GSMA & MOFILM Announce Kevin Spacey as Film Festival Host and Keynote Speakerat
the Mobile World Congress
LONDON, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Chevrolet unveiled as strategic partner of world's first global mobile short
film festival - with a grand prize of the new Chevrolet 'Cruze' car for
winning filmmaker
Two-time Academy Award-winning actor and director Kevin Spacey will headline
at the GSMA's Mobile World Congress (16-20 February 2009) in Barcelona, as host
of the MOFILM Mobile Short Film Festival and mobile entertainment keynote
speaker, the GSMA and MOFILM jointly announced today.
The MOFILM Mobile Short Film Festival follows the success of the GSMA's
previous collaborations with the Sundance Institute to create the Global Short
Film Project at the Mobile World Congress in 2007, and in 2008 with the launch
of the MOFILM brand to showcase the work of short film directors representing
the Cannes, Locarno and Shanghai Film Festivals and the Sundance Channel --
supported by film legend Robert Redford and actress, writer and director Isabella
Rossellini.
The MOFILM Mobile Short Film Festival is the first of its kind, and
highlights the increasing influence of the mobile medium on the entertainment
industry, bringing together art, commerce and technology. The 2009 initiative
comes on a wave of a new generation of sophisticated multimedia-enabled mobile
handsets and value-added operator services, providing new opportunities to enjoy
short form video.
Spacey, the star of Hollywood blockbusters American Beauty, The Usual
Suspects and LA Confidential, among many others and currently artistic
director of London's renowned Old Vic theatre, will host the MOFILM Mobile Short
Film Festival, presenting the prize for the best short film of 5 minutes
or less in length that are submitted by film makers from around the world. He
will also participate in a keynote interview at the Congress on Thursday 19th
February 2009.
"We are thrilled that Kevin Spacey, one of the world's most revered and
respected actor/directors, will join us in Barcelona to share some refreshing
and provocative perspectives on the potential of mobile entertainment and host
the world's first global mobile film festival," said Michael O'Hara, chief
marketing officer of the GSMA.
Chevrolet, the strategic partner of the MOFILM festival, will present the
winning filmmaker with a brand new Chevrolet 'Cruze' compact family car,
launched at the Paris Motor Show last month. Cruze challenges the idea that a
car with outstanding value cannot also be refined. The Cruze enters showrooms
in Europe next spring and will spearhead a new generation of Chevrolet
vehicles worldwide.
"We are very proud to be part of the GSMA - MOFILM mobile film festival.
I believe this event is very much aligned with the inspiration of the Cruze --
a unique composition of design, comfort, convenience, safety, operating
efficiency and value for money that goes beyond expectations," said Wayne
Brannon, Executive Director, Chevrolet Europe.
MOFILM has received entries from filmmakers in over 40 countries around the
world to date. Due to an overwhelming response, MOFILM has announced an
extension to the deadline for film submission to Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. See
"The operator community globally has been steadily moving to a world of
mobile broadband powered visual entertainment on the move," said Andy Baker,
CEO of MOFILM. "The Mobile World Congress is absolutely unique as a stage for
thought leading business, technology and creative minds to share and debate
perspectives on the future of this powerful new medium."
Technology partner, Accenture, through its recent acquisition of Origin
Digital will supply an innovative video sharing and upload technology that
supports film submissions for the event. Origin Digital is one of the
industry's leading video applications service providers and now part of
Accenture Digital Media Services.
The GSMA's Mobile World Congress is the world's premiere meeting place for
the global mobile industry, with more than 50,000 visitors expected. For more
information on Mobile World Congress, please visit
About the GSMA
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association representing more
than 750 GSM mobile phone operators across 218 countries and territories
of the world. The Association's members represent more than 3 billion GSM and
3GSM connections -- over 86% of the world's mobile phone connections. In
addition, more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association's
initiatives as key partners. The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure mobile
phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible,
enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while
creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers. For
About MOFILM
MOFILM is a pioneer of content for mobile and online services, working with
the mobile industry and film makers to promote exciting and simple to use
services. Based in the UK, MOFILM has worked previously with the GSMA and leading
film festivals and specialises in creating compelling 'in show'
experiences, content distribution and provides a range of consulting services.
SOURCE: GSM Association
NOTE TO EDITORS: Please note images for this release are available - please
email: laura.bryant@the-cc-group.com./
CONTACT: David Pringle of GSMA
press@gsm.org
or Ralph Cochrane of MOFILM
+44 207 193 2453
Ralph.cochrane@mofilm.com/
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