Roush
Managing Director of Membership and Awards

SHORTSHD TO RELEASE THE OSCAR® NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2012 IN THEATRES ON FEBRUARY 10

Posted on: Friday, 27th Jan 2012

www.shorts.tv/theoscarshorts Los Angeles, CA, January 26th 2012 – ShortsHD working with Magnolia Pictures will release The Oscar® Nominated Short Films 2012 in over 200 theatres across the United States and Canada on February 10th, 2012.

Three theatrical programs will give audiences around the country an opportunity to watch the nominated shorts in the Animation, Live Action and Documentary categories prior to the 84th Academy Awards® ceremony on February 26th. This year will mark the second theatrical outing for the nominated Documentary shorts, after an enthusiastic reception from audiences for last year’s inaugural run.

The Oscar® Nominated Short Films has become a key fixture of the awards season. Last year, the theatrical release broke all records, grossing over $1,350,000 nationwide and playing in significantly more theaters than in previous years. Since the inception of the program in 2005, attendance has grown by 800%.

Along with the theatrical run, the nominated short films will be released individually on iTunes from February 21st in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany and other iTunes Stores throughout the world. The release will also be available via cable’s Movies On Demand (MOD), distributed by leading MOD distributor, iN DEMAND L.L.C. and will be available via Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Brighthouse, Cablevision and Cox Communication.

“This year's Oscar® Nominated Short Films ride the wave of the rapidly growing popularity of short movies. Audiences are watching them and filmmakers are responding," said Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive of Shorts International. "The Academy chose films that are incredible entertainment: animations that are solidly family-friendly, live action films ranging from heart-warming to out-right hilarious and short docs dealing with issues of immediate interest. Like many of the best picture nominees this year, these movies are light, fun and great entertainment."

Nominations for the 84th Academy Awards® were announced on January 24th. For more information, visit www.shorts.tv/theoscarshorts or find us on Facebook: facebook.com/shortshd and twitter: twitter.com/shortshd.

Press Contact:

Los Angeles
Marina Bailey
Marina Bailey Film Publicity
(+1) 323-650-3627
marina@marinabailey.com

New York
John Murphy
MURPHY PR
(+1) 212-414-0408
jmurphy@murphypr.com

New York
Jason Damata
Fabric Media
(+1) 917-279-8706
jason@fabricmedia.net

SHORTSHD EXPANDS SHORT FILM AWARDS TO HONOR TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS

Posted on: Tuesday, 17th Jan 2012

World’s Leading Short Movie Channel To Honor 2011’s Extraordinary Tech Contributions to Short Film Industry

Contact: Jason Damata 917-279-8706 jason@fabricmedia.net

January 12, 2012- Los Angeles- ShortsHD the world’s only TV network dedicated exclusively to short movies, is pleased to announce it will add awards for technical innovations at the second annual Shorts Awards 2012 on February 24, 2012 in Los Angeles.

In addition to the ceremony’s original award nominations, which last year honored Lifetime Achievement in Short Film, Visionary Awards, and the Oscar Nominated Short Filmmakers, “The Shorts Technology Awards” will include five categories to honor the technology industry’s contributions to short film. From best moderately priced video camera for a short movie, the best point and shoot camera for filmmakers, the best technological innovation to assist in editing, the best technological innovation in special effects and animation to the best filmmaking app on the marketplace, ShortsHD will showcase the tools reshaping the short movie industry.

“Technological innovations are reshaping everything,” said Carter Pilcher, CEO of ShortsHD. “Our creative geniuses couldn’t tell their stories without the men and women who work every day to bring us brilliant pieces of technology. Those rapid advances that represent so much hard work in their own right deserve recognition and praise”.

Last year’s Shorts Awards event was highlighted by its honor of Pixar director John Lasseter for Lifetime Achievement in Short Film, Oscar winner Melissa Leo for Visionary Actress, Oscar nominated actor and director Kenneth Branagh for Visionary Director, and voice actress June Foray for Visionary Leader.

ShortsHD is inviting the public to submit their nominations and suggestions for the winners of each of the Shorts Technology Awards by emailing techawards@shorts.tv by January 20, 2012. Please include the name of the product, the name of the award and a short description of the reason for nomination.

A ShortsHD Committee will review the submitted nominations and recommend three nominations to an independent judging panel that will make the final decision on the winner and runner up.

