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NEXTPIX OFFERS "FIRSTPIX" GRANTS TO FILMMAKERS
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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[Washington DC, June 21, 2002] nextPix, a film/media production and services company, announced today it is taking applications for its "firstPix" program to support first and second time filmmakers by providing post-production grants to selected projects. The firstPix program will offer projects up to 5K in post-production funding. Projects can be shot in digital video or film, with animation also considered. Projects are judged based on pre-determined criteria that include whether or not the film has a positive humanitarian message. nextPix will evaluate rough assemblies or completed films for selection (no treatments, proposals or scripts accepted), and welcomes subject matter of all types. This is the second year of the firstPix program. The 2001 selection, SINGING THE BONES (dir. Gordon Halloran) went on to be accepted at the Montreal World Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival, and is currently being independently distributed on an international basis. The firstPix grant helped Halloran to take his feature DV on its festival tour and publicize the project effectively. States program director Shelley Friedman, "We're really excited about the firstPix program, and the help it can provide to filmmakers at a critical stage in their project, where they've got footage in the can or video ready to edit, or maybe even have a completed film. They may need money to help finish the film, or go on a festival tour, or fund an acquisitions screening. The grant is designed to address those kinds of needs." nextPix president Don Thompson states, "We want the firstPix projects to reflect positive humanitarian messages -- and under the umbrella of 'humanitarian' we've provided a pretty broad definition. Suffice it to say we'd like to support filmmakers who want to both entertain and say something meaningful, who are thinking about their responsibility as media artists and how they impact the overall culture." nextPix was founded in 2000 and has produced, co-produced and provided finishing funds to both film and digital video projects. The company has also been on the forefront of promoting new digital video production techniques and using the Internet as an effective filmmaker resource. Interested applicants can visit the nextPix website (www.nextpix.com) for the application form and further information. The deadline for application is September 15, 2002, with winners announced in late November of 2002. For more information about nextPix, please email info@nextpix.com. #### |