• Panel of environmental/film industry experts and audience to choose winners during Oct. 11, 2008, screening event in Los Angeles following a special documentary screening of 'The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?'
AZUSA, CA, Sept. 30, 2008 -- Rain Bird, a leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, today named the six finalists for the second annual Intelligent Use of Water™ Film Competition, an environmentally focused film competition that gives both amateur and experienced filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talents and use the power of film to bring about a greater awareness of the need for effective, efficient and responsible water use.
The six finalists will be featured guests during a special screening event on Oct. 11, 2008 at The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden where Shalini Kantayya, director of the 2007 Audience Choice Award Winner, "A Drop of Life," will serve as master of ceremonies. Following the screening of the finalists' films and a roundtable discussion with the filmmakers and judges, two winners will be announced and awarded cash prizes of $6,000 for judges' selection and $3,000 for the audience favorite.
>> More information on Intelligent Use of Water™ Film Competition
Selected by a panel of judges according to pre-determined criteria including creativity and effective communication of ideas to intelligently manage and efficiently utilize the Earth's most precious resource, the 2008 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition finalists are:
Water Thicker Than Oil -- filmmaker: Michael McGuire -- Los Angeles, CA
Gold For Gold -- filmmaker: Mark E. Petersen -- Boulder, CO
Rainwater Harvesting -- filmmaker: Amit Shanker, Centre for Science and the Environment -- New Delhi, India
Wah Wah -- filmmaker: Ronald San Agustin -- North Hollywood, CA
Against The Current -- filmmaker: Trout Unlimited -- Livingston, MT
Glass Half Full -- filmmaker: David Sutera -- Salt Lake City, UT
Prior to the screening of the finalist films, the evening's guests will be treated to a special showing of 'The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?,' critically acclaimed writer, director and producer Jim Thebaut's definitive look at how the water crisis is affecting the American Southwest and its escalating economic toll.
Thebaut joins fellow judges Gary McVey, executive director of the American Cinema Foundation, Amanda Pope, associate professor at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, and Timothy Brick, Chairman of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, in choosing the winner of the 2008 competition.
Tickets for The Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition screening event are $50 per person and are available through the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, (800) 838-3006. The evening's proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden plant conservation programs.
Rain Bird's Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition is part of a range of programs and initiatives to boost awareness of water conservation. Rain Bird devotes significant resources to its Intelligent Use of Water public initiatives, which include a series of white papers; public service announcements; membership on the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the steering committee advising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its WaterSense product labeling program; bi-annual Intelligent Use of Water Summits; partnerships with nonprofit organizations; development and support of elementary and middle school curricula; and participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade®, an annual worldwide stage to communicate the need for water conservation.
Based in Azusa, Calif., Rain Bird Corporation is a leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services.
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