Suzuki Auto Launches Animation Contest to Celebrate 'La Vida Suzuki'

Suzuki Auto Launches Animation Contest to Celebrate 'La Vida Suzuki'

Winner to be featured at the 2008 New York International Latino Film Festival

BREA, Calif., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Suzuki Auto, widely known for its exciting and life-enthusiast-focused products, has teamed with the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) and Cinedulce.com to announce the official call for entries for its first nationwide animation contest, Animate! -- La vida Suzuki, which will run from October 15, 2007 through February 29, 2008 and conclude with the winning animation being featured at the 2008 NYILFF in July.

   (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071015/LAM070-a)   (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060829/LATU016LOGO-c)  

"Suzuki is thrilled to launch its first-ever animation contest in partnership with the New York International Latino Film Festival," said Gene Brown, vice president of marketing, Suzuki Auto. "This exciting contest is a unique opportunity to connect our company and products with the Latino creative community and with those who choose to live life instead of watch it go by."

The online animation contest gives animators over 18 years of age, and who are U.S. residents, an opportunity to create original animated work with an Urban Latino feel that reflects the Suzuki "Way of Life" brand proposition, which promises vehicles for active lifestyles, adventurers and thrill-seekers. Submissions must be no more than three minutes in length and feature Suzuki Auto branding and a Suzuki automobile, such as the dynamic XL7 crossover SUV.

The Grand Prize winner, to be announced in March, will receive an all-expense paid trip for two to the 2008 NYILFF, where the winning animation will be featured, and a grant of $5,000 to produce a series of two webisodes that will run on Cinedulce.com site in June and July. Participants should visit http://www.cinedulce.com/ for complete submission guidelines and to submit the online Entry Form. Online animation video submissions will be accepted on the contest Web site starting on October 15, 2007.

"We are thrilled to have Suzuki as our official automotive partner," said NYILFF executive director and Cinedulce CEO, Elizabeth Gardner. "We are inspired by the company's commitment to support Latino talent, particularly in animation, a new programming addition for us. We are also honored Suzuki selected Cinedulce, our new Urban Latino digital distribution platform, as the online destination for this exciting contest."

Suzuki played a starring role as the official automotive sponsor of the 8th NYILFF in New York City last summer, when the Animate! -- La vida Suzuki contest was first announced, and has committed to continue its partnership with the film festival at least through 2008. For more information on NYILFF, visit http://www.nylatinofilm.com/.

About American Suzuki

The Brea, Calif.-based Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded in 1985 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of more than 500 automotive dealerships in 49 states. Based in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle and outboard motor manufacturer with sales of more than two million new automobiles annually. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 187 countries. For more information, visit http://www.media.suzukiauto.com/.

About NYILFF

Launched in 1999, the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) is the nation's premier organization to showcase the works of the hottest emerging Latino filmmaking talent from the U.S. and Latin America. Its mission is to support these filmmakers, offer expansive images of the Latino experience and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community. NYILFF presents over seventy works in the categories of Feature Film (in Spanish and English) and Vanguard Cinema, which includes experimental works, documentaries, student works and short films.

About Cinedulce

Founded in 2007 by the directors of the New York International Latino Film Festival, the nation's premier Urban Latino film event, Cinedulce is the only filmed entertainment distribution platform created specifically for the Urban, Urban Latino and Latin audiences. For more information, visit http://www.cinedulce.com/.

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Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071015/LAM070-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060829/LATU016LOGO-c
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Suzuki Auto

CONTACT: Beth Borozan, American Suzuki Public Relations of Suzuki Auto,
+1-714-996-7040, ext. 2006, autopr@suz.com, or Jennifer Gonzalez, of PainePR
+1-213-996-3804, jgonzalez@painepr.com, for Suzuki Auto

Web site: http://www.suzuki.com/
http://www.cinedulce.com/
http://www.nylatinofilm.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment