Microsoft to Sponsor IFP Market Short Film Award At 25th Anniversary Celebration

NEW YORK and REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 24, 2003 — Expanding their collaboration in support of independent film, Microsoft Corp. and IFP/New York today announced Microsoft’s sponsorship of the IFP Market Award for Short Films, to be presented during the 25th anniversary of the IFP/New York Film Market Sept. 21–26 in New York City.

Five films from the IFP Market have been nominated for the Short Film Award and will be voted on by a respected jury of filmmakers, including Sarah Green (producer of
“Frida,” “Girlfight”
), Geraldine Peroni (editor of
“The Player,” “Short Cuts”
) and Jay Russell (director of
“Ladder 49,” “My Dog Skip”
).

The winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000 at the closing night ceremony hosted by Lee Daniels and Rosie Perez on Sept. 25. The nominated films are
“I Will If You Will,”
directed by Clayton Brown;
“La Pupp,”
directed by Tim Greenberg;
“Like Twenty Impossibles,”
directed by Anne Marie Jacir;
“five deep breaths,”
directed by Seith Mann; and
“Pilgrims,”
directed by Steven Myers.

In addition, the five nominated filmmakers were commissioned by IFP/New York and Microsoft to create original
“independence”
-themed short films. Each filmmaker was given $1,000, a digital video camera and two weeks to shoot the commissioned films as part of the 25th anniversary observance. All five shorts were projected digitally utilizing the Windows Media 9 Series platform at New York’s famed Angelika Film Center on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

“We are delighted to have the support of Microsoft and its new Windows Media 9 Series platform again at the IFP Market,”
said Michelle Byrd, executive director of IFP/New York.
“This partnership enables us to put new technology directly into the hands of emerging filmmakers.”

“The IFP/New York Market proves once again that it is a leader in the celebration of excellence in digital filmmaking,” said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows®
Digital Media Division at Microsoft.
“The growth of our partnership with IFP/New York illustrates Microsoft’s dedication to the independent film community, in addition to our commitment to provide the highest-quality, most cost-effective digital media tools.”

About IFP

IFP/New York is a 25-year-old, not-for-profit membership organization serving the independent film community. The mission of IFP is to build bridges between creative talent and the film industry, providing invaluable information, resources, and avenues of communication. IFP’s host of programs help artists working in film and emerging technologies to navigate the industry, facilitate new marketplaces, and develop new audiences. Celebrating its 25th year as a leading proponent of independent filmmakers, IFP is a crucial source for networking and support while promoting film as a vital and influential public art form.

About Windows Media

Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, used by consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations throughout the world. The Windows Media 9 Series platform includes Windows Media Player 9 Series; Windows Media Services 9 Series, the powerful streaming server feature in Windows Server (TM) 2003 for distributing content; Windows Media Encoder 9 Series for content creation; Windows Media Audio and Video 9 Series for the best-quality audio and video; Windows Media Digital Rights Management to help protect content; and the Windows Media Software Development Kit for software developers to develop digital media products and services. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is now the leading media player. More information about Windows Media can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/ .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft, Windows Media, Windows and Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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