GURINDER CHADHA, ALAN RICKMAN AND KATE WINSLET JOIN TCM IN SEARCH FOR BEST BRITISH SHORT FILM FOR 2005

TCM (Turner Classic Movies) launches its sixth annual TCM Classic Shorts competition on 16th May. For the first time the launch takes place as part of the prestigious Quinzaine des Realisateurs (Directors' Fortnight) during Cannes Film Festival. As with previous years, the awards ceremony is held during The Times bfi 49th London Film Festival in the autumn (20th Oct - 3rd Nov) at the National Film Theatre. The shortlisted titles will be screened at the awards and within the Short Cuts and Animation strand as part of TCM's continued sponsorship of the LFF.

Each year, the competition grows in stature and exposure, which is reflected by the film industry luminaries who are giving their valuable time to participate as judges in TCM's search to find the best short film of 2005. TCM is delighted to welcome its first female director, Gurinder Chadha, on to the panel this year.

TCM Classic Shorts is now established as one of the most prestigious and valuable short film competitions in Europe with £10,000 of prize money. Having discovered some of the best new film making talent in the UK in recent years, this year looks to be as popular as ever. Since the competition began, many of the short-listed films have gone on to receive further acclaim. Last year's winning film, Nits directed by Harry Wootliff received a BAFTA nomination, whilst 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. Nits will be screened on 20th May at Quinzaine des Realisateurs (Directors' Fortnight) during Cannes Film Festival.

TCM Classic Shorts is open to all UK made short films. The opening date is 1st May 2005 and all films must be received by 1st September 2005 at the very latest. The short-listed nominations are aired during a special weekend of programming on TCM and also screened at The Times bfi 49th London Film Festival during the awards ceremony.

The judging panel comprises:

Gurinder Chadha Director: Bhaji on the Beach; Bend it Like Beckham; Bride & Prejudice

Alan Rickman Actor, Producer, Director: Die Hard; Truly Madly Deeply; Love Actually

Kate Winslet Actress: Titanic; Enigma; Iris; Finding Neverland

Helen Mirren Actress: Calendar Girls, Gosford Park, Prime Suspect 6 (TV)

Julian Fellowes Writer, Producer, Director: Gosford Park; Vanity Fair; Separate Lives

Rhys Ifans Actor: Notting Hill; Vanity Fair; Enduring Love

David Morrissey Actor, Director: The Deal; Blackpool; Basic Instinct 2

Stephen Woolley Producer: The Crying Game; The Wild and Wycked World of Brian Jones

Paul Trijbits Head of The New Cinema Fund, UK Film Council

Richard Jobson Film Critic, Writer, Producer, Director: Sixteen Years of Alcohol

Colin Kennedy Editor of Empire magazine

Matt Mueller Editor of Total Film

Wendy Ide The Times bfi London Film Festival, short film programmer

Nick James Editor of Sight & Sound magazine

Chris Law Managing Director - UK Territories, Warner Brothers

Tina McCann General Manager of Turner Entertainment Networks Europe


Further information and entry forms are available at: www.tcmonline.co.uk/classicshorts

and for further information about The Times bfi London Film Festival, please log on to: www.lff.org.uk

TCM (Turner Classic Movies), a Time Warner company, launched in Europe in 1999. The channel draws on an extensive library of timeless movies presenting them in a contemporary style. The channel is available via cable and satellite and reaches over 9.8 million UK households. In 2004 TCM was the 3rd highest rated movie channel behind Sky Movies 1 and Sky Movies 2.