Firefox Flicks Backstage

THE VAIL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH FYI - FILM YOUR ISSUE, FIREFOX FLICKS, FANDANGO AND STARBUCKS COFFEE COMPANY

VAIL, Colo., February 27, 2006 – The Vail Film Festival, presented by Best Life magazine, announces the addition of four new partners for the 3rd annual festival. The festival is proud to welcome FYI - Film Your Issue, Mozilla Firefox Flicks, Fandango and Starbucks Coffee Company as its newest sponsors for the 2006 event, which will take place March 30 through April 2 at America’s top-rated ski resort in Vail, Colorado.

Alike in their support of independent film and broad reach, the new partners will utilize their unique platforms to help promote the 2006 Vail Film Festival. “We are excited to join forces with companies who share the Vail Film Festival’s mission of promoting independent film,� said Sean Cross, co-founder of the festival. “Each of these partners also offers a unique ability to reach out to an audience that values independent thinking and innovative cinema.�

The partnership with the newly announced program FYI - Film Your Issue brings an exciting event to the already-packed festival line-up: a fascinating perspective on some of today’s most pertinent issues. A national competition open to all Americans ages 18 to 26, FYI - Film Your Issue is searching college campuses and inviting students to create short “issue films” on any topical issue. The Vail Film Festival is a strong supporter of the FYI - Film Your Issue mission and is excited to help play a part in the competition by presenting a special first-look at several FYI - Film Your Issue film entries during the 2006 festival.

Mozilla joins the festival with the Firefox Flicks Ad Contest. Offering an opportunity for established and aspiring filmmakers to display their work on a worldwide scale, Firefox Flicks invites contestants to produce a high quality commercial about the Firefox Web browser. The leading entries will be screened at the 2006 Vail Film Festival.

Fandango will support the Vail Film Festival by incorporating festival advertising into their website, in addition to other outreach efforts. The festival, which is keenly focused on innovation, is proud to partner with Fandango, a leading innovator in online ticketing and the nation’s leading online movie ticketing service.

Starbucks Coffee Company is a proud supporter of the Vail Film Festival and will advertise the festival in 142 Starbucks stores throughout Colorado for the entire month of March.

Approximately 70 films from around the world will be screened during the four-day festival in Colorado. The festival will also feature an opening night party at the Donovan Pavilion on Gore Creek, a filmmakers’ reception at Larkspur at the base of Golden Peak, the festival awards ceremony and party on-mountain at Vail’s Eagle’s Nest Marketplace, and the festival closing brunch at Larkspur.

Other major sponsors of the festival include Subaru, L’Oreal, Realities, Stella Artois, Serengeti, Vail Resorts and the Town of Vail.

About the Vail Film Festival
The Vail Film Festival takes place March 30 to April 2nd in Vail, Colorado and is a program of the Vail Film Institute, a 501c3 nonprofit arts organization. The Vail Film Festival promotes independent filmmaking, with a special focus on new and innovative filmmakers. Besides screenings, the festival will also feature workshops, seminars and panel discussions with award-winning actors, writers and directors. An awards ceremony, family festivities, VIP parties, and live music will round out the four-day event. Festival passes incorporate a combination of skiing, movies, galas and music. For tickets and additional information, visit the website at www.vailfilmfestival.org or call (866) 476-1092.

About FYI - Film Your Issue
FYI - Film Your Issue is a nationwide competition open to all American residents 18 to 26 to create 30- to 60-second live-action or animated “issue films.â€? Launched January 1, 2006, by Microsoft, MSNBC.com, MSN Video, MSN Spaces and in association with The United Nations and MTVu, FYI is a way to engage young adults in public dialogue, take action and be involved citizens. The filmmakers of the top-voted entries will receive ten-week paid internships at Paramount Pictures and The Walt Disney Company, and his/her film will premiere on MTVu. The VIP jury includes George Clooney, Walter Cronkite, Senator Barack Obama, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Williams, and Anderson Cooper. For more information, visit www.filmyourissue.com.

About Firefox Flicks Ad Contest
The Firefox Flicks Ad Contest invites filmmakers to produce a high quality 30-second commercial about the popular Firefox Web browser. The contest offers participants a unique chance to participate in the Firefox community, get noticed by their peers, and have their work reviewed by a panel of highly respected judges from the industry. To enter the contest, visit www.firefoxflicks.com.

About Fandango
One of the Web’s top movie destinations, Fandango allows moviegoers to read reviews, view trailers, quickly select a film, plan where and when to see it, and buy tickets up to 45 days in advance. Fandango is available at www.fandango.com, 1-800-FANDANGO and via your wireless device at mobile.fandango.com.

About Starbucks Coffee Company
Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 10,500 retail locations in 37 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. The Company is committed to offering the highest quality coffee and the Starbucks Experience while conducting its business in ways that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in which it does business.

About Best Life
Best Life is a new lifestyle magazine from Rodale Inc. targeted to active, accomplished, discerning men that offers positive, practical advice about balancing family, career and self. It is both a celebration of the good life and a playbook that gives readers the tools to enjoy their two most precious resources—time and money. Best Life now reaches 2,000,000 readers and is published 10 times each year.

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Media Contact:
Brooke Smith, (646) 723-0129
brooke@vppublicrelations.com