Step Ahead With Audi A3 Films Draw Voters From Around the World

Step Ahead With Audi A3 Films Draw Voters From Around the World

Three Stories That Shed Light on Emerging Trends Across America Gather Thousands of Votes

One 'People's Choice' Voter Will Win a Trip for Two to AFI FEST 2005

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 5,000 votes have been cast in the "People's Choice Voting" for the high-definition films directed by the Step Ahead with Audi A3: Personal Journeys with AFI FEST Filmmakers. Posted online at http://www.audiusa.com/A3 , the documentary shorts tell three stories about emerging trends in the U.S.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050706/DEW025 )

Since its launch on April 28th, the Step Ahead with Audi A3 content channel has engaged over 85,000 Internet users across the U.S., as well as Europe and Asia. There, users have interacted by way of blogging, viewing behind-the-scenes clips, voting on the films, and gathering information on the all-new Audi A3.

Those who cast a vote for the People's Choice winner still have a chance to register online and win a VIP trip for two to Los Angeles to attend AFI FEST 2005 presented by Audi (details on http://www.audiusa.com/A3 ). Online voting closes August 5th.

To add another layer of interest, to date the votes are nearly equally split in the eyes of the public. "While we're finding the votes are very close, our filmmakers Shawn Ku, Kristina Robbins-Higgins and Jonathan Levine understand there will only be one 'winner,'" said Stephen Berkov, marketing director for Audi. "The films are very well executed, innovative pieces of entertainment -- each a unique exploration of trends in America that will help drive our lifestyles in the near future."

People's Choice Voting of the films was encouraged through a print campaign utilizing magazines such as Elle Decor, Fast Company, Entertainment Weekly and Forbes, and online properties including Yahoo.com, Interview.com, NYTimes.com, and Hollywoodreporter.com.

Background

Shawn Ku (36, Pretty Dead Girl), Jonathan Levine (29, Shards), and Kristina Robbins-Higgins (37, Wet Fur) have directed 15-minute films that document their three-week journeys across the U.S. in a program conceived and supported by Audi of America, Inc. that explores the theme "what's next." With high-definition, cutting-edge technology in tow, each filmmaker traveled from Los Angeles to New York documenting emerging trends in America.

The Step Ahead with Audi A3: Personal Journeys with AFI FEST Filmmakers culminates when the winning film is announced on August 10 at ArcLight Hollywood in an exclusive screening event. The winner will receive $10,000 and an all-new 2006 Audi A3. All three filmmakers will be gifted the equipment used during editing, including the Apple PowerBook G4 and Power Mac G5, and the Bose Companion 3 Multimedia Speaker System.

All three filmmakers will be welcomed by a celebrity panel of judges, including actors Joshua Jackson and Emily Mortimer, and representatives from Audi and AFI, as well as Hollywood insiders invited to the exclusive large screen premiere.

About Audi

Audi of America is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and markets performance-oriented European luxury vehicles: the A3, A4, A6, A8, and TT. For more information about additional Audi-related events and corporate news, visit http://www.audiusa.com/ .

About AFI FEST

AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media. Now in its 19th year, AFI FEST presented by Audi -- the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival -- is the longest-running film festival in Los Angeles and one of the most influential film festivals in North America. Additional information about AFI is available at http://www.afi.com/ .

Web site: http://www.audiusa.com http://www.audiusa.com/A3 http://www.AFI.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050706/DEW025 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Audi

CONTACT: Audi: Susan Scarlet, +1-248-591-5169, susan.scarlet@mvpcollaborative.com , Jennifer Cortez, +1-248-754-4729, jennifer.cortez@audi.com ; or AFI: Alison Deknatel, +1-323-856-7896, adeknatel@AFI.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photo included. Contest Rules at www.audiusa.com/A3 and by request. For information on obtaining access to the August 10th event, please contact Susan Scarlet at susan.scarlet@mvpcollaborative.com.

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