Rain Bird Names Finalists for Water Film Competition
Rain Bird, an irrigation products and services manufacturer and provider, on Sept. 30 named the six finalists for the second annual Intelligent Use of Water™ Film Competition (http://www.iuowfilm.com).
The contest gives both amateur and experienced filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talents and use the power of film to bring about a greater awareness of the need for effective, efficient, and responsible water use. The six finalists will be featured guests during a special screening event on Oct. 11 at The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden where Shalini Kantayya, director of the 2007 Audience Choice Award Winner, "A Drop of Life," will serve as master of ceremonies.
Following the screening of the finalists' films and a roundtable discussion with the filmmakers and judges, two winners will be announced and awarded cash prizes of $6,000 for judges' selection and $3,000 for the audience favorite.
Selected by a panel of judges according to pre-determined criteria, the finalists are:
Water Thicker Than Oil – filmmaker: Michael McGuire – Los Angeles, Calif.
Gold For Gold – filmmaker: Mark E. Petersen – Boulder, Colo.
Rainwater Harvesting – filmmaker: Amit Shanker, Centre for Science and the Environment – New Delhi, India
Wah Wah – filmmaker: Ronald San Agustin – North Hollywood, Calif.
Against The Current – filmmaker: Trout Unlimited – Livingston, Mont.
Glass Half Full – filmmaker: David Sutera – Salt Lake City, Utah
Prior to the screening of the finalist films, the evening's guests will be treated to a special showing of "The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?" by critically acclaimed writer, director, and producer Jim Thebaut's definitive look at how the water crisis is affecting the American Southwest and its escalating economic toll.
Thebaut joins fellow judges Gary McVey, executive director of the American Cinema Foundation, Amanda Pope, associate professor at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, and Timothy Brick, chair of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, in choosing the winner of the 2008 competition.
Tickets for the event are $50 per person and are available through the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, (800) 838-3006. The evening's proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden plant conservation programs.