Editor

On Sunday, May 2, 2010, the USA Film Festival announced the Winners of the 32nd Annual National Short Film & Video Competition on Closing Night of the 40th Annual USA Film Festival in Dallas.

Chosen from over 600 U.S. entries, the winners included:

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

FIRST PLACE / FICTION $1,000

Ana's Playground, Eric Howell, director

FIRST PLACE / ANIMATION $1,000

The Mouse That Soared, Kyle T. Bell, director

FIRST PLACE / EXPERIMENTAL $1,000

The Darkness of Day, Jay Rosenblatt, director

FIRST PLACE / NON-FICTION $1,000

Point of Entry, Zeus Quijano, Jr., director

First Place Winners in the Fiction, Animation and Experimental categories that meet Academy eligibility requirements qualify for consideration from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

THE STUDENT AWARD $500

A Son's War, Steven Edell, director

THE TEXAS AWARD $500

6, Jeff Bednarz, director

SPECIAL JURY AWARDS $250 each

Diplomacy, Jon Goldman, director

Patrol, John Ford, director

Saiba from Bhopal, Max Carlson, director

The 2010 National Jury included editor Angela Garbin; filmmaker and Yale University Professor of Cinema Sandra Luckow; and writer, director, and actor Jon Putch.

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Academy-qualified festival, which has awarded over $200,000 in cash prizes, including prizes to many (then) emerging filmmakers, including Jessica Yu (Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien), Todd Haynes (Superstar and Dottie Gets Spanked), Alexander Payne (The Passion of Martin), George Hickenlooper (Some Folks Call

it a Sling Blade), Alan Taylor (The Burning Question) and John Lasseter (Tin Toy). Both 2008 Oscar winner West Bank Story and 2010 nominee Kavi were qualified for Academy consideration at the USA Film Festival.

The USA Film Festival is a Dallas-based 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in the film and video arts. The Festival's year-round events include KidFilm®, the oldest and largest children's film festival in the U.S.; Oscar Night® America/Dallas; monthly screenings; special programs and premieres; and the USA Film Festival, held each spring.

WWW.USAFILMFESTIVAL.COM