FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL FILM COMPETITION ANNOUNCES 4TH ANNUAL CALL FOR ENTRIES Austin, TX. The Austin Film Festival is now accepting entries in its 4th Annual Film Competition. The Competition accepts entries in three categories: - Feature Film - Short Film - Student Short Film Awards include: cash prizes, round-trip airfare to Austin, hotel accomodations, VlP passes to the Austin Film Festival, and the Austin Film Festival Bronze Award. To be eligible for the '97 competition, entries must be postmarked by August 15, 1997. The winners will be announced on October 3, at the Austin Film Festival Awards Luncheon. The entry fee is $35. Competition films will be judged by industry professionals. Past judges have included representatives from Bravo, HBO, ICM, Tri-Mark, The Independent Feature Channel, and Columbia Pictures. The '97 Austin Film Festival has been extended to a full week. "This will allow us to cater to the insatiable demand of the Austin audience for significant, exciting, and leading edge cinema," says Jason A. White, the Festival's Film Programmer. During the 1996 Festival, more than 40 films were showcased. Most notable were regional premieres of Sling Blade and Albino Alligator. Select screenings were preceded by special guests including filmmakers Wes Craven, Robert Townsend, David O. Russell, Bryan Singer and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie. More information by be obtained by calling 1-800-310-FEST or sending a SASE to: The Austin Film Festival 1600 Nueces Austin, TX 78701. Entry forms are available on our website @ http://www.lnstar.com/austinfilm PRESS CONTACT MARSHA MILAM 512.478.4795 ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.sa.ua.edu/screensite