[NEohioPAL][OIFF-News] PLANS SET FOR OSCAR NIGHT® AMERICA-NEW VENUE TAPPED FOR GROWING CHARITY EVENT

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PLANS SET FOR CLEVELAND OSCAR NIGHT=AE AMERICA 2005
NEW VENUE TAPPED TO ACCOMMODATE GROWING LOCAL CHARITY EVENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE=09
Contact: Annetta Marion or Bernadette Gillota, 216/651-7315

(Cleveland, Ohio) Jan. 18, 2005=97Next month Clevelanders will enjoy a loca=
l opportunity to=20
celebrate the glamour and achievement of the 77th Academy Awards=AE ceremon=
y, thanks=20
to Oscar Night=AE America, the grassroots charity program of the Academy of=
 Motion=20
Picture Arts and Sciences. The public, live viewing event is set for Sunday=
, Feb. 27, 2005 at=20
7 p.m. and features a new location to support what's expected to be a recor=
d-breaking=20
crowd for Oscar Night=AE America in Cleveland.=20

Last year Cleveland Oscar Night=AE America saw its largest crowd yet, with =
over 300 patrons=20
supporting the cause.  To support the event's increasing popularity, local =
organizers=20
tapped the city's historic Grays Armory as its venue of choice. Cleveland O=
scar Night=AE=20
America 2005 is produced by Christopher G. Axelrod and directed by Redwin L=
ewis.

"Cleveland Oscar Night=AE America has evolved from a more casual affair to =
an annual,=20
must-attend social gala," Lewis says. "Our city has a long tradition of sup=
porting all types=20
of art, and the growth of this event is one more sign of that ongoing commi=
tment."

"Oscar Night=AE has always been a night for friends and families to gather =
and cheer for=20
their favorite films and stars," says Ric Robertson, executive administrato=
r of the Academy=20
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "This nationwide network of fundraisin=
g parties is a=20
natural extension of that shared experience."

For the second consecutive year, proceeds from Cleveland Oscar Night=AE Ame=
rica will=20
benefit Independent Pictures, the leading Ohio organization dedicated to fr=
eedom of=20
expression through independent media. Based in Cleveland, Independent Pictu=
res=20
consistently promotes independent film-making through its dedicated program=
ming and=20
events, including The Ohio Independent Film Festival. It boasts an independ=
ent film school=20
and a film production training program to nurture artists across the state.

Inside Grays Armory on Oscar Night=AE, the live broadcast of ceremonies fro=
m Hollywood's=20
Kodak Theatre in Hollywood will be projected on three large video screens a=
rranged=20
throughout the venue, providing superior viewing and socializing opportunit=
ies for=20
patrons. Several food stations will be situated throughout the venue.  Cate=
rer Clark Pope=20
says "patrons will enjoy an eclectic array of hearty hors d'oeuvres and ele=
gant desserts on=20
par with a grand Hollywood gala." A cash bar will be available, as well.  T=
he Oscars will be=20
televised live by the ABC Television Network at 8 p.m. EST.=20

Cleveland is Northeast Ohio's only sanctioned Oscar Night=AE America city a=
nd stands=20
among 45 select cities nationwide chosen for the Academy's unique outreach =
campaign.=20
Other cities include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelp=
hia, San Diego,=20
San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

The public may reserve tickets to Cleveland Oscar Night=AE America for $60 =
each by=20
contacting Independent Pictures at 216/651-7315 or on the web at www.ticket=
web.com.=20
For additional information, email ohioindiefilmfest at juno.com or go to www.c=
ona.ws.=20=20

About Oscar Night=AE America
Oscar Night=AE America=97the sole Oscar celebration program sanctioned by t=
he Academy of=20
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences=97started in 1994 and has raised more than=
 $12 million=20
for a range of local charities across the country during its first 10 years=
. Last year, Oscar=20
Night=AE America parties raised over $1.7 million in charity nationally. Th=
e Academy=20
approves all charities supported by the event.  The Academy Awards=AE for o=
utstanding film=20
achievements of 2004 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, at the Kodak=
 Theatre in=20
Los Angeles.  The Oscars will be televised live by the ABC Television Netwo=
rk at 8 p.m.=20
EST.

About Independent Pictures
Independent Pictures (www.ohiofilms.com) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organizatio=
n established=20
in 1993. It was founded in 1993 by artistic directors Bernadette Gillota an=
d Annetta Marion=20
and maintains a rich history of bringing unique and engaging film events to=
 Cleveland and=20
surrounding communities. IP is the proud sponsor of the Ohio Independent Fi=
lm Festival,=20
Film Production Training Program, regional AIVF salons, Fiscal Agent Sponso=
rship=20
Program, Speakers Bureau, annual Director of Photography Workshop, and a va=
riety of=20
curatorial programs.

Independent Pictures is a member of Greater Cleveland Community Shares.
Community Shares supports 35 local nonprofits working for long-term, sustai=
nable=20
solutions to build a stronger Cleveland. Learn more about Community Shares =
and=20
supporting social justice through workplace giving at www.communityshares.o=
rg.

Independent Pictures sponsors include: Association of Independent Video & F=
ilmmakers,=20
Audio Visual Rentals, The Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Public Theatre, C=
ommunity=20
Shares of Greater Cleveland, Filmmaker Magazine, The George Gund Foundation=
, Media=20
Design Imaging, National Endowment for the Arts, The Offset Theory, Ohio Ar=
ts Council=20
and Sherwin Williams.

Independent Pictures=20
1392 West 65th Street=20
Cleveland, Ohio 44102=20
(216) 651-7315=20
(216) 651-7317 fax=20
OhioIndieFilmFest at juno.com=20
http://www.ohiofilms.com








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