UNIVERSAL
CITY, CA (October 2, 2012) –
NBCUniversal announced the top semi-finalists for
its seventh-annual “Short
Cuts Festival” at an industry screening on September
12, 2012 at the School of Visual Arts in New York. The event was hosted
by NBC’s “30 Rock” co-star Keith Powell.
The 2012 semi-finalists were awarded with round-trip airfare to New
York City, as well as industry-standard software from the Write
Brothers & Entertainment Partners. Ultimately,
the top finalists will be brought to Los Angeles for NBCUniversal’s
“Short Cuts Festival Finale” at the Directors Guild of
America Theater on October 24th, hosted by Craig Robinson
from NBC’s “The Office.”
Now in its seventh year, the primary focus of NBCUniversal’s
“Short Cuts Festival” is to introduce culturally, ethnically
& innovatively diverse voices to the film and television industry.
The program is championed by Kendra Carter, Director of NBC's Talent
Diversity Initiatives, NBCUniversal, “This annual festival is
firmly established industry-wide as a platform for promising writers,
producers, directors and actors to showcase their exceptional work
before a knowledgeable audience of entertainment executives,”
said Carter. “As a department, we consistently produce events
with the goal of cultivating diversity both in front of and behind
the camera .We are constantly seeking to expand the scope of the program
to reflect NBCUniversal’s strong commitment to promote increasing
diversity as well as to provide opportunities that will result in
creative gains that can be seen in the immediate future.”
The October finale will feature another high-profile panel, screening
of the 2012 festival finalists’ films and closing reception.
The four major prize categories up for grabs include: Best
Short, Best Actor, Best Director and the Audience
Award. Each year, an effort is made to make the prizes advantageous
to the recipients’ future in television and film. The
award for Best Director will receive a Panavision camera package
donation valued at $60,000 and earn a finalist position in
the NBC Director Fellowship program. Best Actor, will receive a one-year
NBCUniversal Talent Holding Deal. The Audience Award winner
will receive GoPro's HD Hero2 Outdoor Edition Camera Package and for
the grand prize, the Best Short will receive a blind pilot
script deal with NBCUniversal. More prizes and festival finalists
will be announced in the coming weeks leading up to the festival through
its main social media outlet: FACEBOOK.COM/SHORTSFEST.
As a company-wide initiative, this year’s festival partners
include NBC, Bravo, Syfy, Telemundo, G4, USA Networks, Focus
Features, Universal Pictures, Hulu & E!.
Corporate Partners range from Panavision & Entertainment Partners
to Write Brothers & G-technology.
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NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment
companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment,
news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and
operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television
networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television
production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned
theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51 percent interest
in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49 percent stake.