Monday, May 14-----The deadline is only two weeks away (May 31) for student entries for the HBO Films/Film Society of Lincoln Center nationwide competition to create the film trailer that will precede film screenings at the Film Society's annual New York Film Festival (September 28 - October 14, 2007) and other programs during the year. The winner will receive a check for $5,000 and a trip to New York for the trailer’s premiere, as well as a line credit at the end of the trailer, which will be shown before every Film Society screening for the next two years.  HBO Films producers will professionally finish the trailer.

Judging the entries will be five respected film industry professionals.  The panel includes:  Mira Nair, noted filmmaker and director of such celebrated films as The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding, Kama Sutra and Salaam Bombay; Bob Berney, President of Picturehouse (Pan’s Labyrinth, Prairie Home Companion); Nelson George, thor, music and culture critic, and filmmaker whose film, Life Support, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and debuted on HBO on March 10; Sam Martin, Vice President of Programming for HBO Films; Marian Masone, Managing Director, Festivals and Associate Director of Programming, for the Film Society of Lincoln Center; and Steve Perania, Creative Director who has overseen numerous major and independent film marketing campaigns.

Chris Smith, then a senior at Brown University , won the inaugural Student Trailer Competition in 2005.  His winning entry has preceded every Film Society screening since it debuted at the 2005 New Directors/New Films Festival, and will continue to do so until the premiere of the 2007 winner’s trailer.

The main criteria for the trailer is the creative use of imagery and words that best conveys the Film Society’s core image and mission, touches upon its major offerings, signals ways to learn more and get involved, and credit its underwriter and creator. All entries must be received by May 31, 2007 , and should be submitted to Film Society/HBO Films Student Trailer Competition, PO Box 5076 , Blair , NE 68009 -5076. To submit an entry, film students should visit www.filmlinc.com to print and complete both an Official Entry Form and a Competition Release Form.  A complete list of the Official Rules is also available on the site.

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor