San Francisco Film Society Announces Prizes, Judges And Prominent Environmental Advocates Supporting SFIFF50 Greenworld Contest

$1,000 Grand Prize and Screening at 50th San Francisco International Film Festival for Winning Film Focused on “What It Means to Be Green”

April 9, 2007

The San Francisco Film Society today announced the prizes, judges and endorsers of the SFIFF50 GreenWorld Contest, an online competition for short films focused on the necessary conversations, changes, risks, leadership, and vision needed to make the world truly sustainable, created by Jumpcut, a Yahoo! company.

The deadline for submissions on www.jumpcut.com/groups/greenworld is Sunday, April 22. Up to ten entries, selected by the judges, will be included in the final voting stage from April 26 – May 6. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 9 at the SFIFF50 Golden Gate Awards Ceremony and will receive a $1,000 cash award, Delta Air Lines round-trip domestic travel to San Francisco and a two-night stay at the Orchard Garden Hotel, San Francisco’s newest “green” hotel. NativeEnergy is providing carbon offsets for all emissions related to the winner’s air travel and accommodation.

The winning and runner-up videos will screen at the Halou, Tarentel and the GreenWorld performance and celebration on Wednesday, May 9, 9:30 pm at Mighty, 119 Utah Street (near 15th). Tickets are available at 925-866-9559 or fest07.sffs.org for $12/general public and $9/SFFS members.

GreenWorld Contest Judges
Frances Beinecke, president, National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a national nonprofit organization that uses law, science and the support of 1.2 million members and online activists to solve today’s biggest environmental challenges. Prior to becoming president in 2006, Beinecke was NRDC’s executive director for eight years, during which time the organization’s membership doubled and its staff grew to 300. She also worked as an advocate with NRDC’s Water & Coastal Program. Beinecke serves on the board of the World Resources Institute and the Energy Future Coalition. She also is the co-chair of the Leadership Council for the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Ian Bricke, director, acquisitions and programming, Sundance Channel. As director of acquisitions and programming at Sundance Channel, Ian Bricke is responsible for tracking and evaluating feature films, documentaries and shorts for Channel acquisition. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries and original programs, all unedited and commercial free. Before joining Sundance Channel, he worked at Killer Films on projects including Storytelling and Hedwig and the Angry Inch and at the Independent Feature Project on three consecutive Independent Feature Film Markets. He also worked in development for Open City Films and Pipedream Productions and has appeared on panels and juries at numerous film markets and festivals

Chris Paine, director, Who Killed the Electric Car? (SFIFF 2006) The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and screened theatrically to critical acclaim in 100 U.S. markets. Paine’s film
investigates the events leading to the destruction of a whole generation of revolutionary fast electric vehicles. Paine executive produced Faster (2003), about the world's fastest motorcycle race, and the award-winning No Maps For These Territories, which chronicles a road trip across the U.S. with visionary author William Gibson and U2’s Bono. Currently, Paine is collaborating with Buzz Aldrin and Steve Wozniak on Zero South, a documentary tracking his drive to the South Pole in alternative-fuel vehicles. His activist work includes campaigns to stop nuclear testing in Nevada, the U.S.-backed Contra war in Nicaragua and CalTrans’ efforts to build a new freeway in Northern California. Paine supports the work of the NRDC, the Rainforest Action Network, Conservation International, the Amazon Conservation Team, Plug-In America and Drive Around the World.

Environmental Advocates Supporting the GreenWorld Contest
Producer Lawrence Bender (The 18Seconds Movement), actors Frances Fisher (Environmental Media Association), Shalom Harlow (ForestEthics), Q’orianka Kilcher (Amazon Watch), Isabella Rossellini (Wildlife Conservation Network) and Aisha Tyler (Trust for Public Land), and activist Julia Butterfly Hill (Circle of Life), advocates on behalf of the noted environmental organizations, have provided personal statements to inspire and guide contest entrants. Visit www.jumpcut.com/groups/greenworld or fest07.sffs.org/events/green to read their statements and view digital works in all forms and genres, from fictional suspense drama and romantic comedy to investigative reportage and personal essays to animated and experimental work.

Community Partners: 18seconds.org, Amazon Watch, ASCAP (American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers), Circle of Life, Drive Around the World, Environmental Media Association, ForestEthics, National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), The Trust for Public Land, Wildlife Conservation Network

Sponsors: Yahoo! Video, Jumpcut, Heart of Green, NativeEnergy, Sundance Channel, Green Zebra, Sillapere, Delta Air Lines, Orchard Garden Hotel, Creative Axis International and zipcar.