Rain Bird Announces The 2007 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition Grand Prize Winners

Rain Bird Announces The 2007 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition Grand Prize Winners

Carpa Diem and A Drop of Life Take Home the Environmentally Focused Competition's Top Prizes for their Insightful And Clever Take On The Need for Water Conservation

AZUSA, Calif., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rain Bird, the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, announced the winners of the 2007 Intelligent Use of Water(TM) Film Competition (http://www.iuowfilm.com/), an environmentally focused film competition that gave both amateur and experienced filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talents and use the power of film to bring about a greater awareness of the need for intelligent water use. Following a special screening of the six finalists' films at The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden earlier this evening, filmmakers Sergio Cannella and Shalini Kantayya were presented with the Judges Award and the Audience Award respectively for their film entries titled Carpa Diem and A Drop of Life.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071014/CLSU001 )

"All six finalists in the competition presented outstanding films that will undoubtedly encourage discussion on ways to manage and efficiently utilize the Earth's most precious resource," said Dave Johnson, Rain Bird's Corporate Marketing Director. "In light of the great impact that scarcity and mismanagement of water will have on the whole world, providing forums such as The Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition enables filmmakers like Sergio and Shalini to actively exercise their influence and raise awareness of these important issues. The solution to the world's water problems requires the education, mobilization and involvement of everyone, and each of our finalist's films is ideal for inspiring action."

As the winner of the judges award, Sergio Cannella of Palermo, Italy was awarded $6,000 for his film entry that depicts a child lovingly watching a carp swimming in the aquarium as her younger brother's careless use of water in the neighboring bathroom slowly drains her fish tank.

Shalini Kantayya, the audience choice winner, was awarded $3,000 for her film entry titled A Drop of Life, the story of two women, one Indian woman and one American, and the convergence of their shared struggle to save the world's drinking water in the not so far off future.

The panel of judges consisted of environmental and film industry experts that included: Gary McVey, Executive Director, American Cinema Foundation; Lane Kneedler, Programming Coordinator, American Film Institute; Amanda Pope, Associate Professor, University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts; Frances Spivy-Weber, member of the California State Water Resources Control Board; and Robert Glennon, Professor, University of Arizona's Rogers College of Law and author of Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping And The Fate Of America's Fresh Waters.

Hosted at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, The Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition was created to bring greater awareness of the need for increased water efficiency in the face of a water crisis of global proportions.

Rain Bird's Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition is the most recent example in the company's history of creating programs and initiatives to boost awareness of water conservation. Rain Bird devotes significant resources to its Intelligent Use of Water public initiatives, which include a series of white papers; public service announcements; membership on the EPA's Alliance for Water Efficiency and the EPA's WaterSense steering committee; bi-annual Intelligent Use of Water Summits, partnerships with non-profit organizations; development and support of elementary and middle school curriculums; and participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade(R), an annual worldwide stage to communicate the need for water conservation.

ABOUT RAIN BIRD CORPORATION

Based in Azusa, Calif., Rain Bird Corporation is the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services. Since its beginnings in 1933, Rain Bird has offered the industry's broadest range of irrigation products for farms, golf courses, sports arenas, commercial developments and homes in more than 130 countries around the world. Rain Bird has been awarded more than 130 patents, including the first in 1935 for the impact sprinkler. Rain Bird and The Intelligent Use of Water(TM) is about using water wisely. Its commitment extends beyond products to education, training and services for the industry and the community. Rain Bird maintains state-of-the-art manufacturing assembly facilities in the United States, France, Sweden and Mexico http://www.rainbird.com/.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071014/CLSU001
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Rain Bird Corporation

CONTACT: Stefan Pollack, spollack@ppmgcorp.com, or William Ostedt,
wostedt@ppmgcorp.com, both of The Pollack PR Marketing Group, +1-310-556-4443,
for Rain Bird Corporation

Web site: http://www.rainbird.com/
http://www.iuowfilm.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment