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.

London takes centre stage at Cannes

£400 London short sits alongside big name productions on Cannes shortlists

London will take centre stage at the world’s most prestigious film festival this week, as the star of Woody Allen’s eagerly awaited UK debut Match Point. New York’s favourite director shot this dark thriller, which stars Scarlett Johansson and James Nesbitt, all over the UK capital last summer – choosing London’s skyline landmarks like ‘The Gherkin’ (30 St Mary Axe) and Tate Modern. Allen is poised to make his second London film later this year.

Match Point will screen outside of the Official Competition on Thursday 12 May. Alongside it will be Chromophobia another high profile feature from one of London’s emerging big talents, director Martha Fiennes (Onegin). Her darkly comic film, set and shot in contemporary London and starring Penelope Cruz, Damien Lewis and James Nesbitt, has the coveted position as the selection for the festival’s closing night gala.

Another London contribution to the festival shows you don’t have to have a big budget to compete in the world’s most celebrated film event. The Man Who Met Himself, a short film shot on Super 8 by four London film-makers with a staggering budget of £400, has caught the eye of selection officials and screens as part of the Short Film Palme d’Or. With the support of Film London, the short will receive its debut screening at Cannes on Wednesday 18 and Friday 20 May.

To consolidate these achievements 16 May will see ‘London Day’ on the Riviera. Top London film talent including Stephen Frears and Gurinder Chadha are joining Film London, the city’s media agency, to mark a day of events celebrating London’s contribution to global film production.

‘London Day’ kicks off with a press conference where film-makers Paul Hitchcock, (Mission Impossible) and Sandy Lieberson (Performance) together with Film London Chief Executive Adrian Wootton will launch the results of the 12 month Film London Executive Task Force to make London a more film-friendly city.

Other events on the day include a head-to-head discussion with UK film-makers Stephen Frears and Gurinder Chadha who will talk about the unique qualities of film-making in London.

‘London Day’ also sees the launch of London Plus, a new partnership between the South East’s major film studios, screen agencies, post production sector and leading production crew. Under the scheme producers from around the world will be able to arrange to scout locations, source crew and find a studio stage or post production facility with a single phone call or email. London Plus will cement London’s position at the heart of European film industry and boost film production in the capital.

‘London Day’ – Monday 16 May 2005

9:00am

Press conference at the UK Film Centre

With Paul Hitchcock, Producer (Phantom of the Opera, Mission: Impossible);

Sandy Lieberson, Producer (Jabberwocky, Performance) and Chair of Film London;

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London

11.45am-1pm
The Script Factory Head To Head: Gurinder Chadha talks to Stephen Frears
Two of the UK’s finest exports, Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham, Bride & Prejudice) and Frears (Dirty Pretty Things, Mrs Henderson Presents) explain why they love making movies in London.

3-4pm
The Script Factory - panel event TBC
***
The London Plus partnership of leading figures in UK production includes four major studios: Pinewood-Shepperton, Ealing, 3 Mills, Elstree and the three regions film commissions including Screen East, Screen South and Film London and UK Post, an umbrella organisation representing the UK post production and visual effects sector in the South East and the Production Guild of Great Britain. www.londonplus.org

Film London is the strategic agency for film and media in the UK’s capital. Film London sustains, promotes and develops London as a major international film-making and film cultural capital. This includes all the screen industries based in London – film, television, video, commercials and new interactive media. Film London is supported by the UK Film Council and the London Development Agency through Creative London. Film London also receives significant support from Arts Council England London, the European Regional Development Fund, the Mayor of London and Skillset.

See: www.filmlondon.org.uk