Competition Prize for 2003 exceeds $150,000

12.24.02 (Please Contact Joanne Butcher, Executive Director, IFP/Miami Tel: (305-538-8242)

Miami, Florida. Independent Feature Project (IFP/Miami) announced today the launch of the first statewide film production competition, THE IFP/MIAMI 25K/03 FILM COMPETITION: SUNLIGHT PRODUCTION FUND which awards a $25,000 cash prize, and $125, 000 in goods and services towards the production of a feature film. Applications are available now on the IFP/Miami website at www.ifp.org

The IFP/MIAMI 25K/03 FILM COMPETITION: SUNLIGHT PRODUCTION FUND is an innovative feature film production fund created by the IFP/Miami, with support from the Film Florida Association, and designed to nurture the creation of high quality feature length films.

To be eligible for the competition, applicants must be Florida residents, become members of IFP/Miami and provide a nominal application fee. Applicants must submit a feature-length script and a business plan. A distinguished panel of judges will score the script for its merits as a work of art, and the business plan for its feasibility to produce and complete a well-marketed film. The finalists and winner will be presented at an awards gala, where the winner will receive $25, 000 in cash and $125, 000 in goods and services towards the production of a feature film.

IFP/Miami Executive Director Joanne Butcher calls Rebecca Dirden Mattingly, State Film Commissioner, the "brainchild" of the project. "Rebecca approached us first with her idea, and after two years of careful planning, we're ready to launch the project, says Ms. Butcher.

Mattingly was appointed by Governor Bush in 1999, not only as the first film commissioner in the state Executive Office, but also the first African-American and the first woman in Florida to hold this office. "We knew we needed to invent ways to stimulate independent film production, and opportunities for local producers," Mattingly said.

Ms. Butcher encourages aspiring filmmakers of every experience-level to apply. "Not only are we giving a prize to the winner; we're offering seminars to teach the applicants how to win, including screenplay writing and how to write a business plan."

"This program is an investment in Florida's visionary, filmmaker talent," says IFP/Miami Director of Marketing, Mark L. Woods. "It is one-of-kind because it will provide a unique opportunity to stimulate production of first-rate independent feature films in Florida. Even if they don't get the feature prize; they're still winners. Their membership in IFP/Miami is a bonus that provides year-round workshops, networking events, and other opportunities to learn, or to finance and produce their films." The deadline date for submissions is March 1, 2003, and the Awards Ceremony will take place in mid May, 2003.

In addition to the Governor's Office of Film & Entertainment, founding sponsors include CineVideoTech, Kodak, Continental Laboratories, Miami-Dade County Film Office, Broward County Film Office, Film Florida, and Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council.

ABOUT IFP:
IFP/Miami, stands for Independent Feature Project, one of six regional chapters nationwide. More than 10,000 filmmakers and industry professionals participate in IFP's year-round activities, to make connections, and to find out the latest on who's who, who's buying, who's financing, and who's making new features, shorts, and documentaries. www.ifp.org

Considered the most important organization of independent filmmakers in the U.S., IFP is internationally famous for other similar competitions. Some have compared the IFP/Miami Feature Film Production Competition to the popular HBO "Project Greenlight.".

IFP/Miami Board Chairman Jerry Bell explains, "IFP/LA has their Spirit Awards, broadcast on the IFP Cable TV Channel every year. IFP/NY has the Gotham Awards; Florida is about to become famous for the IFP/Miami Feature Film Production Competition." Bell and Butcher returned last week from the
IFP Market in New York City, also sponsored by the IFP/NY chapter. Bell says, "we've designed this competition to become our annual, 'signature event.'"

Jerry Bell is Chairman of the Board of Directors, IFP/Miami and Board Member of IFP National, and Joanne Butcher is Executive Director of IFP/Miami and founding board Member IFP National. Jerry Bell is CEO of Bell Planning, a Miami-based, city planning & consulting firm, whose clients include Miami-Dade County. Joanne Butcher, Executive Director of the former Alliance Cinema, a recipient of a State of Florida Media Arts Fellowship, negotiated the joining of the Alliance Cinema with IFP/Miami.

A spokesman for the national organization describes IFP/Miami: "IFP/Miami is one of our fastest growing chapters in America. We're proud to end Phase One of our national development plan, and to begin Phase Two with the new IFP/Miami, Florida Feature Competition. IFP/ Miami is one the 'rising stars' in our constellation of indie film groups."

IFP National has just completed Phase one of it's goal to create an interactive educational website, a new national logo, and a new national trademark. Phase 2 will create greater connectivity between the five original IFP chapters, plus the recently-formed IFP/Seattle, and to strive to fulfill its mission of "providing services to Independent Filmmakers within their regional chapters."

IFP/MIAMI Board Chair, Jerry Bell, an independent film producer, co-authored the project guidelines. Bell says, "New filmmakers will benefit from the publicity and contacts, in addition to learning from 'working professionals.' Mentor-support is available through IFP/Miami and its resources, every step along the way. In fact, during the year-long process, the launch, marketing, statewide events, and awards ceremony will present myriad opportunities for sponsor visibility."

Richard Standifer, Fund Development Chair of the IFP says, "This film production competition is an extraordinary opportunity for new-to-Florida businesses to attach their brands to one of the hottest enterprises emerging in the state: the art and business of making movies. While we have secured some multi-national corporations as sponsors, there's plenty of room for any of the many Florida-based businesses to get onboard. After all, this thing is all about Florida: its cultures, its peoples, its places, its stories!"

PROGRAM DETAILS:
In its first year, IFP/MIAMI 25K/03 FILM COMPETITION: SUNLIGHT PRODUCTION FUND encourages experienced mid-career producers with an already developed feature film project and a small to mid-size budget to apply. The IFP/MIAMI 25K/03 FILM COMPETITION: SUNLIGHT PRODUCTION FUND award is production money to be used in the pre-production, production and post-production phases of the project. IFP/Miami will also serve as a resource in the distribution
phase..

According to the project description, to be eligible to apply for the prize:

1) The applicant must be a current Florida resident having lived in the
state for a minimum of one calendar year OR a former Florida resident having
lived in the state for at least seven consecutive years (Residency will be
verified upon submission.)

2) The applicant must be the producer who assumes creative control of the
project.

3) Award winners may re-apply for subsequent IFP/MIAMI 25K/03 FILM
COMPETITION: SUNLIGHT PRODUCTION FUND awards after three years and with a
different project.

4) The IFP/MIAMI 25K/03 FILM COMPETITION: SUNLIGHT PRODUCTION FUND is open
only to individual applicants who are current members of IFP/Miami; organizations may not apply.

CRITERIA

IFP/MIAMI 25K/03 FILM COMPETITION: SUNLIGHT PRODUCTION FUND seeks viable
projects that are diverse, that will translate well onto the screen and that have the potential to attract independent distribution, broadcast or cable acquisition, or national festival screenings. 100 percent of the production budget must be spent in Florida and/on payments to talent, or businesses.

Projects will be judged in the following two categories:

Artistic Vision:
A winning project must contain a high quality feature-length screenplay that tells an
engaging story and demonstrates mastery in plot, structure and all
essential elements of screenwriting. Priority will be given to projects that
reflect the Florida experience. 60% of the judge’s score will be given to
quality of screenplay.

Ability to Complete Production:
To win, the applicant and the principals associated with the project must
demonstrate through submitted bios and requested work samples the
professional skills to successfully complete the project. 40% of the judge's
score will be given to quality of the business plan and the feasibility of
production.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

You can request a complete application form from IFP/Miami, 210 2nd Street,
Miami Beach, FL 33139. Call (305)538-8242 and request an application. Or download a Microsoft Word or PDF version from the website at www.ifp.org.

IFP/Miami reserves the right to reject proposals that are incomplete,
illegible, or not submitted in accordance with the application instructions.
IFP/Miami is not responsible for loss or damage to application materials due
to shipping, storage or presentation. Electronic mail or faxed materials
will not be accepted.

All eligible submissions received by the March 1, 2003, deadline will be reviewed by a
panel of nationally recognized film professionals. The panel will recommend
for further review up to ten projects that represent the highest level of
ability to complete production.

Final selections will be made by a professional jury of film experts and
advisors invited to Florida to make the final choice of the winner. A
variety of methods of judging will be used to select the highest artistic
quality and greatest feasibility of success of the production.

The award recipient is personally responsible for all production award funds
and will enter into a contract with IFP/Miami once funds are received. The
agreement will include provision giving IFP/MIAMI 25K/03 FILM COMPETITION:
SUNLIGHT PRODUCTION FUND a) a credit on the finished product, b) profit
participation in the recipient's finished project so that the fund can be
ongoing, but will not give IFP/Miami any ownership of the finished film.

Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis in exchange for funds
spent. Award recipients must submit a final report at the end of their award
year, which shows project expenditures, progress of the project, and
significant changes to the project.

The IFP/MIAMI 25K/03 FILM COMPETITION: SUNLIGHT PRODUCTION FUND
must be credited on all film prints, tapes, DVD's and promotion material produced in
association with the project. A videotape of the final production is to be
given to IFP Miami as well as to the State of Florida, Office of Film and
Entertainment for their records.

# # #

“As movies get worse and worse, the good ones become more and more valuable,” Kenneth Turan, L.A. Times.

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.

IFP/Miami