The inaugural HypeFest, a new festival launched July 26 - July 27, 2003 at CineSpace in Hollywood to unite and showcase independent filmmakers with commercial communities, concluded its weekend-long screenings and festivities with an awards show and live performance by the band Camper Van Beethoven. More than 80 original short-subject works from filmmakers around the world were screened amongst the many mixers and networking opportunities.
The Style Council Award, which recognizes a project for its unique style and visual panache, was given to the music video THE HIT SONG, directed by Ruben Fleischer. The short film TRANSIT, directed by Rebecca Faerstein won the D.I.Y. Award, presented to a compelling project created on a limited budget. These winners received prizes furnished by DVD publisher and distributor CustomFlix, production and post-production supplier Moviola, retail beauty chain Sephora, and it shoe store Conveyor. All award winners received a signature HypeFest trophy, as well as Showbiz Budgeting Software provided by Media Services.
MICROSOFT WINDAYS EXPEDITION, by K. Petrovic, K. Matouina and R. Grgic, won for Best Animation. Also honored in a variety of zany categories were SHORT ON SUGAR by Joseph Anaya for Best Pick-Up Lines, SEAN CONNERY by Chandler Kauffman for Best Collection, WHITE BITCH DOWN by Jon Hill for Best Way to Hide a Body and BOYZ UP by Max Kucar for Youll Probably Never See This on MTV.
First place in the screenplay competition went to Delaney Bishop for THE DEATH OF SALVADOR DALI. Second place was awarded to Charles Valenza for MILE ONE ELEVEN. Prizes were provided by The Writers Store.
HypeFest (www.hypefest.com) offers a platform for filmmakers to promote their work to the commercial industry. Screening shorts, commercials, promos and music videos in all genres, HypeFest also hosts a screenwriting contest.
