[NEohioPAL][OIFF-News] OSCAR MAGIC BEING MADE IN CLEVELAND

[annettamarion]

OSCAR MAGIC BEING MADE IN CLEVELAND

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

(Cleveland, Ohio) Feb. 4, 2005=97Oscar=AE magic will be shared with Clevela=
nders in very=20
special ways on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005 at 7 p.m. The 77th Academy Awards=AE =
ceremony=20
will be broadcast at Grays Armory in an evening of glamour and excitement. =
=20

"This year, Cleveland Oscar Night=AE America will feature some unique featu=
res and=20
talents," says Redwin Lewis, the event's director.  From musical drama to c=
ulinary flare,=20
Lewis promises an event of which Cleveland can boast.

Historic Grays Armory will lend itself to the evening's drama by its grand =
spaces and=20
features.  Cleveland's gathering is the only Oscar Night America celebratio=
n to feature a=20
theatre organ.  As guests enter the main hall of the Armory, they will be s=
urrounded by=20
their favorite film music played on one of the last theatre pipe organs cre=
ated.=20=20

Donated to Grays by the Warner Brothers Company in 1969, the organ was relo=
cated,=20
installed and is now maintained by the Western Reserve Theatre Organ Societ=
y.  "For=20
decades, theatre organs have generated excitement for movie patrons and we =
are so=20
excited that this instrument is being doing so again for this year's Oscar =
night," says Doug=20
Powers, President of the Western Reserve Theatre Organ Society.

Powers is also thrilled that Steven Ball has agreed to play Grays organ for=
 the evening.=20=20
According to Powers, Ball has "a unique perspective, energy, improvisatory =
abilities and=20
performance style have kept audiences in theatres on the edge of their seat=
s and have=20
generated a new and unexpected excitement about the future of this instrume=
nt in=20
America."=20=20

The evening's Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be local showman Ch=
ristopher G.=20
Axelrod.  Known for his warm and spontaneous humor, Axelrod has a long hist=
ory of=20
engaging audiences.  "Oscar Night America offers Clevelanders a fantastic o=
pportunity to=20
celebrate with style and class and I'm pleased to be such a part of it." =
=20

For the second consecutive year, proceeds from Cleveland Oscar Night Americ=
a will benefit=20
Independent Pictures, the leading Ohio organization dedicated to freedom of=
 expression=20
through independent media. Based in Cleveland, Independent Pictures consist=
ently=20
promotes independent film-making through its dedicated programming and even=
ts,=20
including the Ohio Independent Film Festival. It boasts an independent film=
 school and a=20
film production training program to nurture artists across the state.

Inside Grays Armory on Oscar Night, the live broadcast of ceremonies from H=
ollywood'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 featuring hearty hors d'oeuvres and elegant =
desserts will be=20
situated throughout the venue.  A cash bar will be available, as well.  The=
 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 America city and =
stands among=20
45 select cities nationwide chosen for the Academy's unique outreach campai=
gn. Other=20
cities include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, S=
an Diego, San=20
Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

The public may reserve tickets to Cleveland Oscar Night America for $60 eac=
h 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 America
Oscar Night America=97the sole Oscar celebration program sanctioned by the =
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 America parties raised over $1.7 million in charity nationally. The A=
cademy approves=20
all charities supported by the event.  The Academy Awards for outstanding f=
ilm=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, Community Shares of Greater=
 Cleveland,=20
Filmmaker Magazine, The George Gund Foundation, Media Design Imaging, Natio=
nal=20
Endowment for the Arts, Ohio Arts Council 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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