Lifetime Networks Announces The 2008 Every Woman's Film Competition Presented by Lifetime Movie Network in Partnership With The Hollywood Reporter, New York Women In Film & Television, The Paley Center for Media, William Morris Agency and Women In Film Los Angeles

Lifetime Networks Announces The 2008 Every Woman's Film Competition Presented by Lifetime Movie Network in Partnership With The Hollywood Reporter, New York Women In Film & Television, The Paley Center for Media, William Morris Agency and Women In Film Los Angeles

Hollywood Judges And Lifetime Movie Network Viewers Will Select Winning Films To Be Showcased On Lifetime Movie Network And LMN.tv And At The 2008 Hamptons International Film Festival

- Open Call to All Aspiring Women Filmmakers -

NEW YORK, April 7, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 80 years of the Academy Awards, only three women have ever been nominated for Best Director (Lena Wertmuller/1975, Jane Campion/1993, Sofia Coppola/2003) and no woman has ever won that award! To nurture the next generation of great women filmmakers who might one day finally walk away with an Oscar, Lifetime Movie Network, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), The Paley Center for Media, William Morris Agency and Women In Film Los Angeles are launching the second annual Every Woman's Film Competition, presented by Lifetime Movie Network.

After the strong response to last year's Lifetime Movie Network Student Filmmaker Competition, the 2008 contest has been expanded to all women interested in film -- not just students.

In announcing the 2008 Competition, Louise Henry Bryson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Lifetime Movie Network, said "In 2006, women comprised 15 percent of all directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors working on the top 250 domestic grossing films.* Lifetime Movie Network -- the only basic cable movie channel dedicated to women and the #2 network for women, second only to Lifetime -- is working to change those statistics by offering the next generation of female filmmakers the chance to be discovered."

The Every Woman's Film Competition entrants will produce short films three to five minutes in length to be judged by a "who's who" of women in Hollywood. Angela Bassett, Jennifer Lopez, Lauren Shuler Donner, Gale Anne Hurd and Mimi Leder were among last year's judges.

There will be a first place and second place winner, and three honorable mentions selected. In addition, the LMN.tv audience will have a chance to vote online for their favorite film which will determine the selection of a special LMN.tv Audience Winner. The judge-selected first place and second place winners will receive $5,000 and $2,500, respectively, to advance their film projects and exposure on Lifetime Movie Network and LMN.tv, as well as trips to both The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Breakfast and The Hamptons International Film Festival, where they will be featured guests. The three honorable mention recipients, as well as the favorite filmmaker chosen by the LMN.tv audience, will win $1000 each.

"This is one more way in which Lifetime is at the forefront of inspiring women to express themselves and develop their talents," said Elizabeth Guider, Editor, The Hollywood Reporter. "The Hollywood Reporter is proud to be associated with this initiative."

"New York Women in Film & Television is committed to the goal of equity for women in the film and television industries," said Terry Lawler, Executive Director, NYWIFT. "Lifetime Movie Network's Every Woman's Film Competition will recognize the young great new talents of the next decade -- the women who will finally break the glass ceiling! We are looking forward to working with Lifetime Movie Network on this wonderful project."

"Women In Film Los Angeles is thrilled to work with Lifetime Movie Network and our illustrious partners in this important effort to empower female directors," said Jane Fleming, President, Women In Film Los Angeles. "It is through programs like the Every Woman's Film Competition that we can improve the statistics and find the next creative leaders in entertainment."

"We are thrilled to further women filmmakers by showcasing the winning films of the Lifetime Movie Network's Every Woman's Film Contest for the second year in a row at the 16th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival," said Karen Arikian, Executive Director of the Hamptons International Film Festival.

Contest information is available online at www.LMN.tv/filmcontest, and an on-air spot encouraging women to enter the 2008 Every Woman's Film Competition presented by Lifetime Movie Network ran during the record-setting premiere of "The Capture of the Green River Killer," the most-watched program in Lifetime Movie Network's 10-year history. Based on the true story of the 20-year search for the most prolific serial killer in United States history, "The Capture of the Green River Killer" stars Tom Cavanagh, Amy Davidson and Sharon Lawrence.

The competition runs through June 15, 2008, and winners will be announced in October. For more information please go to www.LMN.tv/filmcontest.

    *Source:  The Celluloid Ceiling:  Behind-the-Scenes Employment of Women              on the Top 250 Films of 2006 By Martha M. Lauzen, Ph.D., School              of Communication, San Diego State University,              Copyright (C) 2007 -- All rights reserved    About Lifetime  

LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including myLifetime.com) are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

About The Hollywood Reporter (www.hollywoodreporter.com)

Now in its 77th year, The Hollywood Reporter covers the business of the entertainment industry via a network of media outlets. They include the print daily and weekly editions, the web site, various electronic-media offerings and high-profile events such as the Key Art Awards and Women in Entertainment. The Reporter's team of reporters and news editors number more than 60, with representatives in most of the world's major cities. The Reporter is published by Nielsen Business Media which is part of The Nielsen Co., a global information and media company whose trade publications include Billboard and Adweek. The Nielsen Co. also owns the media research firm ACNielsen. The first Hollywood-based daily trade newspaper covering the entertainment industry, The Hollywood Reporter began publishing Sept. 3, 1930.

About New York Women in Film & Television (www.nywift.org)

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is the preeminent entertainment industry association for women in New York City. Dedicated to helping women reach the highest levels of achievement in film, television and new media, and promoting equity for women in these industries, NYWIFT produces over fifty innovative programs and special events each year. NYWIFT's 1,750 members are part of a network of forty international women in film organizations, representing more than 10,000 members worldwide.

About The Paley Center for Media (www.paleycenter.org)

The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public. At the center of its She Made It initiative is a unique collection of television and radio programming created by women. This landmark collection will provide a permanent record of the vital contributions female television and radio creators and executives have made to our culture. Over 1,500 hours of programming have been collected to date, compiled both from the Paley Center's existing collection of more than 140,000 programs and from new acquisitions. The She Made It archives are available for viewing and listening at both Paley Center locations in New York and Los Angeles. Public events highlighting the work of leading women in the industry and an interactive website (www.shemadeit.org) support this valuable collection.

About Women In Film Los Angeles (www.wif.org)

Women In Film is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women achieve their highest potential within the global entertainment, communications and media industries and to preserving the legacy of women within those industries. Founded in 1973, Women In Film and its Women In Film Foundation provide for members an extensive network of contacts, educational programs, scholarships, film finishing funds and grants, access to employment opportunities, mentorships and numerous practical services in support of this mission.

About William Morris Agency (www.wma.com)

Founded in 1898, William Morris Agency (WMA) is the largest and most diversified talent and literary agency in the world, with principal offices in New York, Beverly Hills, Nashville, London, Miami Beach and Shanghai. The Agency represents clients in all segments of the entertainment industry, including Motion Pictures, Television, Music and Personal Appearances, Broadway Theatre and Theatrical Touring, Book Publishing, Commercial Endorsements, Sports Marketing, Corporate Consulting, Digital Media, and Video Games.

Source: Lifetime Networks

CONTACT: Geralyn Lucas of Lifetime Networks, +1-212-424-7066,
lucas@lifetimetv.com

Web site: http://www.lifetimetv.com/
http://www.lmn.tv/filmcontest
http://www.mylifetime.com/
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/
http://www.nywift.org/
http://www.paleycenter.org/
http://www.wif.org/
http://www.wma.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment