Finalists from Around the World Compete in the 4th Annual Star Wars Fan Film Awards - Films Posted & Audience Online Voting Begins Today

AtomFilms and Lucasfilm Ltd. today announced that sixteen finalists in the 4th Annual Star Wars Fan Film Awards are now available for online viewing and voting at http://starwars.atomfilms.com. The finalists were selected from hundreds of entries from around the world.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) March 29, 2005 -- AtomFilms and Lucasfilm Ltd. today announced that sixteen finalists in the 4th Annual Star Wars Fan Film Awards are now available for online viewing and voting at http://starwars.atomfilms.com. The finalists were selected from hundreds of entries from around the world. Once again, George Lucas will select his favorite for the competition's top honor -- the George Lucas Selects Award. This award comes with a $2,000 cash prize and the recognition of George Lucas via a taped video message congratulating the filmmaker.

The 4th Annual Star Wars Fan Film Award winners will be announced on Friday night, April 22nd, at Lucasfilm's massive Star Wars Celebration III fan event (April 21-24 in Indianapolis, Indiana), just weeks before the long-awaited May 19 theatrical release of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.

Judges at Lucasfilm and AtomFilms agree that this year's contest submissions display the highest level of filmmaking sophistication since the event began in 2002. The entries from around the globe, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Puerto Rico and Japan, took advantage of the most current technology to create polished film experiences with impressive special effects. Finalist films range from forty-five seconds to thirteen minutes in length, with the majority running around five minutes.

Finalists in past competitions have been viewed over 10,000,000 times at AtomFilms' Fan Film Awards Web site (http://starwars.atomfilms.com).

"This year's entries bring a wide range of perspectives on the Star Wars phenomenon," said Steve Sansweet, Lucasfilm's head of fan relations. "Some are a reflection of pop culture, some are spoofs on television commercials, and all show a dedication to the saga, proving that Star Wars fans are like none other!"

"For the fourth year in a row, fans have surprised and delighted us with their ingenuity," said Mika Salmi, CEO AtomShockwave Corp. "Submissions were unique, creative, and definitely exceeded our expectations. We look forward to what the online audience says about these entertaining shorts."

A list of the films is attached. So get out and vote!

About AtomFilms

AtomFilms is where the Web goes to watch movies. Its award-winning Web site (www.atomfilms.com) offers on-demand viewing of a diverse and distinguished catalog of over 1,000 shorts in every genre, enabling new and innovative artists to reach millions of viewers worldwide. Based in San Francisco, CA, AtomFilms is a service of digital entertainment leader AtomShockwave Corp. For more information, please visit www.atomfilms.com and www.atomshockwave.com.

About Lucasfilm

Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world's leading film and entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company. In addition to its motion picture and television productions, the company's global businesses include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound; LucasArts Entertainment; Lucas Licensing; and Lucas Online. Lucasfilm's feature films have won 19 Oscar Awards and its television projects have won 12 Emmy Awards.

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2005 Star Wars Fan Film Awards Finalists

Anakin Dynamite

Spoof of "Napoleon Dynamite" - A young Jedi must do daily battle with...idiots!

Director: Wayne Barnes

Aeiko

Clones have feelings too in this insurance spoof

Director: Ken Lawton

Boba

A love story about a timid Star Wars fan and the girl upstairs

Director: Mark Rusciano

Cheap Seats

Live action comedy about a fun-loving X-wing pilot during the medal ceremony at the end of Episode IV

Director: Robert Reeves

Ewok

Animated piece about a mischievous Ewok

Director: Ryan Simmons

For the Love of the Film

Musical comedy about what happens when a projector showing Star Wars breaks down in a theater

Director: Barry Curtis

Kessel Run Infraction

Animated short about Luke, Han, and Ben in the Cantina

Director: Jim Mehsling

One Season More

An operatic vision of Luke Skywalker on Tatooine

Director: Timothy Edward Smith

Real Men of the Empire

Spoof of a famous beer commercial

Director: Scott Zier

Sith Apprentice

With "The Emperor," "you're fired" takes on a whole new meaning

Director: John Hudgens

Speeder

A speeding motorist decides to use the Force to get out of a ticket!

Director: William Grammer

Star Wars: Elements

Characters of the films listed in one big song

Director: Alabama Rob

Star Wars TV

"The Dark Apprentice" and "Yub Nub Subs" are showing on Empire TV

Director: Lee Vehe

Tiny Toys

The girlfriend of a Star Wars fan gets attacked by toys

Director: Wendy Woody

Walk in a Bamboo Bush

Japanese prints come to life in this animated take on Episode IV

Director: Tetsuro Saiki (Japan)

The Yody Years.

Animated short about Yodas younger years

Director: Adam Hastings