The categories and conditions are as follows:

BEST VIDEO CAMERA FOR A SHORT FILM
A top quality camera is essential to meet the high-intensity demand of shorts. This award recognizes the monumental impact technology manufacturers and engineers have made by ushering in a new way of bringing a vibrant and new way to shoot previously un-makeable stories.

Conditions:
1. Camera must have been introduced to the market in 2010 or 2011.
2. Camera must be accessible to short filmmakers to own or rent and therefore retail at less than $25,000.

BEST NEW “POINT-AND-SHOOT” VIDEO CAMERA
New point-and-shoot technology is not only revolutionizing Hollywood, but creating a world in which anyone with passion and an eye for storytelling can become a filmmaker.
This award recognizes the colossal advances in point-and-shoot video technology and its contribution to the art of filmmaking.

Conditions:
1. The camera must have been introduced to the market in 2010 or 2011.
2. The camera must be able to shoot and store a minimum of 5 minutes of 1080p HD video.

BEST TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION TO ASSIST IN SHORT FILM EDITING
Throughout the last decade the miniaturization of computer technology has made vast amounts of processing capability easily affordable. Coupled with an explosion of new editing software, filmmakers of all levels now have the ability to edit films using the highest quality tools.

This award will be given to honor the best technological innovations in film editing systems and/or editing software packages which have been made accessible to short filmmakers.

Conditions:
1. The system or software must have been release in 2010 or 2011
2. The system or software must retail at a price that is accessible to short filmmakers, costing no more than $10,000.

BEST TECHNOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTION IN VISUAL EFFECTS & ANIMATION
Technology developments in Visual Effects and their increasing availability to short moviemakers are having an important impact on the medium. This award recognizes the years of development and technical expertise that are making some of the most complex technologies available to short filmmaking.

It is given to the best technology innovations in the field of Visual Effects and Animation, which are accessible to filmmakers.

Conditions:
1. The system or software must have been released in 2010 or 2011.
2. The system must have been accessible to independent filmmakers either through a competitive price or through manufacturers’ programs with schools or other film organizations that make the key components of the system available to independent, emerging filmmakers.

BEST FILMMAKING APP OF 2011
Mobile apps are rapidly redefining the world in which we live, and are having an equal impact on the world of filmmaking. Many of these software developments are becoming increasingly essential tools to assist filmmakers. From location scouting to productivity enhancing to information organizing to on-the-fly moviemaking, mobile apps are creating new ways for filmmakers to do their job.

This award recognizes the significant technical achievement in developing mobile apps targeted to filmmaking, and is given to the best app for filmmaking released in 2011.

Conditions:
1. The app must have been commercially available in an app store in 2011.
2. The app can be available on any smart phone or tablet operating system including iOS, Android, Windows phone and Blackberry.

NEW SHORT FILM COMPETITION FROM GOLDEN ORANGE AND SHORTSTV

Posted on: Tuesday, 4th Oct 2011

September 28, 2011 11:42
48th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (8- 14 October 2011); organised in collaboration with Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and the Antalya Culture and Art Foundation (AKSAV) continues to bring new names to the Cinema Industry.

The Golden Orange Film Festival which is held annually in Antalya since 1963 and the Shorts TV; world’s leading network devoted exclusively to short films and entertainment, are together holding a competition during the festival ‘Fikrini Anlat! / Pitch!. The competition will give a chance to short filmmakers to meet industry professionals and sponsors. The participants will only have two minutes to pitch their ideas to impress the jury.

The Shorts TV broadcasts in United States, France, and Belgium, Luxembourg and Turkey and shows thousands of short films every year including the ‘Academy Award’ nominations. During the festival, the participants will be pitching their innovative ideas in front of ShortsHD cameras and the winning films will have a chance to be screened on the Shorts TV channel.

Read on here >>> www.filmink.com.au/filmbiz/notice/4555/

Further reading >>>

ACADEMY DEADLINES FOR LIVE ACTION SHORTS, ANIMATED SHORTS & FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILMS

Posted on: Tuesday, 4th Oct 2011

Monday, October 3, is the deadline to submit entries in the Live Action Short Film, Animated Short Film and Foreign Language Film categories to be considered for the 84th Academy Awards®. Complete entries must arrive at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by 5 p.m. PT that day.

In the short film categories, filmmakers must submit an entry form, one film print or copy in an approved digital format, and all other required materials by the deadline. In the Foreign Language Film category, filmmakers must submit entry forms, one English-language subtitled film print or copy in an approved digital format, and all other required materials by the deadline. Only one motion picture will be accepted from each country.

Complete 84th Academy Awards rules are available at www.oscars.org/rules. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Awards Coordinator Torene Svitil via phone at (310) 247-3000, ext. 1116, by fax at (310) 247-2600, or by e-mail at tsvitil@oscars.org.

OSCAR HOPEFUL SHORTS WITH COLIN FIRTH, KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, JULIA STILES AND PERRY CHEN

Posted on: Wednesday, 28th Sep 2011

ShortsHD at the Movies Presented by Shorts International

Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, and Julia Stiles are some of the names you would expect for the Academy Awards, but a surprise for a showcase of 12 film shorts in ShortsHD at the Movies. Presented by Shorts International, ShortsHD at the Movies was held from September 20-22, 2011 at CGV Cinemas in Los Angeles.

Winning an Academy Award® is the dream of many in the entertainment industry. For the 84th Annual Academy Awards©, telecast in 2012, for a short film to be eligible for award consideration, one of the qualifying criteria methods is to be publicly exhibited for paid admission in a commercial motion picture theatre in Los Angeles County for a run of at least 3 consecutive days with at least 2 screenings a day.

An invitation-only reception with filmmakers and actors opened my eyes. Previously I had thought of short films as mini movies animations and independent movies with up and coming actors with budgets falling short of a feature. I did not expect the star studded caliber of acting talent in the shorts.

Julies Stiles is brilliant in "Sexting", directed by Neil Labette. She is talking directly to the audience, as if you were the wife of her boyfriend she wanted answers from. After watching her, I couldn't imagine anyone else playing the part.

Tim Harms , the producer of "Sexting" gave insight into how simple the process could be, "The actress received the material on Friday and learned 6 pages of dialogue over the weekend. He told us we started with 5 takes, aborted 3 for bad sound and the third take, the first complete take was more or less 90% of the movie."

Alicia Witt, loses the lover of her life in "The Pond". Your mind expands to the meaning of life and living with a visit by David Morse at a very special pond. I was drawn into the movie and could easily see how "The Pond" could be expanded to a feature film.

Written and directed by Dan Hannon, he told us the movie is magical "The water holds a secret, and that's when David Morse (Adam11) shows up and that's when the fabric of reality happens and she has to choose between sacrifice and oblivion."

Alicia Witt (Shelly) glowed when talking about the short, "This was an amazing experience, and I think what's incredible about this film is that it really attracted people who connected with the story on a very deep level both in front and behind the camera."

Colin Firth visits Keira Knightley and Tom Mason, his neighbors downstairs, in a too awkward and frequent visit all for a cup of tea in the short "Steve". Brilliant as one would expect with the caliber of talent and unsettling. Directed by Rupert Friend, and with credits including a couple Knighteys, including her elder brother, it's evident that the entertainment business is all in the family. Look forward to seeing more Knightleys making an impression.

Perry Chen shined being the youngest filmmaker by far at only 11 years old and having the only animation short at Shorts HD at the movies. Chen's animation short, "Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest" is about the escape of young Ingrid Pitt, an 8 year old Jewish girl, from a concentration camp. Narrated by Ingrid Pitt recalling her experience, Chen created the animation in collaboration with Oscar® nominated Bill Plympton, who he had met at Comic-Con a couple years ago. It premiered earlier this year at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

"I feel great! I'm glad that my film which is the only animation film shown at ShortsHD at the Movies was going to be included" shared Chen when I asked about being included in with short films including actors Julia Stiles, Keira Knightley and Colin Firth.

Digging further, I noted that he was at the ShortsHD at the Movies with some pretty big names, some of which had already won Oscars®. "Well, I hope to win one too!" intimated Chen. The dream of many, and as Chen clearly shows, you're never too young to dream about winning an Academy Award®.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION:
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.

SHORTS INTERNATIONAL PRESENTS “SHORTSHD AT THE MOVIES”

Posted on: Wednesday, 28th Sep 2011

Short Film Network Hosts Star-Studded Reception

LOS ANGELES – Shorts International, the world’s leading network devoted exclusively to short film entertainment, presents “ShortsHD at the Movies,” a night of short films that will not be short on star power. The invitation-only reception to spotlight some of the year’s best short filmmakers and actors will be held on Sept. 20, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at CGV Cinemas (621 South Western Ave.). A public screening of a selection of short films from around the globe will follow, featuring such Hollywood big-hitters as Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Alfred Molina and Julia Stiles.

Steve, directed by Rupert Friend and starring Colin Firth, Keira Knightley and Tom Mison, tops the evening’s bill. The film follows a middle-aged man (Firth) on his frequent and rather unusual visits with his upstairs neighbors (Knightley and Mison).

Giving audiences a look at romance in the modern age, Sexting, written and directed by Neil Labute (Death at a Funeral) and starring Julia Stiles, will be a highlight of the event. The film’s simple premise – two women talking about relationships in a cafè – underscores Labute’s mastery of dialogue.

ShortsHD’s selection of incredible films that will be screened September 20-22nd include:

• The Pond - Directed Dan Hannon, starring Alicia Witt & David Morse

• Dissection Of A Storm - Directed Julio Soto, starring Cristina Piaget

• Summer Snapshot - Directed by Ian McCluskey, starring Anna Ferrell

• Lessons In Self Defense - Directed by Lee Miller, starring Alfred Molina

• Ingrid Pitt: Beyond The Forest - By Perry Chen, Kevin Sean Michaels, & Bill Plympton

• Crush - Directed by Matthew A. Brown, starring Emily Stangl

• Hammered - Directed by Steve Lewis, written by Noel Clarke

• Mumbai Charlie - Directed by Deepak Verma, starring Kulbinder Ghir

• The Last Passenger - Directed by Mounes Khammar, Music by Fairuz

• Lost Bullets - Directed by Mono Ghose, produced by Arno Hazebroek

• Grave Dawn - Directed by D.J. Turner, produced by Charlie Hofheimer

ABOUT SHORTSHD

ShortsHD™ is the first high definition channel dedicated to short movies and is available on DIRECTV (Channel 568), Dish Network (Channel 375) and AT&T U-Verse (Channel 1789). ShortsHD™ is operated by Shorts International, the world’s leading short movie entertainment company with the world’s largest movie catalogue dedicated to short movies. Shorts International also operates ShortsTV™, which is available in France, Belgium, Luxembourg on Numericable (Channels 134 and 52) and in Turkey via TTNET's Tivibu service. Shorts™ is the short movie on-demand service available on iTunes movie stores in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan and throughout Europe. The company is headquartered in London, England with additional offices in Paris and Los Angeles and is led by Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive. Shorts International is owned by Shorts Entertainment Holdings and Liberty Global Ventures.

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SEPTEMBER IS SCI FI MONTH ON SHORTSHD!

Posted on: Friday, 9th Sep 2011

This month, we’re devoting September to the fantastical and futuristic with a collection of the best sci-fi short films on the planet. The month’s line-up will be marked with the airing of The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers (starring Keira Knightley, Rupert Friend and Tom Mison) and Oscar®-Nominated More directed by Mark Osborne (SpongeBob SquarePants, Kung Fu Panda).

The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers follows brothers Bourbon (Friend) and Barath (Mison) on a quest to end their lives together, upon success of which they encounter a flighty fairy (Knightley) and begin an endless dance in a purgatorial after life. Audiences can catch the film on Sept. 19 at midnight EST/9 pm PST.

Mark Osborne broke the mold on stop-motion animation with More when it first debuted in 1998 and was nominated for an Academy Award®- for Best Animated Short Film in the same year. It joins the ShortsHD “Best in Fest” collection, airing on Sept. 15 at 12:30 am EST/9:30 pm PST.

Also, check out Impulse, the story of one man’s perilous journey leading up to his final act in life, starring Chris Masterson (Malcom in the Middle). The film will air Sept. 25 at midnight EST/9 pm PST.

And in honor of World Peace Day we’re showing of Diplomacy and Ana’s Playground, films that highlight the necessity for peace in a world of tortured conflict.

To see what else is playing this month, click on "What's On" and go to our channel guide for up to the minute scheduling of all the films available this month.

These great sci-fi selections and more will be available on channel 568 (DIRECTV), channel 375 (Dish Network) and channel 1789 (AT&T U-Verse).