Step Ahead With Audi A3 Films Go Live on the Web

Step Ahead With Audi A3 Films Go Live on the Web

Three Filmmakers + Three Journeys + Three Weeks of Editing = Three Distinct Stories That Shed Light on Emerging Trends Across America

One "People's Choice" Voter Can Win a Trip to AFI FEST 2005

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- http://www.audiusa.com/A3 is the place to be from today through August 5th. You and the rest of the world can sit back at your leisure with popcorn or without, and view films directed by Step Ahead with Audi A3: Personal Journeys with AFI FEST Filmmakers. Then you get to vote on your favorite. Those who cast a vote for the People's Choice winner may register to win a trip for two* to Los Angeles to attend AFI FEST 2005 presented by Audi.

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

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.

A sneak preview:

Shawn Ku abandoned a chemistry degree at Harvard for Broadway acting and writing. Now he explores The Mobile Class, the title of his film. In it, he finds that home isn't where the heart is, it's where the Blackberry is. Taking us coast to coast, Shawn shows us how his generation conducts business, and life, on the road.

Dr. Spock is just a tiny dot in the rear view mirror of Kristina Robbins- Higgins, as she sets out to meet other parents just like her who are placing family and professional life in a whole new light. Kristina, the actor- turned-director of Life As You Know It, is full of heart for her one-year-old son Finlay, whom she has to part from for the first time since his birth.

The Internet provides introductions for Jonathan Levine's quest to find his soul mate on the road. But does Jonathan's future love exist in one of the five cities he's set dates in? In Love Bytes, find out if the virtual Cupid brings Jonathan the girl of his dreams.

BACKGROUND

A group of select filmmakers whose films were screened in a competition at AFI FEST 2004 -- one of the most influential film festivals in North America -- were invited to participate in the project. Three rising Los Angeles-based filmmakers were selected from the pool of submissions to embark on a cross- country journey to create a short film uncovering emerging trends in American cities -- while driving the all-new Audi A3.

"Our sponsorship with AFI FEST and the filmmaking community has really taken a leap with this one," said Stephen Berkov, Audi's director of marketing. "Each of these filmmakers brings an uncanny ability to uncover 'what's next,' while cinematically illustrating emerging trends in the way we live our lives. The A3 was an ideal lens for them on this journey as it represents the creation of a new category of car, and meets the desires of today's forward-thinking consumers."

"At AFI FEST, we're always looking for ways to provide our filmmakers with opportunities to gather new experiences and gain exposure, whether through the festival's Kodak CONNECT program, our recent alliance with the AFM, or through this unique Audi program," states Christian Gaines, Festival Director, AFI FEST. "The Step Ahead program offers these three lucky filmmakers and their teams an incredible amount of freedom to explore, experiment, experience and ultimately express themselves in a way that's creative, inventive and fun. We look forward to seeing the resulting films."

During the three-week adventure, teams departed from Los Angeles traveling through key cities like San Francisco, Austin, Miami, Boston, and Washington, D.C. before reaching their final destination in New York. Top-of-the-line products from Apple, Sony, and Bose were also in tow, provided to and utilized by each filmmaker.

Behind-the-scenes production crews closely trailed each filmmaker to "document the documenters." These crews engaged an online community who actively followed the filmmaking process through daily blogs and raw footage on http://www.audiusa.com/A3 .

A celebrity judging panel consisting of actors James Cromwell (The Longest Yard, Six Feet Under), Joshua Jackson (A Life In The Theatre, Aurora Borealis) and Emily Mortimer (The Pink Panther, Lovely & Amazing), as well as representatives from Audi and AFI FEST will receive ballots with criteria listed under three categories: 1) the manner in which trends were explored, 2) the way in which the filmmaker incorporated him/herself into the storyline, and 3) originality and how the film pushes the envelope creatively.

The Step Ahead with Audi A3: Personal Journeys with AFI FEST Filmmakers culminates when the film that receives 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.

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/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050706/DEW025 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Audi

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

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

NOTE TO EDITORS: Digital Imagery & Contest Rules by Request.

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