Asheville, NC - Cinema South, LLC and Blue Ridge Motion Pictures announce partnership to bring week-long film festival to Asheville, North Carolina in the summer of 2007. Cinema South – the Film Festival, will celebrate the year’s best achievements in filmmaking by showcasing the top independent productions, documentaries and studio releases the industry has to offer. This five-day affair will feature screenings along with special events, celebrity-guest panels, lectures, exhibitions, award presentations and fundraising galas.
“We are very excited about launching this event,” said Andre Gower, Cinema South president and creator of the festival. “It will blend a combination of local and regional flavor with the national attention of Hollywood and bring it all to a great destination for a very interesting and enjoyable week.”
Cinema South and Blue Ridge Motion Picture Studios have joined together in a strategic partnership that enables both companies to provide resources, access and assistance to their respective endeavors. The collaboration between Cinema South and BRMP will create a powerful enterprise that will foster a network of relationships and make the festival a high-quality event, generating healthy exposure and impacting the area, state and region as well as the entertainment industry.
As a key partner, BRMP will provide support and services while serving as a venue for handling the film submissions, hosting screenings, tours and an “industry night” event at the end of the week. They will also be tied in as an outlet for all the filmmakers and industry professionals in attendance and can provide resources, contacts and potential future production deals.
“We look forward to being part of the Cinema South team,” said Leanne Campbell, Studio Head of BRMP. “It’s a win-win situation for both of us.”
The Cinema South alliance with BRMP also creates an opportunity for the studio to host a variety of aspects for the festival. BRMP is a full-service, 100,000 square-foot production house with a variety of resources and production space that can easily accommodate any sized production. “The filmmakers and crew are our clients,” said Campbell, “and we have the room and the technology to support them.”
The festival will be packed with screenings, lectures, special events, guest speakers, award presentations and celebrity appearances. The schedule of events also includes a celebrity charity golf tournament and charity concert with a portion of the proceeds going to the Eblen Charities, a local organization which specializes in helping those in need.
“Having the charity aspect is very important,” said Gower. “It gives us a chance to be involved with a great organization and be able to help out and give something in return for their assistance in helping put on this event.”
Along with the Eblen Charities, Cinema South – the Film Festival has gotten commitments from some of the most well-known companies in the area to host events, be used as screening venues and provide a range of support.
Cinema South has also brought on David Mirisch Enterprises as the festival’s Events Consultant and will organize and oversee the festival’s celebrity-based events. Mirisch has been an industry leader for the last 30 years coordinating and producing some of the best celebrity and charity events across the nation and worldwide.
Other, film industry-based companies – such as the SAG INDIE (an arm of the Screen Actors Guild responsible for promoting SAG in the independent film and festival world), Integration Entertainment , a film distribution brokerage, and others will also play a major support role in providing resources, sponsorships and creating relationships throughout the event.
Cinema South is currently in talks with many industry and corporate brands creating opportunities that will best promote the sponsor and the festival. The festival office will make regular announcements as more partners and sponsors are signed on. “It’s very important to have the right companies and people involved in an event like this,’ said Gower. “It is vitally important to have a combination of local, regional and national entities along-side the Hollywood/film industry connection to have a great festival. We are looking forward to working with our sponsors and partners to create a unique festival experience and bring a top-notch entertainment experience to Asheville and the region.”
The festival office is in the process of procuring sponsors at all levels of involvement. If you are interested in being involved, fill out the registration form at www.cinemasouthfilmfestival.com or contact the festival office at 828-296-1499.
