RENO FILM FESTIVAL PRESS RELEASES
2010 - 2011

REVISED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2011
Contact: Bob Alessandrelli
775.848.6028
boba@rlasolutions.com

December 3 & 4 Reno Film Festival Announces Special Screenings of William Shatner’s “The Captains” 2011 Documentary Star Trek Feature

The Reno Film Festival is pleased to present special showings of William Shatner’s new Star Trek documentary, “The Captains,” with special guest Kevin Layne in attendance at Saturday screenings. Layne is the film’s co-executive producer and was heavily involved in both editing and camera work on the film. To the best of the festival’s knowledge, this will be only the third screening of this film in the nation.

Shatner, the original Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise, traveled the globe to interview the elite group of actors who have portrayed the role of the Starship Captain. Screenings will take place Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3rd and 4th at the Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR. Saturday’s screenings will be at 5 pm and a VIP fundraising screening will begin at 7 p.m. at KNPB public broadcasting (just north of the Joe Crowley Student Union). While the reception will be at KNPB, the screening will commence at 8 p.m. at the Student Union. Sunday’s matinee will be at 1 p.m. and will include a prize for the best Star Trek costume. Costumes are optional at all screenings.

The film’s tagline is “The final frontier is only the beginning” and Shatner presents the documentary for which Star Trek fans have been waiting. “The Captains” full length feature is an in depth documentary paying tribute to the actors who played the captain on the Starship Enterprise. “The Captains” takes the audience on a voyage of discovery as pop culture phenom Shatner interviews actors Sir Patrick Stewart (Captain John-Luc Picard Star Trek: The Next Generation), Scott Bakula (Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise), Chris Pine (the 2009 Star Trek film and an upcoming sequel to this version), Avery Brooks (Captain Benjamin Sisko Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and the only female leader, Kate Mulgrew (Captain Kathryn Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager). Shatner’s thoughts on his signature role are also included.

Since soaring onto television screens in the 1960s, Star Trek has become one of the most beloved franchises of all time. Now, for the first time ever, audiences will be given the opportunity to take a revealing behind the scenes look at the pressures and pitfalls that came along with being the Starship’s leader.
 
Tickets can be purchased at the door (cash or check only) or on-line with credit cards at www.renofilmfestival.com. Saturday’s 5 p.m. screening is $10-general and $5-student. The 7 p.m. Saturday evening VIP fundraising reception with a meet & greet with the film’s co-executive producer Layne, is $25-general and $15-student. Sunday’s pricing is the same as the 5 p.m. except that those wearing costumes will be discounted to $8-general and $4-student.

Star Trek attire is encouraged at all screenings but there will only be a contest at Sunday’s event. Fundraising raffles will be held at each screening to benefit the festival’s operational budget. For more information please visit the website or call the festival’s message line at 775/334-6707.

Reno Film Festival sponsors include KTVN-Channel 2, Reno Media Group, Bea-Design for Marketing, KUNR Public Radio – FM 88.7, Red Machine Multimedia and the Reno News & Review. Grant support has been received from the City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission, DP/Dermody Properties Foundation, E.L. Cord Foundation and the State Arts Council / National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. These City of Reno Advisory Boards also support the festival: Ward 1, Southwest Reno. Wards 2, Central and South Reno; Ward 3, East Reno; Wards 4, Northeast and North Valleys; Wards 5, Old Northwest and Northwest.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2010
Contact: Bob Alessandrelli
775.848.6028
boba@rlasolutions.com

Reno Film Festival Hosts Annual Manhattan Shorts Competition
September 27 & 28*

The Reno Film Festival is proud to present the only Nevada screenings of this year’s Manhattan Short Film Competition. Two screenings are planned on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 27 & 28, both at 7:30 pm in the theater of the Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR.

Reno is one of more than 250 cities to host a screening this year. There are venues in all 50 states and six continents. Attendees everywhere will "view & vote" on the films, with the Reno votes to be tallied with all others and the international winner being announced on Oct. 2 in New York City. Finalists this year come from Canada, Poland, Croatia, Australia, Ireland, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy.

Manhattan's slogan is "One World One Week One Festival" and it’s a true statement because Reno audiences will be viewing the same films at the same time that someone in Africa or China will be seeing them.

Admission is $8, general, and $4, student, and tickets will be available at the door or on-line here. This website also contains complete information on the various finalists.

