PAH in the Press
techsearch beta, 07/05/2006
Coppola Debuts Digital Media PAH-FEST 2006
Can't go to the digital media festival PAH-FEST 2006 in Grants, New Mexico, this week?No problem. Christopher Coppola brings his first digital movie festival online to you.
"I expect a lot of chaos because it's the first one, but it's going smoother than I expected," Coppola said. "We have many sponsors that are into digital media. I think companies like the idea of empowering people to succeed, where they give back to the community to let them tell their story and vision to the world in an artistic form."
PAH-FEST takes place from July 5 through 9, mostly from the New Mexico State University. Budding filmmakers had until June 28 to submit their entries. Web cams are going up to broadcast live the opening and closing remarks on the Internet.
The event doesn't lack big-name supporters. Coppola and team secured some heavy-weight sponsors, including Electronic Arts, Intel, Logitech, Verizon and Wal-Mart Stores. Perhaps the strong Web presence and several unique contest categories and events enticed them to get involved.
• Online Theater: Web-based interactive venue for digitally produced shorts and feature length pictures.
• Team Mobiflicks: Five small filmmaker crews shoot, cut and finish a short picture in three days during the festival.
• Mobile Phone Art: Contestants create one-minute pictures with their mobile phones.
• Technology Treasure Hunt: Participants interlink a variety of technology platforms in the field to score points.
I suggest you checkout the online theater. You can view full-feature digital movies (vote for your favorite), shorts and cellphone art that festival entrants created. There also are plans to broadcast opening night
Canyon News reporter Rose Quintiliano writes "daughter, Kelly Olszuk, an aspiring filmmaker at the tender age of 13, will be premiering Cuckoo Bird at the festival. Alright, I confess I'm helping her, isn't that what family is all about?"
Yes, that's what family is all about. In fact, director Francis Ford Coppola (Christopher's uncle, who also has a publishing venture called Zoetrope) is one of the judges at the PAH-FEST digital media festival. Judges also include New Mexico State Senator Joseph Fidel, as well as Julie Corman, George Kuchar, and Miss New Mexico 2006 Ane Romero, among others.
Christopher Coppola gives. His bloodline runs deep into the entertainment industry alongside those who donate time and/or money to others. Aside from Francis, Coppola's the middle brother between actor Nicholas (Coppola) Cage (who recently donated $2 million) and older brother New York disc jockey Marc Coppola.