May 8, 2003

FILM FESTIVAL GRAPPLES WITH SPIRITUAL ISSUES,
ATTRACTS HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS

Deadline for “Spiritual Experiences” Short Films is May 15 (late entry July 1)

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., May 8, 2003—Redemption, inspiration, confession, skepticism, inner struggles. These raw, truthful moments define the essence of the Damah Film Festival—Spiritual Experiences in Film, a burgeoning annual arts event returning to Seattle, Wash., Oct. 23-25, 2003. Right now, amateur and professional filmmakers across the U.S. and from over 13 other nations are writing, shooting, and editing their short-film masterpieces to beat the May 15 submission deadline (late entry deadline, July 1).

Damah (an ancient Hebrew word that means “a metaphor that transforms”) is the only film festival in the world focused solely on celebrating and exploring the spiritual dimension of life from diverse perspectives. Filmmakers will compete for more than $15,000 of awards in four categories based on length, judged by a lineup of Hollywood heavyweights:

° Ralph Winter, producer of X-Men 1&2 and Planet of the Apes
° Howard Kazanjian, producer of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi
° Stephen Simon, producer of What Dreams May Come
° Scott Derickson, director of Hellraiser: Inferno and Urban Legends: Final Cut
° Kanjiro Sakura, Japanese producer of White Out and All About Our House
° Janet Scott Batchler, screenwriter of Batman Forever and Smoke & Mirrors
° Michael Medved, author and film critic of the New York Post, CNN, & PBS
° Judge Rienholt and Andie Chapman, actors
° David Wilcox, musician

The three-day event at the Seattle Art Museum will feature film screenings, expert panel discussions, and workshops designed to stimulate discussion and provide a platform for spiritual expression. Filmmakers can submit entries with no limitations on acquisition format or genre, and their work will be judged on the power of the story or spiritual experience told through the art of motion pictures, rather than on technical expertise or large budget effects.

“Damah Film Festival was created to inspire and transform the viewer with powerful, spiritual stories,” said Sean Dimond, co-founder of The Damah Group. “The artists represented here come from a variety of faith backgrounds and perspectives, and each film defines their own unique human experience seen through the lens of spiritual themes.”

To submit a film, visit www.Damah.com for complete entry details. Only the first 1,000 entries will be considered for the Festival.