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*Note: This date is changed from what was announced (Sept. 30 and Oct. 1) at the Reno Film Festival in June.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2011
Contact: Bob Alessandrelli
775.848.6028
boba@rlasolutions.com

11th annual Reno Film Festival Features Indie Competition,
June 15-19

The 11th annual Reno Film Festival, set for Wednesday-Sunday, June 15-19, will highlight the excellent entries into the Reno Indie Competition this year. “We’ve had great success presenting screenings of the Oscar nominated and winning short films as well as the Manhattan Shorts each year in the spring and fall and, frankly, the entries in our own Indie Competition are this same caliber. So, the volunteer board decided to feature our Indie finalists—for which attendees will be able to vote on the category winner—at this year’s festival,” explained Scott Birmingham, festival president.

Two nights and one afternoon of films in the following five categories will be shown at various locations: Animated, comedy, documentary, drama and Nevada (filmed or dealing with Nevada and/or created primarily by a Nevada filmmaker).

A number of films come from international locales such as Canada, United Kingdom, Serbia/Montenegro, Germany, France, South Africa and Taiwan. In addition, most films appear that they will be world premieres—their first festival screenings. Still others will be U.S. or West Coast premieres. A few films were already shown to critical acclaim at festivals such as Tribeca, Heartland or New York film festivals.

The festival always provides educational opportunities to filmmakers and those interested in learning more about the entire process will be able to learn at two workshop forums this year: Saturday morning’s forum will present those Indie finalists present for the festival to allow attendees to meet and learn from these filmmakers.

Sunday morning’s forum will be on various aspects of filmmaking from working professionals, including Clint Eastwood’s film editor. To be covered will be film editing, casting and cinematography. The editing portion will be courtesy of Academy Award winning editor Joel Cox. Cox’s Oscar came in 1993 for “Unforgiven,” but his most recent nomination was for “Million Dollar Baby” in 2004. He began editing Eastwood’s films in 1976 and Cox’s body of work largely mirrors Eastwood’s work—which is to say, Cox has a great list of films that he has edited. Preceding Cox’s portion of the program will be director of photography (cinematographer) Richard Cantu, who lives in Reno but works in film and TV series, Nevada Casting CEO Juli Green and film critic and former Nevada Film Office Deputy Director Robin Holabird.

The festival kick-offs on Wednesday, June 15, with the evening Lumiere All School Student Film Fest “Academy Awards,” sponsored by the DP Foundation. The Lumieres are the Reno Film Festival’s long-running student competition. With entries from elementary thru high school, highlights from short films in the following categories will be featured: Public service announcements, mini-documentaries in various categories, news stories. Fiction short films may be fake commercials or original trailers, adapted scenes, foreign language and live action. There are also animated, experimental, music and one-minute categories. The winners in each category will be announced during the awards ceremony.

The finalists in this student competition were shown on three evenings last month and attendees at this screening voted for Audience Choice honors that will be announced this evening.

Festival sponsors are KTVN-TV, Americom/Reno Media Group, Reno News & Review, Yellowbook, KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, Bea-Design for Marketing, KUNR Public Radio – FM 88.7 and Red Machine Multimedia. Grant support has been provided by the City of Reno’s Arts & Culture Commission, Reno Neighborhood Advisors Boards--Ward 1, Southwest; Wards 2, Central and South; Ward 3, East; Ward 4, Northeast and Ward 5, Old Northwest; DP Foundation, E.L Cord Foundation and the Nevada Arts Council & National Endowment for the Arts. 

Click for a complete schedule of the festival.

Schedule is subject to change

Reno Film Festival Sets Free May 18-20
Screenings for Lumiere All-School Film Fest

May 18-20 are the dates to attend free screenings of this year’s finalists for the Reno Film Festival’s Lumiere All-School Film Fest. Screenings Wednesday and Friday begin at 6:45 pm, with doors opening at 6:30 pm. Thursday’s event will begin at 5:30 will a filmmaker meet & greet with snacks; the films will screen at 6:30 pm. Venues and screenings are Wednesday, KNPB’s Community Room—all non-fiction; Thursday, Boys & Girls Club on 9th St.—elementary and middle school fiction, arts and PSAs; and Friday, Sparks High little theater—high school fiction, arts and PSAs. All screenings are free, thanks to the DP Foundation, as will be the June 15 Lumiere awards ceremony. The awards program will kick off this year’s 11th annual Reno Film Festival, June 15-19.

Attendees will have the opportunity to vote on Audience Choice awards in various categories at each screening and the award winners will be announced June 15.

A number of local students—from elementary school to college—are finalists in the various categories. Categories include non-fiction films such as mini-documentaries, PSAs and photo essays. Fiction categories include fake commercials and short films that are science fiction, Western and adapted scenes. The art & experimental category will have one-shot, one-minute and music films, among others.

In addition to the Lumiere winners, this year’s June Reno Film Festival will feature the festival’s annual Indie Shorts competition, educational sessions, parties and more. A complete Reno Film Festival schedule and ticket information will be posted at the festival’s website, www.renofilmfestival.com

Festival sponsors are the City of Reno’s Arts & Culture Commission, Reno Neighborhood Advisors Boards--Ward 1, Southwest; Wards 2, Central and South; Ward 3, East; Ward 4, Northeast and Ward 5, Old Northwest; DP Foundation, E.L Cord Foundation and the Nevada Arts Council & National Endowment for the Arts. Media sponsors include Yellowbook, KTVN-TV, Americom/Reno Media Group, Bea-Design for Marketing, KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, KUNR Public Radio – FM 88.7, Red Machine Multimedia and the Reno News & Review.

FOR ENTRY AND SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION CLICK HERE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2011
Contact: Bob Alessandrelli
775/848.6028
boba@rlasolutions.com

Reno Film Festival Announces Annual Oscar Shorts Screenings

The Reno Film Festival is pleased to present the only northern Nevada screenings of the 10 Oscar-nominated and winning live action and animated short films. Set for Thursday and Friday, March 24 and 25, both screenings are at 7:30 pm at the Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR. Free parking is available at the Brian Whalen Garage on No. Virginia St.

Tickets are available at the door or in advance at www.renofilmfestival.com.
Ticket prices are $8/general and $4/student. Some films contain adult themes and language so younger children are not encouraged to attend. These screenings are presented in partnership with Shorts International and Magnolia Pictures.

This year’s 11th annual Reno Film Festival is slated for June 15-19 and will feature the annual Indie Shorts competition with short films in a variety of categories, for which entries are currently being accepted, educational sessions and more. A complete Reno Film Festival schedule and ticket information will be posted at the festival’s website as this year’s program is finalized.

Festival sponsors are the City of Reno’s Arts & Culture Commission, Reno Neighborhood Advisors Boards--Ward 1, Southwest; Wards 2, Central and South; Ward 3, East; Ward 4, Northeast and Ward 5, Old Northwest; E.L Cord Foundation, DP Foundation and the Nevada Arts Council & National Endowment for the Arts. Media sponsors include Yellowbook, KTVN-TV, Americom/Reno Radio Representatives, Bea-Design for Marketing, KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, KUNR Public Radio – FM 88.7, Red Machine Multimedia and the Reno News & Review.

This year’s films are:
(Oscar winners indicated with an asterix)

<< Animated >> ( 65 min )

Day & Night
Dir: Teddy Newton.
When Day and Night meet, their mutual suspicion and jealousy give
rise to an escalating competition. 6 min

The Gruffalo Dir: Jacob Schuh & Mark Lang.
A tiny mouse goes for a walk in the forest and must outwit a fox, an owl, and a snake. 27 min

Let’s Pollute
Dir: Geefwee Boedoe.
The time-honored tradition of polluting is examined in a parody of educational science films fromthe 1950s and 1960s.
6 min

*The Lost Thing
Dir: Shaun Tan & Andrew Ruhemann. A young boy finds a strange creature on the beach and decides to find it a home. 15 min

Madagascar, carnet de voyage
(Madagascar, a Journey Diary)
Dir: Bastian Dubois. A European traveler records his efforts to come to terms with the unfamiliarity of Madagascan culture. 11 min

<< Live Action >> (102 min )

The Confession
Dir: Taniel Toom. Quiet and sincere, 9-year-old Sam is worried about making his first confession. His conscience is clear… 26 min

The Crush
Dir: Michael Creagh. An 8-year-old-schoolboy is so besotted with his teacher that he challenges her boyfriend to a duel...to the death.
15 min

*God of Love
Dir: Luke Mathany.
A love struck, lounge-singing, darts champion finds his prayers are answered – literally.
18 min

Na Wewe
Dir: Ivan Goldschmidt. 1994 or thereabouts. There is a civil war on in Burundi; a genocidal conflict opposing
Hutus and Tutsis.
19 min

Wish 143
Dir: Ian Barnes. The story of a young man desperate to come of age before time runs out.
24 min

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2011
Contact:  Bob Alessandrelli
775/848.6028
boba@rlasolutions.com

Oscar Winner Michael Semanick To Visit on February 11

Oscar winning sound mixer Michael Semanick will visit with local film fans and film buffs on Friday, February 11 at 7 p.m. at the Musician Rehearsal Hall located at 581 Dunn Circle in Sparks.  The $35 entrance fee includes Semanick’s presentation, a question/answer period and after party refreshments.

Semanick has won Academy Awards in 2005 for “King Kong” and in 2003 for “Lord of the Rings, Return of the King.”  He has been nominated eight times, including his nomination this year for “The Social Network.”  This visit will be just two weeks before the February 27 Oscar telecast.

The list of Semanick’s film work is comprised of a top name features, both animated and live, such as “Toy Story 3,” “Wall-E,” “Up,” “Ratatouille,”  “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Lovely Bones,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Sweeny Todd” and “There Will Be Blood.”

Scott Birmingham, Reno Film Festival president, host of “4 Your Review” on KRNV-TV and a local filmmaker, will moderate this special event that is being presented by the Reno Film Festival, Nevada Casting and the Musician Rehearsal Hall.  Space is limited and advance reservations are encouraged, though tickets will be available at the door.  Call Nevada Casting at 322-8187 for tickets or more information. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@uscaaward.com
URL: http://www.uscaaward.com

Reno Film Festival Receives 2010 Best of Reno Award

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement NEW YORK, NY,

October 12, 2010 -- Reno Film Festival has been selected for the 2010 Best of Reno Award in the Theatrical Talent & Booking Agencies category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2010 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bob Alessandrelli
775/848.6028, boba@rlasolutions.com

MANHATTAN SHORTS ANNOUNCES THE 10 FINALISTS
SET TO SCREEN IN OVER 200 CITIES ACROSS 6 CONTINENTS
DURING ONE WEEK.

The Reno Film Festival will host Nevada’s only venue, Friday and Saturday,
October 1-2, 7:30 p.m. at the Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR.

NYC's MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival today announced the 10 short films that are finalists for the 12th annual MANHATTAN SHORT that will take place in Reno at the Joe Crowley Student Union Theater on Friday and Saturday, October 1 & 2 at 7:30 p.m. as well as over 200 cities across six continents during September 24-October 3.

With screenings being held across North & South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, the 12th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Festival is now officially the World's First Global Film Festival. These 10 finalists’ films will not only entertain a global audience but will be judged by them as well. Audiences at each venue will be asked to vote for the one film that they think is best, with all votes being sent through to MANHATTAN SHORT HQ with the winner announced on Sunday, October 3 in NYC.

"We started with one screen on the side of a truck on a downtown Manhattan Street 12 years ago. Seeing this festival now taking place in more than 200 cities across six continents in one week is astounding”, said Manhattan Short director Nicholas Mason. This year there are 10 shorts from 10 separate countries and they will unite an audience of over 100,000 people across six continents in one week. Short films not only entertain but give a wonderful insight into cultures, trends and the goings on inside the world. I can think of no better way to utilize the power and craft of a short film than MANHATTAN SHORT", added Mason.

Reno tickets may be purchased in advance on-line at www.renofilmfestival.com or at the door.
Prices are $8/general, $4/student.

Festival sponsors already aboard for 2010-11 include Yellowbook, KTVN-Channel 2, Americom/Reno Radio Representatives, Bea-Design for Marketing, KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, KUNR Public Radio – FM 88.7, Red Machine Multimedia and the Reno News & Review. Grant support has thus far been received from the City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission and the Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, along with the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

The Finalists for 2010: Watching (UK), Push Bike (Australia), Underground (Mexico), A Little Inconvenience (Canada),
Party (Croatia), Echo (Poland), Madagascar (France), 12 Years (Germany), The Pool (Ireland), War (Italy)

Read Interviews with the 10 Finalists: http://www.msfilmfest.com/2010finalists/index.html

Download Stills of the Finalists films at 300 dpi: http://www.msfilmfest.com/p_finalist_stills.html

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2010
Contact:  Bob Alessandrelli
775.848.6028
boba@rlasolutions.com

Like an epic Hollywood film, this has been 10 years in the making…..
Reno Film Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary June 13-20

The Reno Film Festival will celebrate its 10th annual event June 13-20 throughout Reno.  This annual celebration of film is all about films, of course, and includes premieres, family classics as well as educational panels and workshops.  Also featured will be the finalists and winners of Reno’s own Indie Short Film and Lumière All-School Film Fest competitions, each with multiple categories.  A Friday VIP reception and a Saturday awards ceremony are also planned.

In keeping with the downturn in the economy, festival organizers are proud to announce that most films are free to students and have a minimal $5 admission price for adults.  Still others are free for all.

A complete schedule of dates, times and locations is available at the festival’s website, www.renofilmfestival.com.  Advance tickets are available at this website, including free tickets.  Festival organizers suggest that free tickets be ordered being as all events are first come, first serve. 

The festival kicks off Sunday, June 13, at the Siena with an all day Screenwriting Workshop, featuring keynote speaker Pilar Alessandra.  Alessandra is the director of the Los Angeles writing program “On the Page" and has worked as a senior story analyst for DreamWorks and Radar Pictures as well has having trained writers at ABC/Disney, MTV/Nickelodeon, the National Screen Institute, the Los Angeles Film School, The UCLA Writers Program and more. 

Also set for Sunday are screenings of the finalists in the Reno Indie Competition Family category, both live action and animation, and the One Minute category.  These will be at Grace Church and are free for all.  Screenings of the Indie finalists continues throughout the week with Animation and Comedy on Monday at TMCC/Dandini; Nevada and Science Fiction on Tuesday at Studio on 4th; Documentaries on Thursday at KNPB/Channel 5; and Foreign and Drama on Saturday at the National Automobile Museum.  Some of the filmmakers will be present to introduce and discuss their films. 

Finalists from the Lumière student competition will be shown on Wednesday and the winners will be announced at this evening event at the Nevada Museum of Art.  Most Lumière entries come from Washoe County but the contest has a few entries from around the country.  On Thursday, the festival presents a free family-friendly outdoor film screening in Wingfield Park.  This year’s “Movie on the Mayor,” hosted my Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, is the 1998 animated feature “The Prince of Egypt.”  This film features the voices of a “who’s who” in Hollywood:  Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Val Kilmer, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover and Patrick Stewart.  It’s the musical tale of two brothers, one born of royal blood and one an orphan with a secret past. 

Another free family film-- “Dear Frankie,” starring Gerald Butler--will be shown on Sunday, June 20, at Grace Church.  This engaging 2005 film is the story of a young deaf boy, his mother and the man that the boy’s mother hires to portray the boy’s father for one day.

One of this year’s special events will be “Bing Crosby Rarities,” which features rare home movies and clips from the famous singer-actor.  Hosted by Bob DeFlores, a film collector and historian who put together this tribute, this Friday evening event on June 18 at the Siena will be entertaining and memorable.  “Rarities” is part of the VIP Reception with tributes to Hollywood actors Kathrine Narducci (“A Bronx Tale” and “The Sopranos”), James Russo (“Extremities,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Open Range,” and most recently, “Public Enemies”) and child star Paul Petersen (“The Donna Reed Show”) who is now a children actors’ advocate with his A Minor Consideration organization.    

A musical documentary, “White Stripes,” will be shown for free on Wednesday at St. James Infirmary.  The awards presentation and special screening of “The Loneliest Road in America,” an engaging film set on Nevada’s Highway 50, will take place Saturday evening at the National Automobile Museum.

The week-long festival concludes on June 20 with a Filmmakers Panel that includes Michael Albright, filmmaker/editor/director; Pam Dulgar, screenwriter; Tony McGrath, producer/director/writer/editor; Kathrine Narducci, actor/director; Paul Petersen, actor/author/advocate; James Russo, actor; Toni Suttie, casting director/producer; and Tim Wilson, location manager/producer.

The festival’s final screenings will be two Nevada premieres of Project Moonshine’s latest short films, “Beeing Here,” about beekeepers in northern Nevada, and Chakalela, which looks inside a group of Algerian high school students who visited the Reno area.  These will be screened at Studio on 4th.

Free student tickets are courtesy of these City of Reno Neighborhood Advisory Boards:  Ward 1, Southwest; Wards 2, Central & South; and the Terry Lee Wells Foundation.  The DP Foundation is sponsoring the Lumières with free tickets for all at this Wednesday event and Reno Mayor Bob Cashell is sponsoring the Movie on the Mayor at Wingfield Park on Thursday with free tickets for all. 

Megan M. Fisher, a recent graduate from Truckee Meadows Community College’s graphic communications department and a 2003 Galena High graduate, designed this year’s festival poster.  Fisher’s prize is two all access passes to this year’s festival, courtesy of the City of Reno’s Ward 5, Northwest NAB.  

Festival sponsors this year include the Siena Hotel Spa Casino, Yellowbook, KTVN-Channel 2, Americom/Reno Radio Representatives, Bea-Design for Marketing, H & A Productions, KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, KUNR Public Radio – FM 88.7, Red Machine Multimedia, Final Draft, and the Reno News & Review.  Grant support is from the City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission; City of Reno’s Neighborhood Advisory Boards: Wards One/SW Reno, Two/Central, Two/South Reno, Three/East Reno, Four/No. Valleys, Four/NE and Five/NW; DP Foundation; E. L. Cord Foundation; Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs; National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; and the Terry Lee Wells Foundation.

May 3, 2010
Contact:  Bob Alessandrelli
775.848.6028
boba@rlasolutions.com

Like an epic Hollywood film, this has been 10 years in the making….
Reno Film Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary June 13-20

The Reno Film Festival will celebrate its 10th annual event June 13-20 throughout Reno.  This annual celebration of film is all about films, of course, and includes premieres and classics as well as educational panels and workshops.  Also featured will be the finalists and winners of Reno’s own Indie Short Film and Lumière All-School Film Fest competitions, each with multiple categories.  A Friday VIP reception and a Saturday awards ceremony are also planned.

The festival kicks off Sunday, June 13, with an all day Screenwriting Workshop, featuring keynote speaker Pilar Alessandra.  Alessandra is the director of the Los Angeles writing program “On the Page" and has worked as a senior story analyst for DreamWorks and Radar Pictures as well has having trained writers at ABC/Disney, MTV/Nickelodeon, the National Screen Institute, the Los Angeles Film School, The UCLA Writers Program and more. 

Also set for Sunday are screenings of the finalists in the Reno Indie Competition Family category.  Screenings of the Indie finalists continues throughout the week with Animation, Comedy, Nevada, Sci-Fi, Music, Documentaries, Foreign and Drama categories.  Some of the filmmakers will be present to introduce and discuss their films.  A complete schedule of dates, times and locations will be available in late May at the festival’s website, www.renofilmfestival.com.  Advance tickets are available at this website.  Free and reduced student pricing is courtesy of grants from the City of Reno NABs, Wards 2 Central and South and the Terry Lee Wells Foundation.

Finalists from the Lumière student competition, a free event sponsored by the DP Foundation, will be shown on Wednesday and the winners will be announced at this evening event.  Most Lumière entries come from Washoe County but the contest has a few entries from around the country.  On Thursday, the festival presents a free family-friendly outdoor film screening in Wingfield Park.  This year’s “Movie on the Mayor,” hosted my Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, is the 1998 animated feature “The Prince of Egypt.”  This film features the voices of a “who’s who” in Hollywood:  Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Val Kilmer, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jeff Goldblum, Danny Glover and Patrick Stewart.  It’s the musical tale of two brothers, one born of royal blood and one an orphan with a secret past. 

Another free family film-- “Dear Frankie,” starring Gerald Butler--will be shown on Sunday, June 20.  This engaging 2005 film is the story of a young deaf boy, his mother and the man that the boy’s mother hires to portray the boy’s father for one day.

One of this year’s special events will be “Bing Crosby Rarities,” which features rare home movies and clips from the famous singer-actor.  Hosted by Bob DeFlores, a film collector who has put together this tribute, this Friday evening event on June 18 will be entertaining and memorable.  A filmmakers panel and two short films done by the local Project Moonshine endeavor will be take place on Sunday, June 20.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2010
Contact:  Bob Alessandrelli
848.6028
boba@rlasolutions.com

TMCC Student Wins Reno Film Festival Poster Contest; To Be Unveiled at
Lumière All-School Film Fest Screenings

Megan M. Fisher, who will graduate later this month from Truckee Meadows Community College’s graphic communications department, has won this year’s Reno Film Festival poster contest.  Her art features a clean design of a movie reel, a subtle Reno skyline and the festival logo and dates.  Her design will be used later this month and in June to promote the 10th annual festival, set for June 13-20.  In addition to her art appearing on this year’s festival poster, print media and the festival’s website, Fisher has won two all access passes to this year’s festival, courtesy of the City of Reno’s Ward 5, Northwest NAB.  

Fisher said she came up with the design the first time but her final entry was a third or fourth generation as she refined her work.  Fisher is a 2003 graduate of Galena High and last year’s winner, Matt Sheridan was also a Galena graduate.

Fisher’s design will be introduced at the festival’s May 20-22 free screenings of the finalists in this year’s Lumière All-School Film Fest, at Clayton Middle School on Thursday, Peavine Elementary on Friday and Damonte Ranch High on Saturday.  All screenings begin at 7 p.m.

A number of local students—from elementary school to college—are finalists in the various Lumière categories.  Categories include music, mini-documentaries & visual essays, how-to-films, science and math films, news stories & perspective pieces, public service announcements, animation (CGI, hand-drawn, and stop-motion), fake commercials, original trailers, and live action, science fiction and western shorts.  The Lumières are sponsored by the DP Foundation and the May screenings as well as a screening during the June festival will all be free. 

A complete schedule of the June 13-20 festival, including a ticket order form, will be available on the festival’s website, www.renofilmfestival.com, later this month.

Festival sponsors this year include the Siena Hotel Spa Casino, Yellowbook, KTVN-Channel 2, Americom/Reno Radio Representatives, Bea-Design for Marketing, H & A Productions, KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, KUNR Public Radio – FM 88.7, Red Machine Multimedia, Final Draft, and the Reno News & Review.  Grant support is from the City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission; City of Reno’s Neighborhood Advisory Boards: Wards One/SW Reno, Two/Central, Two/South Reno, Three/East Reno, Four/No. Valleys, Four/NE and Five/NW; DP Foundation; E. L. Cord Foundation; Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs; National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; and the Terry Lee Wells Foundation.

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January 31, 2010
Contact:  Bob Alessandrelli
848.6028
boba@rlasolutions.com

Reno Film Festival Announces Annual Oscar Shorts Screenings

The Oscar-nominated and winning live action and animated short subjects will be screened in Reno Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27.  Evening shows at 7:30 pm will screen at the Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR and a 2 pm Saturday matinee will be shown in room 108 of the Sierra building on the TMCC Dandini campus. 

Tickets are available at the door or in advance at www.renofilmfestival.com or from Neil in the TMCC library.  Ticket prices are $8/general and $5/student.  Bring two cans of food to benefit the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and take $1 off.  (Those purchasing tickets in advance will be reimbursed at the door.)

Festival organizers are currently accepting entries for three contests:  March 12 is the deadline for both this year’s annual poster contest and the Reno Indie competition.  The Indie competition has a late deadline in April and the synopsis contest has April and May deadlines.  Information on all three contests is at the festival’s website, www.renofilmfestival.com

This year’s 10th annual Reno Film Festival is slated for June 13-20 and will feature the annual Indie Shorts competition with short films in a variety of categories, classic films, educational sessions, parties and more.  A complete Reno Film Festival schedule and ticket information will be posted at the festival’s website as this year’s program is finalized later this spring.

Festival sponsors for the 2009-10 season include the City of Reno’s Arts & Culture Commission, E.L Cord Foundation, DP Foundation, Terry Lee Wells Foundation and the Nevada Arts Council & National Endowment for the Arts.  Media sponsors include Yellowbook, KTVN-TV, Americom/Reno Radio Representatives, Bea-Design for Marketing, H & A Productions, KNPB Channel 5 Public Broadcasting, KUNR Public Radio – FM 88.7, Red Machine Multimedia and the Reno News & Review.

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