The Briefing Room

NEW YORK, NY (September 26, 2008) – Continuing its support of emerging filmmakers, Panasonic Broadcast and Abel Cine Tech along with the Independent Feature Project (IFP) awarded eight Panasonic Digital Filmmaker Grants at the annual IFP Market Awards Luncheon in Manhattan on September 18, 2008.

The Digital Filmmaker Grants are presented as part of the IFP Market’s Emerging Narrative Screenwriting Program to promote the spirit of independent filmmaking and assist up-and-coming filmmakers in their endeavors.

With a diverse array of compelling stories, the grant winners, including JP Chan for “Chinos Y Negros,” Leah Myerhoff for “Unicorns,” Damian Lahey and Ian Ogden for “Child in the Dark,” Shiva Ramanathan for “The Unseen” and Pascal Leister and Nissar Modi for “Gringo Bay,” will each receive an AG-HPX500 P2 HD camera rental valued at $6,500, courtesy of Panasonic and Abel Cine Tech.

Three special Grand Prize grants were awarded to filmmakers Annie J. Howell for “Black Kid,” Susan Youssef for “Habibi Rasak Kharban,” and Matthew Porterfield for “Metal Gods.” Each will receive a full camera and equipment rental package valued at $8,000, which includes an AG-HPX500 P2 HD camcorder, Fujinon lens, four 16GB P2 cards, and an AG-HPG10 P2 Gear, to use for the production of their winning project.

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EDITORIAL CONTACTS:

Stacy Moore or Pat Lamb

(201) 392-4458 (518) 692-8150

moorest@us.panasonic.com patalamb@aol.com