Giffoni Hollywood Wraps Up One-of-a-Kind Film Festival With an Awards Show and Party at the Famed Nickelodeon Studios in Hollywood, CA

Giffoni Hollywood Wraps Up One-of-a-Kind Film Festival With an Awards Show and Party at the Famed Nickelodeon Studios in Hollywood, CA

Giffoni Hollywood Sponsor Nick Movies Transformed Nickelodeon Studios into Cinema Paradiso; Special Guest Emcee Josh Peck From Nickelodeon's Hit Show 'Drake & Josh' led the Festivities

Robert Halmi, Sr., Chairman of Hallmark Entertainment Received Special Tribute Award

Hollywood, Calif., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The inaugural Giffoni Hollywood wrapped today as the children-led jury and judges made their final decisions on which films would take home the prizes. The awards show, produced by Albie Hecht, featured not only the winning presentations but also a stirring tribute to Hallmark Entertainment's Robert Halmi, Sr., as well as a filmed documentation of the kids' six day journey at the one-of-a-kind film festival. Immediately following the awards show, the over 100 kids from 13 countries and the U.S. were treated to a party of epic proportions; festival sponsor Nick Movies transformed their Hollywood parking lot into a real-life "Cinema Paradiso" honoring the origins of the Giffoni Film Festival.

The films were presented to three age groups: 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17. Following are the winners in each category:

Dare To Dream (ages 9-11) * "Tooth" (UK) -- Best Feature - Director: Ed Nammour - Producer: Simon Franks, Susie Brooks-Smith, Zygi Kamasa * "Gabriel" (Australia) -- Best Short - Director: Cherie Knott - Producer: Janine Burchett

Reach The Sky (ages 12-14) * "Duma" (USA) -- Best Feature - Director: Carroll Ballard - Executive Producer: Doug Claybourne * "Annie And Boo" (Germany) - Best Short - Director: Johannes Welland - Producer: Michael Schaefer

Make It Happen (ages 15-17) * "Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi" (Israel) -- Best Feature - Director: Shemi Zarhin - Producer: Eitan Evans * "Passing Hearts" (Sweden) -- Best Short - Director: Johan Brisinger - Producer: Mikael Flodell

On-hand to celebrate the closing of the event:

Academy Award winner and Giffoni Hollywood Board member Jon Voight, Will Smith, Casper van Dien and family, Nickelodeon stars Josh Peck ("Drake & Josh"), Kristin Herrera ("Zoey 101"), Brenda Song ("The Suite Life of Zack and Cody") Devon Werkheiser ("Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide"), Daryl Sabara ("Spy Kids"), Amy Bruckner ("Phil of the Future"), Lil Maxso, Universal recording artists 4 of a Kind, nominated Giffoni Hollywood filmmakers and the international Giffoni Hollywood Jury kids.

Steven Paul, President of Crystal-Sky Pictures and the founder of Giffoni Hollywood, together with Academy Award winning actor Jon Voight, had this to say about the festival, "I've been wanting to bring this festival to Hollywood since the first time I attended the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy. Watching all of these kids take part in something so special was truly a dream come true for me." Actor Jon Voight, who took part in each and every activity with the juror's had this to say, "These kids took part in an amazing journey. I feel so lucky to have experienced the magic of Hollywood and the generosity of our sponsors through their eyes."

Joining Paul and Voight in welcoming the festival to the U.S. on the Board of Directors are Larry Bond and Jennifer Bond of the Bond Companies. In addition, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith have joined the esteemed Board of Advisors and are taking on an active role in promoting the festival along with Philip Quartararo, EVP of EMI/Capitol Records, Stacey Snider, Chairman of Universal Pictures, Frank Pierson, President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Jeffrey Dunn, COO, Nick Networks President, Nickelodeon Films and Enterprises, Dawn Ostroff, President of UPN, Kevin Reilly, President of NBC, Dan Fellman, President of Warner Brothers Distribution, Avi Arad, Chairman of Marvel Entertainment, Mark Amin, Vice Chairman of Lion's Gate and actress Meryl Streep.

Source: Giffoni Hollywood

CONTACT: Jeff Wagner of Wagner/Junker Agency, +1-323-461-1011, jeff@wagnerjunker.com, for Giffoni Hollywood

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