42ND WORLDFEST HOUSTON WRAPUP

WorldFest-Houston, the 3rd longest-running International Film Festival in North America, celebrated the conclusion of its 10-day run of film, fun and fanfare in its 42nd annual independent film showcase with a 10% increase in overall audience attendance! Kick-off was the world premiere of WorldFest alum, Jim Amatulli's "Flying By" with film luminary and Oscar winner, Patricia Neal on-hand to receive her Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, April 17th, Opening night of the 42nd edition of WorldFest. Mid-week, veteran actor Rip Torn and family jetted in to enjoy the premiere of his daughter Angelica's, film, "Lucky Days". Both French and British consuls feted their respective attending directors, Serge Bozon (La France) and David Rocksavage (Shadows in the Sun) with receptions to honor their film premieres at this year's WorldFest.

Closing weekend festivities included a Grand Awards Gala on Saturday night culminating with a morning VIP NASA & Space Center Houston whirlwind tour and an invigorating afternoon on Galveston Bay celebrating with a specially catered Bollywood feast (by Madras Pavilion Restaurant) hosted by The Houston Yacht Club. All things cinematic wrapped up with a double bill of John Crowley's "Is Anybody There?" and Houston's own Shawn Welling with his encore screening of "The Messenger~ 360 Days of Bolivar." All WorldFest events are always open to the public.

WorldFest, founded as an International Film Society in August 1961, became the third competitive international film festival in North America, following San Francisco and New York. WorldFest evolved into a competitive International Film Festival in April 1968 and has a long list of "discovered" film greats such as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Lynch, Ridley Scott, Oliver Stone, Atom Egoyan, Randall Kleiser, Ang Lee, Robert Rodriguez, Brian de Palma, the Coen Brothers and many others from their beginning efforts for film submissions early in their careers.

Multi award-winning producer/director, Hunter Todd, founded this film festival to honor all categories of film and video production continuing his long dedication of "Discovery," spotlighting emerging Independent filmmakers as "the Spielbergs & Ang Lees of tomorrow." WorldFest's mission is to recognize and honor outstanding creative excellence in film & video, validate brilliant abilities and promote future filmmaking in Texas as well as enhance cultural tourism in Houston.

The 10-day festival ran to a smooth finish with several sold-out full houses, 6 World Premieres, 51 Indie feature productions, 75 award winning shorts and over 450 USA and International filmmakers in attendance. All film premieres screened at the Flagship AMC Studio 30 Theatres, a sixth year WorldFest-Houston Cinema partner. Other major VIP Partner/Sponsors include Eastman Kodak, Microsoft, The Marriott Hotels, The City of Houston, The State of Texas, The NEA, The Houston Arts Alliance, Budget Rent a Car, Wagner Media, NASA/Space Center Houston, Boxer Properties, The Wellness Center of Houston, Arts Houston Magazine, Royal Carriages Limousines, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and The Houston Yacht Club.

During the 10-day festival, over 450 filmmakers from more than 32 nations around the world were in attendance to personally accept their various awards from this year's WorldFest's competition of thousands of submitted category entries. Dates for WorldFest- Houston 43rd April 9-18th, 2010. Please check our website at - www.worldfest.org - for the full winners' list or call 713-965-9955 for more information. "Call for Entries" for next year's event will be mailed out in late August. Entries officially open August 15th, 2009. Main deadline is December 15, 2009. You may download official entry forms from our Internet website starting August 1st. We are now streaming particular Remi Award winners on our website! WorldFest-Houston - Fiercely Independent! WorldFest-Houston, PO Box 56566, Houston, Texas 77256-6566 713-965-9955 www.worldfest.org mail@worldfest.org