05.20.03
Florida Film Producers' Gala Dazzles Crowds

Miami Beach Film Producer Takes Trophy and $150,000 Prize at IFP/Miami's
Glamorous Sunlight Production Award Gala

Miami, Florida. Finally, Miami boasts its first, very own version of
the Oscars!

A packed-house of Hollywood celebrities, and local film and television
talent danced, and dined, and applauded the winners, with IFP/Miami for
the First Annual Sunlight Awards Gala, on Saturday night, May 17, 2003,
at the recently completed Treetop Ballroom in the New Parrot Jungle, on
Watson Island, Miami.

The First Annual Sunlight Production Fund Award went to Johnathan Wyche
with his project, Planet Ibsen. Johnathan receives a $25,000 cash prize
donated in memory of Cinematographer Egon Stephan, by Cinevideotech.

Egon Stephan, Jr., CEO of Cinevideotech appeared in person to present
the award. The entire Florida film production community donated another
$125,000 in goods and services.

Actor Natasha Lyonne (Slums of Beverly Hills, Everyone Says I Love You,
Die Mommie Die, Scary Movie II, and American Pie I & II), received the
first award of the evening: The Doris Wishman Memorial Award. Natasha
had to catch a flight out to Romania where she shoots a new motion
picture on Sunday.

Next, Director and Producer, Katherine Kean, also known as KK (Haiti:
Killing the Dream) received the Independent Voice Award for her
outstanding films, which "tell the truth about the world we live in."

The favorite honor went to local-boy-made-good, Ronald Lang, writer and
producer, and Competition Juror, of All About the Benjamins. He
received the Florida Film & TV Award.

Another Florida native, writer/director, Julie Davis (I Love you don't
Touch Me, Amy's Orgasm) received the Breakthrough Artist Award, for an
"artist who is reaching great heights."

Extraordinary actor, Sam Bottoms, (The Last Picture Show, Apocalypse
Now, The Outlaw Josey Wales, SeaBiscuit) received an Award for
Independent Actor, handed to him by local drama teacher and
philanthropist, Jay Jensen.

The evening was filled with celebrities, entertainment, dinner, dancing
and cocktails. The party began to the smooth sound of renowned jazz
musician Ed Calle, known for his work with Gloria Estafan's band, the
Miami Sound Machine. Beautiful female and male fashion models greeted
the cars and limousines. Guests is designer gowns and suits were
dazzling against the shimmering and colorful electric, panoramic view of
the Miami skyline at night.

Mark Woods, Director of Marketing for the Independent Feature
Project/Miami, said, "Everybody who's anybody in Florida film production
was there."

The evening was a glamorous black tie affair, made all the more special
by the film and celebrity panache.

"We gave away the biggest prize to an aspiring film producer ever in
this state, " says Joanne Butcher, Executive Director. This year's
talented filmmaker walked away from the spotlight with cash and in-kind
services to produce a feature film.

Film producer Jonathan Wyche of Miami Beach was the winner with his
ambitious and visionary script for Planet Ibsen. He received a standing
ovation after his acceptance speech, and representatives of the entire
film community pledged to support his work.

The runners-up were a production team from Tallahassee, headed by
producer, Michael Seminerio, with an outstanding project called Eidolon
Son. The other finalist producers were Jamin O'Brien, South of Heaven;
Elizabeth Withstandley, Hello Earthlings!; James Valentine, Exposed;
and George Williams, The Pool Man.

Two Special Awards for Excellence in Screenwriting went to Duba Leibell,
with her script Johnny Girl and David Munro, who flew several of his
team members in from San Francisco, with his project, Full Grown Men.
Various judges are considering several of the projects for future
development and production potential.

Forty Florida filmmakers submitted scripts, business plans, and
applications to this competition. Hundreds of local film producers and
film industry business representatives, along with the "final six"
waited in suspense to see whose name would be called. The judges
struggled to choose a winner, because of the high quality of the
projects.

The judges were Sam Bottoms, Actor; Ron Lang, writer; Cindy Banach,
distributor with Palm Pictures; Piedad Palacios, Producer and currently
with MPAA Latin America; Robert Whitmore, Producer; and Tag Purvis,
writer/director. They completed the work of 25 first round judges
throughout the State of Florida who had selected the 6 finalists.

Many industry-related professionals were in the crowd. IFP/Miami Chair,
Jerry Bell said, "This crowd is a virtual Who's Who of film making and
television in South Florida."

The First Annual Sunlight Award Competition was co-sponsored by the
Governor's Office of Film and Entertainment.

Many major corporations were present at the elegant black tie event,
including sponsors who will be contributing to the award-winning film:
Cinevideotech, Cineworks, Kodak, IFC Channel, Lumina Productions, Film
Florida, Florida Production Guide, CSC East Coast, Miami-Dade Mayor's
Office of Film and Entertainment, Bacardi, Martin & Donald's of
Hollywood, Ed Arenas/Unique Casting, Barry Oliver Chase, P.A., Unique
Producers, and many others.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS, PLEASE CALL IFP/MIAMI AT
(305)751-8118. Joanne Butcher, Executive Director or Mark Woods,
Director of Marketing. Or email us at miami@ifp.org

--
IFP/Miami Film Competition: Sunlight Production Fund -
AWARDS GALA - MAY 17, 2003

IFP/Miami
210 2nd Street
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Tel: (305)538-8242
miami@ifp.org

Check out the fantastic new IFP website at www.ifp.org!

THINK INDEPENDENT. THINK FILM.
The Independent Feature Project/Miami is a not-for-profit 501(c)3
organization whose mission is to foster a vibrant independent filmmaking
community, by teaching, assisting and facilitating filmmakers to make
great work.

Mark Leslie Woods
sinemacymru@the-beach.net
Gwell dysg na golud.

Visit www.MarkLeslieWoods.Com

Home of Cinema Wales, Sinema Cymru & Alba Dream Films

"This time, like all others, is a very good one, if we but know what to
do with it. If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams,
and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with
a success unexpected in common hours." - Henry David Thoreau
"Don't be afraid to take a big step. You can't cross a chasm in two
small jumps." - David Lloyd George
"Hitch your wagon to a star." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

IFP/Miami