HOLLYWOOD, CA, October 20, 1997 -- The first ever Hollywood Film Festival® and "Hollywood Awards™" ceremony was held last Saturday night honoring five independently produced films, before a standing-room-only audience of over 400 Hollywood Film Festival attendees at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Special additional honors went to legendary actor Kirk Douglas for his lifetime contribution to the art of film, and to Graham Nash for his work in the digital multimedia arena.

Hollywood's Mayor Johnny Grant opened the evening's proceedings, honoring Hollywood Film Festival Founder and Executive Director Carlos de Abreu, who later approached the stage to a rousing standing ovation. Later in the evening, Oscar-winning actor Martin Landau praised the extraordinary contributions to film made by Kirk Douglas during the past 50 years, and a film tribute montage was presented to the audience before Mr. Douglas took the stage to a standing ovation. Citing Hollywood as "the cradle of filmmaking," Mr. Douglas nostalgically recalled his life's work on the silver screen, and poignantly emphasized the importance of the creative vision of all filmmakers. "I want to thank everyone here tonight for creating this new forum--the Hollywood Film Festival--which will further encourage filmmakers everywhere to follow their dreams."

The directorial debut and World Premiere of James Brolin's "My Brother's War" was the recipient of the festival's Best Feature Film Award (Over $1 Million). Another World Premiere, "Always Say Goodbye," by director/writer Joshua Beckett, was the winner of the Best Feature Film Award (Under $1 Million). "Inside Out: Portraits of Children," by director/writer Joanna Lipper, was voted Best Documentary. The festival also named "The Promise," by director/writer Matthew Barry, as Best Short Film, and "Birdhouse," by director/writer/producer Richard C. Zimmerman, as Best Animated Film.

In addition to recognizing emerging, new, independent filmmakers, the Hollywood Film Festival also honored singer/songwriter Graham Nash with the festival's first "Hollywood Visionary CyberAward." Mr. Nash, a founding member of the legendary Crosby, Stills, and Nash rock group, has, since 1989, incorporated digital image processing and interactive multimedia within his live, onstage performances. Over the past several years, he has also been involved in the Nash Digital Studio, a multimedia production studio built around a network of Silicon Graphics and Macintosh computers, as well as digital audio recording systems.

In two other awards categories, 22-year-old female director Zoe Clarke-Williams was honored with the "Hollywood Young Filmmaker Award" for the U. S. Premiere of her feature film "Men," and Scott Squires, whose work on "Dragonheart" was awarded the festival's first "Hollywood Digital Award," an honor bestowed upon the best theatrically released film of last year that featured truly outstanding work in the area of digital visual effects.

The Hollywood Film Festival was founded by Carlos de Abreu and Janice Pennington, "New York Times" best-selling authors and producers. Regarding the conclusion of the inaugural festival, Mr. de Abreu said, "We are delighted by the response we have received from the independent filmmaking community during the course of this past week. Our conferences, seminars, and screenings were all well-attended, and last night's awards dinner was truly an extraordinary 'Hollywood' moment. We are all looking forward to the Second Annual Hollywood Film Festival."

Celebrities who attended the 6-day inaugural Hollywood Film Festival's screenings, panels, and parties included Barbra Streisand, Kirstie Alley, James Brolin, Martin Landau, Harry Hamlin, Milton Berle, Gene Barry, and, of course, Mr. Kirk Douglas. Attendees at the gala awards presentation Saturday evening were treated to the music of renowned bandleader Johnny Crawford and his eight-piece orchestra.

HOLLYWOOD DISCOVERY AWARDS® WINNERS:

Best Feature Film (Over $1 Million):

• MY BROTHER'S WAR
  James Brolin's feature film directorial debut, starring Jennie Garth and James Brolin.

• GOOSEBUMPS: Escape from Horrorland (DreamWorks Interactive)

Best Computer Game CD-ROM:

• The Art of Fly-Fishing Vol I: Rivers of the British Isles (GameTek)

Best Computer Game of the Year:

• You Don't Know Jack Volume 2 (Berkeley Systems, by Jellyvision)

Best Edutainment Computer Game:

• Through The Woods (Rose Media)