Every week, I get several press releases, screening invitations and other notifications from a handful of studio contacts. While I won’t be sharing any information regarding my screening invites, some of the press releases might be of interest to my readers, so I thought I’d start sharing them in toto with all of you. These could include new image galleries for various films or important updates to upcoming releases from various smaller studios and art house production companies.

• Image Gallery: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
• Press Release: SeeFlik Launches Online Festival

Image Gallery: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Gallery

Press Release: SeeFlik Launches Online Festival

SeeFlik Launches Online Film Festival & Competition Exclusive to Emerging Filmmakers

Announces Affiliated Film Schools Judges Include Michael London, Shane Black, Angelo Pizzo, Keir Pearson, Robert Kamen and Suzanne de Passe

Los Angeles, CA (December 2, 2011)—Boldly moving into the untapped market for student films, the new online film competition, SeeFlik (www.seeflik.com) is poised to become an essential destination for emerging filmmakers and innovative storytellers to showcase their productions and participate in the film festival. Taking place entirely online, SeeFlik will offer two concurrent short film competitions (Judges Award & Fans Favorite) initially two times a year that are exclusive to students who attend or are within five years of graduation from accredited undergraduate or graduate film programs.

SeeFlik CEO, Larry Meli said, “Tens of thousands of emerging artists and filmmakers graduate from college each year and have few options other than the traditional film festivals to have their voices heard. Now, for the first time, SeeFlik will provide an online showcase and film festival for their work and give them an opportunity to fast forward their careers and become the next great filmmaker. SeeFlik will become the ‘farm system’ for the entertainment industry and we are proud to be able to assist these great talented, and as of yet unrecognized artists.”

Short films in consideration for the exclusive Judges Award are determined by SeeFlik’s panel of esteemed judges including Michael London (Sideways), Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), Angelo Pizzo (Hoosiers), Keir Pearson (Hotel Rwanda), Robert Kamen (Karate Kid) and Suzanne de Passe (Lonesome Dove).

The Fans Favorite competition will use American Idol type voting where the winning short film is determined by the most votes received. Viewers can vote in each round for their favorite film and filmmakers can urge their friends and family to support their quest for a Fans Favorite Award.

In addition to $50,000 in prize money and a winner’s showcase for talent agencies and studios, what separates SeeFlik from similar ventures is the company’s association with film schools that streamline connecting their students and alumni to SeeFlik. Various marketing and promotional initiatives including in-class, social media and email marketing as well as widely distributed traditional marketing materials will be used.

SeeFlik’s David Greenblatt said, “SeeFlik puts in one place a great forum for emerging filmmakers to be discovered. Before SeeFlik it took much effort to get a film shown to an industry audience. Now with SeeFlik there is a unique showcase providing easy access for talent to have their work seen by buyers and sellers.”
Friends of SeeFlik include American University- School of Communication, Arizona State University – Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, School of Theatre and Film, California State University, Fullerton – College of Communications, Chapman University – Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Columbia College Chicago, Eastern Kentucky University, Florida State University-College of Motion Picture Arts, Loyola Marymount University – School of Film and Television, New York University – Tisch School of the Arts, Pepperdine University – Center for Entertainment, Media, and Culture, San Francisco State University-Cinema Department, Savannah College of Art and Design, Syracuse University – S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, University of Kentucky – College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami- Motion Picture Program, University of Southern California – School of Cinematic Arts, University of Texas at Austin – College of Communication, York University- Department of Film.

While the competitions are not limited to students and alumni from affiliated schools, SeeFlik will be expanding their network of film schools and is in advanced negotiations with more colleges and universities to create similar relationships to the ones that currently exist.

SeeFlik’s executive team is led by Meli, who is a longtime cable and television executive and producer and will oversee all aspects of the company, specifically expanding the list of affiliated film schools and strategic industry relationships. The company is launching with operating capital of just over $1,000,000, which was funded by Wall Street executives Adam Wachter and Jeff Parket who serve as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer respectively and other investors. Wachter oversees all aspects of the company’s website, marketing, sales and business development and Parket handles financial, legal and investor relations. Rounding out the team is long time agent, David Greenblatt who co-founded Endeavor and whose clients have included James Cameron, Aaron Sorkin and David Lynch. With SeeFlik, Greenblatt will serve as an advisor to contest winners and mentor them through the process of meeting agents, managers and studio executives in Hollywood.

Important dates relating to deadlines for submissions can be found at http://www.seeflik.com/official-competition-rules