ANGELUS AWARDS STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SEMI-FINALISTS SELECTED FROM MORE THAN 700 ENTRIES

August 22, 2005

92 Films In The Running For $25, 000 in Cash Prizes

The Angelus Awards Student Film Festival will be held October 22, 2005 at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood. This year, a total of 92 semi-finalists have been selected from a record number of more than 720 entries from student filmmakers across the country and around the world. Films were submitted in three categories: live action, animation and documentary, with 220 university film schools, and 23 nations, including the U.S. and such diverse nations as Malaysia, Israel, New Zealand, China, Panama and Denmark, represented during the call-for-entries phase.

Currently in its tenth year, the international festival was created to showcase and honor student films that explore the complexity of the human condition with creativity, compassion and respect. Family Theater Productions created the Angelus Awards in 1996 and continues to conduct the annual festival.

Following the semi-finalist round, the films advance to the next phase of judging, in which finalists are selected in early September. A Blue Ribbon Jury comprised of industry experts from the fields of animation, documentary and live action are then invited to judge within their specialty, with winning films announced and screened at the Angelus Awards October 22 ceremony at the DGA.  Nearly $25,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, including the prestigious $10,000 Patrick Peyton Excellence in Filmmaking Award, one of the highest cash awards for student filmmakers.

For 58 years, Family Theater Productions, a Catholic media outlet, has been creating award-winning radio, television and cinema programs, which celebrate individual dignity and the value of the family.  Family Theater gave 1950s star actor James Dean and producer/director George Lucas their first on-screen credits. Hundreds of major film and television stars have appeared in Family Theater productions since its inception.