TCM SHORTS COMP

TCM'S ANNUAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION OPEN TO ENTRIES FROM EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

London, 3rd May 2007. TCM is proud to announce that directors Lasse Hallstrom, Kevin Macdonald, Simon Pegg and actor Cillian Murphy are among the high profile judges who are going to be choosing the TCM Classic Shorts competition winner and runners up of 2007.

The eighth annual short film competition run by film channel TCM (Turner Classic Movies) launched 1st May and following the success of the competition and the demand from film-makers the film channel has decided to open the competition to entries from Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The award ceremony, to honour the finalists, is held as one of the special events at The Times BFI 51st London Film Festival on October 30th.

The competition continues to grow in stature and exposure and since its inception in 2000 it has attracted distinguished names from the international film industry who have agreed to participate as judges.

TCM Classic Shorts is one of the most prestigious and valuable short film competitions of its kind in EMEA awarding £10,000 of prize money (1st prize - £5,000; 2nd prize – 3,000; 3rd prize £2,000) and great exposure across all the TCM channels in those territories. In addition, it gives the entrants exposure to a celebrated panel of judges who bring their expertise from all angles of the film industry. This year's panel is:

Lasse Hallstrom (My Life as a Dog, The Cider House Rules - Director, writer, producer)
Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, Touching The Void - Director, writer, producer)
Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, Mission Impossible lll - Director, Actor, Writer)
Stephen Woolley (The Crying Game, Stoned - Producer and director)
Cillian Murphy (Sunshine, Girl with a Pearl Earring - Actor)
Paul Andrew Williams (London To Brighton - Director)
Detlev Buck (Jailbirds,Tough Enough - Director, Actor)
Wendy Ide (Film critic and film festival programmer)
Jason Solomons (BBC film critic)
Nev Pierce (Editor of Total Film)
Dan Jolin (Features Editor of Empire)

The competition prides itself on having discovered some of the best new film making talent in the UK in recent years; last year's winner Silence is Golden by Chris Shepherd featured some innovative animation and Jane Lloyd, the previous year's winner was used by David Gray as the video for his last single, Alibi. Many of the short-listed films from previous years have also gone on to receive further acclaim; 2006 finalist Cubs directed by Tom Harper was nominated for a BAFTA as was 2004 winner Nits directed by Harry Wootliff. 2002 entry Brown Paper Bag directed by Michael Baig Clifford and 2001 winner About A Girl directed by Brian Percival, both went on to win BAFTAs for Best Short Film. Gerald McMorrow whose film Thespian X won in 2002 is now directing a feature film, Franklyn, with Hanway Films.

TCM Classic Shorts is open to all short films from EMEA, if they have not been made in English they will require English subtitles. The opening date is 1st May 2007 and all films must be received by 1st August 2007 at the very latest. The short-listed nominations are aired during a special weekend of programming on TCM on 3rd and 4th November and also screened at The Times BFI 51st London Film Festival during the awards ceremony on 30th October.

Further information and entry forms are available at: www.tcmclassicshorts.com For further information about The Times BFI 51st London Film Festival, please log on to: www.lff.org.uk

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TCM (Turner Classic Movies) is a 24-hour film channel that launched in the US in 1994 and in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa in 1999 as part of the Time Warner group. TCM gives viewers the opportunity to escape to a world of film and enjoy a vast range of unforgettable movies from all genres. Broadening the cinematic experience, viewers can enhance their enjoyment of the world's most popular art form with exclusive documentaries, interviews with Hollywood insiders and a front row seat at global film events. It is available via cable, satellite and digital terrestrial throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East in six regional versions in eleven languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, Greek, Hebrew, Polish, Spanish, German, Norwegian and Swedish.

In the UK TCM can be found on SKY 319; Virgin TV 419; Top Up TV Anytime

For information on TCM see www.tcmonline.co.uk.
For press releases/schedules/images see www.europe.turnerInfo.com.

For more information please contact:

Ann Rosen Tel: +44 (0)20 7693 1117 Email: ann.rosen@turner.com
Catherine Hayes Tel: +44 (0)20 7693 0648 Email: catherine.hayes@turner.com