Project: FAIR Issues Call for Entries; Anti-Piracy Short Film Project Accepting Submissions via StudentFilmmakers.com.

ENCINO, Calif. -- The second annual Project: FAIR (Filmmakers Against Illegal Replication) anti-piracy short film competition is now accepting submissions, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) announced today.

Project: FAIR is an initiative launched by VSDA in 2005 to help combat movie piracy by soliciting contributions of 30-second short films with an anti-piracy message from amateur and aspiring filmmakers.

"Piracy, or more accurately stealing, of entertainment product is the most serious issue facing the industry today. It impacts studios, record labels, video game publishers, retailers, distributors, filmmakers and all those employed or invested in these industries," said VSDA president, Bo Andersen. "We know there is an enormous pool of talent among filmmakers and film students able to craft messages that will resonate with consumers to help them understand and accept that such theft is wrong. This is a unique opportunity for filmmakers to be creative while building morality in American culture".

The contest is being hosted for VSDA by http://www.StudentFilmmakers.com, a Web site devoted to filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers. Prospective participants can visit http://www.StudentFilmmakers.com/ProjectFair for rules, regulations, and submission forms. The official contest site will make all acceptable entries available for viewing by the public during the run of the contest. Entries must be received by May 1, 2006.

The winning shorts will be announced at VSDA's Home Entertainment 2006, which will take place July 11-13, 2006 at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

The winners will be used as a public service announcements and run on in-store loops in video stores throughout the country. They will also be offered to suppliers for use in their products and to other entertainment trade associations such as the National Association of Theatre Owners, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, and the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association.

In addition, the filmmakers of the winning shorts will be awarded prizes as follows:

First Prize - $1,000 scholarship/stipend + a trip to Las Vegas to
    attend VSDA's Home Entertainment 2006 + more

    Second Prize - $500 scholarship/stipend + more

    Third Prize - $250 scholarship/stipend + more

Last year's winner, Taken Away, by Joshua Smith, a student at The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles, has run in over 4,000 video stores throughout the country.

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.