Animated and Alternative Releases Headline VSDA'S Home Entertainment Award Nominations; The Incredibles and Shrek 2 Garner Multiple Nominations.

ENCINO, Calif. -- Nominations for VSDA's annual Home Entertainment Awards were announced today by the Video Software Dealers Association. Animated features The Incredibles and Shrek 2 received the most nominations with four each, with Shrek 2 earning an additional award nomination for its GameCube video game. VSDA's Home Entertainment Awards recognize outstanding achievement in home video.

"Home entertainment's broad appeal has really come to the forefront this year, as evidenced by the wide spectrum of titles that have been nominated for the Home Entertainment Awards," said VSDA President Bo Andersen. "VSDA and our retailer and distributor members take great pride in honoring some of the industry's best product, studio marketing, and retailer support."

This year's award categories and nominees were determined by VSDA's Home Entertainment Awards Nominating Committee, which is comprised of retailers, distributors, and journalists. In developing the list of nominees, the committee takes into consideration the rental and sell-through success of the title and the strength of the marketing campaign launched by the studio or distributing label of the video, both to consumers and to retailers.

The winners of the Home Entertainment Awards will be announced on July 27th during the Awards Show at VSDA's Home Entertainment 2005 at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ballots to determine Home Entertainment Award recipients will be distributed to retailers on June 1 and must be returned by June 20.

A total of 120 nominations were submitted for awards in 24 categories. Other leading titles with three nominations each are Napoleon Dynamite, Open Water, The Punisher, and Saw. Television programming on DVD received recognition as well, with Seinfeld Season 1, 2, and 3 receiving multiple nominations. This year's Home Entertainment nominees have a strong international contingent with works from Algeria (The Battle Of Algiers), Argentina (The Motorcycle Diaries), Brazil (City Of God), France (The Triplets Of Belleville), Germany (Goodbye, Lenin!), Hong Kong (Hero), Italy (La Dolce Vita), and Japan (Zatoichi - The Blind Swordsman and Ju-On: The Grudge). Surfing documentaries have emerged as a popular choice with Step Into Liquid and Riding Giants receiving nominations. For a complete list of nominees, go to http://www.idealink.org/Resource.phx/vsda/resources/heawinners.htx.

Attendees may register for the event online at www.HomeEntertainmentEvents.com or by phone by calling 888-778-8892 or 218-723-9130. All Access badges are $345 for VSDA members and $395 for non-members prior to June 30 cut-off date. Exhibits and Conference badges are $95 for VSDA members and $145 for non-members prior to June 30. After June 30, All Access badges are $425 for VSDA members and $475 for non-members and Exhibits and Conferences badges are $125 for VSDA members and $175 for non-members. All Access badges provide entry to sponsored events, seminars, exhibit suites, and exhibit floor. Exhibits and Conferences badges provide entry to the seminars, exhibit suites, and the exhibit floor only.

Companies interested in exhibiting may contact Home Entertainment Events' Kimbirly Orr at [e-mail] (mainstream companies) or Janet Gibson at [e-mail] (adult companies).

VSDA's Home Entertainment 2005 and the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo are organized through Home Entertainment Events, in which the Video Software Dealers Association is a partner. For more information about Home Entertainment Events and its shows, please send an e-mail to [e-mail].

Established in 1981, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) is the not-for-profit international trade association for the $24 billion home entertainment industry. VSDA represents more than 1,000 companies throughout the United States, Canada, and other nations. Its members operate more than 11,500 retail outlets in the U.S. that sell and/or rent DVDs, VHS cassettes, and console video games. Membership comprises the full spectrum of video retailers (from single-store operators to large chains), video distributors, the home video divisions of major and independent motion picture studios, and other related businesses that constitute and support the home video entertainment industry.