Official selections have been made for the 2011 Lights. Camera. Help. (TM) Film Festival, the only festival exclusively for nonprofit and cause-driven films, to be held July 28 to July 30 in Austin.
Lights. Camera. Help. is unique from other festivals because all the films represent a cause and call to action. Awards will be given for each film category, and all proceeds from ticket sales and contributions made via the website will be donated to the organizations or causes featured in the winning films.
Submissions for the third annual festival came from all over the world, with 26 chosen as finalists in the categories of feature-length films, public service announcements and short films. The films cover issues ranging from water crisis, human rights, fighting disease, tribal struggles and animal welfare.
Aaron Bramley, director of education and communications, said the production value and overall quality of films has increased tremendously this year.
“This year people understood what a cause-driven film was and is capable of,” said Bramley. “It was a lot harder to make the tough decisions on who gets screened.”
Bramley stresses that the best cause films "give insight and incite giving" by making you “feel good about the way you are interacting with the world around you.”
Five of this year’s finalists are from Austin, including local organizations such as The Lance Armstrong Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and The Cipher – Austin’s Hip Hop Project.
The 2011 festival also has some star power.
Judd Apatow, who directed “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Bridesmaids,” produced the film “A Public Service Announcement not approved by AJWS.” The film is a PSA for The American Jewish World Service and features big-name stars such as Jerry Seinfeld and Ben Stiller.
Also chosen was a film by documentary filmmaker Jeff Dupre, who won an Emmy award for the documentary series “Carrier” in 2008. His film “50 Years—Amnesty International” was selected as a finalist for best short film.
For the first time, all three nights of the film festival will be held at professional theater venues.
Thursday, July 28, the festival opens at The RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The festival continues Friday, July 29, at The Texas Spirit Theater at the Bob Bullock Museum from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The festival concludes Saturday, July 30, at The RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A wrap party takes place at Cuatros following the final screenings from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free with the purchase of a festival ticket. Wrap party tickets will also be available at the door for $10.
Festival tickets are now on sale at www.lightscamerahelp.org. Three-day passes can be purchased for $28, or single day tickets can be purchased for $13.
Lights. Camera. Help. is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit with a goal to encourage other nonprofits to use video and film to spread their messages. They provide educational programming to help nonprofits and cause-driven organizations create their own films. They also have a program called Project Action, which pairs talented filmmakers with nonprofits to create great stories.
To see the full lineup and schedule, visit www.lightscamerahelp.com/2011/selections
To learn more about the Lights Camera Help Film Festival and organization, visit www.lightscamerahelp.org
CONTACT:
Aaron Bramley
Director of Education and Communications
917-678-4590
aaron@lightscamerahelp.org
Lights. Camera. Help. is unique from other festivals because all the films represent a cause and call to action. Awards will be given for each film category, and all proceeds from ticket sales and contributions made via the website will be donated to the organizations or causes featured in the winning films.
Submissions for the third annual festival came from all over the world, with 26 chosen as finalists in the categories of feature-length films, public service announcements and short films. The films cover issues ranging from water crisis, human rights, fighting disease, tribal struggles and animal welfare.
Aaron Bramley, director of education and communications, said the production value and overall quality of films has increased tremendously this year.
“This year people understood what a cause-driven film was and is capable of,” said Bramley. “It was a lot harder to make the tough decisions on who gets screened.”
Bramley stresses that the best cause films "give insight and incite giving" by making you “feel good about the way you are interacting with the world around you.”
Five of this year’s finalists are from Austin, including local organizations such as The Lance Armstrong Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and The Cipher – Austin’s Hip Hop Project.
The 2011 festival also has some star power.
Judd Apatow, who directed “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Bridesmaids,” produced the film “A Public Service Announcement not approved by AJWS.” The film is a PSA for The American Jewish World Service and features big-name stars such as Jerry Seinfeld and Ben Stiller.
Also chosen was a film by documentary filmmaker Jeff Dupre, who won an Emmy award for the documentary series “Carrier” in 2008. His film “50 Years—Amnesty International” was selected as a finalist for best short film.
For the first time, all three nights of the film festival will be held at professional theater venues.
Thursday, July 28, the festival opens at The RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The festival continues Friday, July 29, at The Texas Spirit Theater at the Bob Bullock Museum from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The festival concludes Saturday, July 30, at The RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A wrap party takes place at Cuatros following the final screenings from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free with the purchase of a festival ticket. Wrap party tickets will also be available at the door for $10.
Festival tickets are now on sale at www.lightscamerahelp.org. Three-day passes can be purchased for $28, or single day tickets can be purchased for $13.
Lights. Camera. Help. is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit with a goal to encourage other nonprofits to use video and film to spread their messages. They provide educational programming to help nonprofits and cause-driven organizations create their own films. They also have a program called Project Action, which pairs talented filmmakers with nonprofits to create great stories.
To see the full lineup and schedule, visit www.lightscamerahelp.com/2011/selections
To learn more about the Lights Camera Help Film Festival and organization, visit www.lightscamerahelp.org
CONTACT:
Aaron Bramley
Director of Education and Communications
917-678-4590
aaron@lightscamerahelp.org