* Wednesday, May 16, 2001, Los Angeles, California, USA



This two-hour program includes the four winners and eight finalists in the first annual Skyy Vodka Short Film Award competition. The event was programmed by the American Cinematheque and juried by: Interview magazine film critic Graham Fuller; Sundance short film programmer Trevor Groth; Skyy Vodka founder Maurice Kanbar; director Doug Liman; director Luis Mandoki; American Cinematheque director Barbara Smith and Premiere magazine editor Anne Thompson. Films competed in four categories: fiction, non-fiction, animation and “cocktail moment.” Awards were announced at an invitation only ceremony on April 17, 2001 at the Egyptian Theatre. The 12 winners and finalists will play in back-to-back programs followed by discussions after each category with available filmmakers. One $8 general admission ticket will allow access to all four category blocks. Individual categories are not sold separately. The animation category features Eric Anderson’s HORSES ON MARS, the delightfully quirky four-billion-year journey home, of a microbe, through the inner solar system; Tom Schroeder’s BIKE RIDE, where fluid black-and-white graphics cleverly morph to the combined rhythm of a jazz drummer and a narrator lamenting a five-hour bike ride to see a girl who doesn’t want to see him; and the winner, Javier Martinez’ LUZ, about a little girl drawn by a flickering light into a world that merges fantasy and reality. Discussion with filmmakers Eric Anderson and Javier Martinez will follow. For more information: American Cinematheque, 1800 North Highland Avenue, Suite 717, Hollywood, CA 90028; Tel.: (323) 466-FILM; Fax: (323) 461-9737; or Web: www.americancinemateque.com