NEW YORK (Dec. 9, 2003) -- Showtime Networks will partner with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television providing a production budget of $125,000 to help fund seven student films on the theme of "Images of War in the 21st Century," it was announced today by Matthew C. Blank, Showtime President and CEO, and Barbara Boyle, Chair of the UCLA Department of Film, Television and Digital Media.  The student films, which will be broadcast on the network in 2004, will explore the realities of war in an age of terrorists, advanced biological weapons and the growing threat of nuclear warfare.

 

The winning entries include: ATTENTION - Brad Sample; DO YOU KNOW WHAT WAR IS? - Jennifer W. Glos; ELEGY - Kristina Malsberger; THE INVISIBLE MAN - Angela Mrema; OUTSIDE - Jenn Kao; POWER AND HORROR: A DISCUSSION WITH NOAM CHOMSKY - Roberto S. Oregel and TELEVISED - Eli Akira Kaufman.
 
Eligible graduate students were asked to submit proposals and budgets for their prospective films in the categories of narrative, animation or documentary directing.  The films could be up to 20 minutes in length.  The films were selected by a faculty committee at UCLA and Showtime executives.

 

 "Showtime believes in creating opportunities that encourage and foster young talent," stated Blank. "We are proud to give these students a chance to realize their visions and reach an audience that might otherwise not be available to them."

 

"Our students and faculty are thrilled with Showtime's support," said Boyle.

 

The UCLA short film project follows similar ventures that Showtime sponsored with graduate students from NYU's Kanbar Institute of Film and Television.  The NYU students explored themes relating to the events of 9/11 in 2002 and are currently involved in a project which explores AIDS-related subjects.

 

UCLA boasts one of the world's premiere programs, offering a multi-disciplined, comprehensive approach to animation, film, television and new media.  Each year, an elite group of students are selected from hundreds of applicants.  Student projects have won top awards at practically every prestigious film festival in the world, including Cannes, Sundance and Berlin.  UCLA has produced such notable filmmakers as Allison Anders, Charles Burnett, Alex Cox, Moctesuma Esparza, Francis Ford Coppola, Colin Higgins, Justin Lin, Gregory Nava, Alexander Payne, Gina Price-Bythewood, Tim Robbins, Paul Schrader and Penelope Spheeris.

 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL" and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO", SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC xtra.  SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND". SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.   Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME EXTREME® is available in Spain through a joint venture with Media Park and the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.