WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mayor Vincent C. Gray and SnagFilms Founder Ted Leonsis called today for District filmmakers to submit their best documentary or narrative film to the inaugural “Washington’s Best Film” competition. A panel of judges will select two grand prize winners -- one documentary and one narrative film -- to be distributed via SnagFilms’ global online streaming networks. The winners will also be considered for SnagFilms’ transactional video-on-demand channels.
“Having met many of our local filmmakers and seen some of their incredible films, there is little question that our city is the ‘Documentary Capital of the Universe, said Mayor Gray. “Increasingly, the District of Columbia isn’t just a backdrop for a story – it’s the home of the storyteller. The talent that thrives in our city deserves to be shared on the largest stage possible, and our partnership with SnagFilms provides an exciting new venue to showcase their work.”
The competition was created out of a partnership between the city’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development and Washington, DC-based SnagFilms in order to help elevate the national and international profile of the city’s most talented filmmakers.
“SnagFilms is honored to have the opportunity to work with Mayor Gray and the DC Office of Motion Picture and Television Development to recognize the gifted filmmakers in our community,” said SnagFilms Founder and Chairman Ted Leonsis. “I’m proud to have produced three films in this city, and have met and worked with many of our area’s filmmakers through SnagFilms. We look forward to combining the worldwide reach of the Web with SnagFilms’ tools to bring our region’s best storytelling to the broadest global audience.”
Additional information about the competition (including rules) will be announced later this month via the Office of Motion Picture and Television Development, SnagFilms.com and IndieWIRE.com.
About SnagFilms
SnagFilms features free ad-supported viewing of more than 2,000 award-winning titles from some of the greatest names in documentary film. All films are shareable across the Web. Since its launch in July 2008, SnagFilms’ library has generated more than 2 billion web pageviews, with more than 325 million minutes of SnagFilms titles streamed across over more than 100,000 affiliated sites and webpages, including through partners such as AOL, Comcast, Hulu, the Starbucks Digital Network, IMDb, the Miami Herald, hundreds of non-profits, special interest sites and blogs. SnagFilms also offers selected titles via VOD (with Comcast and FiOS), on iTunes and through a new free iPad application. OVGuide has twice named SnagFilms a Top Site and MovieMaker Magazine named SnagFilms to its annual list of “50 Best Websites for Moviemakers.”
About the DC Film Office
The District of Columbia Office of Motion Picture and Television Development is responsible for initiating and managing programs that generate revenue and employment and business opportunities in the District through the production of film, television, video, photography and other multimedia projects. Our instantly recognizable landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, cultural amenities, and first-class accommodations are just some of the many features that make the District of Columbia a venue of choice for motion picture and television production. A film-friendly city with the resources to accommodate any size production, DC continues to draw feature and independent films, television, documentaries, commercials, and other video and multimedia projects. For more information, contact the Office of Motion Picture and TV Development at (202) 727-6608, visit us on the web at http://film.dc.gov, join the DC Film community on http://www.facebook.com/FilmDC, or follow us on http://twitter.com/DCFilmOffice.