Date: June 11, 2008

Contact: Justin Yoffe, (310) 458-8634
justin.yoffe@smgov.net

3rd ANNUAL SANTA MONICA TEEN FILM FESTIVAL

Santa Monica, California – The 3^rd Annual Santa Monica Teen Film Festival will take place on Saturday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Miles Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., and on Sunday, June 22 at 1:00 p.m. in the Main Library Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.

These two separate screenings will showcase twenty out of the seventy plus films that were submitted this year. Each screening will present a wide array of films ranging from live action and documentary to animation and experimental. Audience members will have a chance to vote on their favorite films after each screening.

In addition to the audience award, films will also be judged by a panel of industry professionals and teenagers. This panel will present the overall film achievement awards. The final awards ceremony will take place at the closing of the second film screening on Sunday, June 22 at the Santa Monica Main Library. Award categories include “Best of the Fest”, “Best Documentary”, “Best Animation”, and “Best Music Video.”  The Santa Monica Budding Filmmaker award will go to a local teen who displays the talent and passion for a future filmmaking career.

The Santa Monica Teen Film Festival is an interdepartmental initiative between the Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division, the Santa Monica Public Library, the Virginia Avenue Park Teen Center and City TV. Its purpose is to provide an outlet for, and to showcase, the creative talents of teen filmmakers, as well as encourage youth to use the art of filmmaking as a form of creative expression and commentary on the world in which they live. Admission is FREE.

For more information about the film festival, or to make a reservation, please call Justin Yoffe at (310) 458-8634.