At 20, Cinequest Launches Two Growth Divisions

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--While most look back at anniversaries, Cinequest, Inc., looks ahead. Centered in the Silicon Valley with strong ties to Los Angeles and the global film communities, Cinequest has consistently pushed the future of film, helping pioneer and then flourish the digital filmmaking, Internet film distribution and marketing revolutions. Cinequest now launches two innovative divisions focusing on enhancing the future of media making, innovation and impact: Cinequest Mavericks Studio will produce, distribute and market master level film, television and new media while Picture The Possibilities will empower global teens to communicate vision and take action necessary to improve their futures.

“Our future is in the hands of our youth”

CINEQUEST MAVERICKS STUDIO (CMS)

"Cinequest holds a unique and strategic position amongst the world of movies: having prospered in the areas of media innovations, talent discovery, internet marketing and film distribution, Cinequest knows and excels in the entire workflow from script to screen. Cinequest now leverages this opportunity by forming a sister division to our nonprofit to actively produce, distribute and empower master-level Maverick movies, television and new forms of filmed media," says Halfdan Hussey, Co-Founder and Director of Cinequest. "While continuing to discover talent and innovations, Cinequest will further empower these forces integrating them into content that Cinequest brings to audiences hungry for experiences that inspire, astound and transform."

Cinequest Mavericks Studio (CMS) will roll out its first slate of productions, A-list casts and innovative marketing programs during the season of Cinequest Film Festival 20.

PICTURE THE POSSIBILITIES (PTP)

Cinequest, a nonprofit organization producing the ever-growing CQFF, now launches a dynamic program for global teens. Picture the Possibilities (PTP) will empower underserved youth with innovative tools, mentors and training needed to turn each of their unique stories into film, while challenging them to drive change in their community and around the world. Participating youth will receive hands-on training in storyline development, film production, multi-media equipment and social media technology throughout ten global sites. The personal stories of youth around the globe, the challenges they face and their ideas for social change will be experienced by fellow students, global leaders and media, resulting in a call to action.

"Our future is in the hands of our youth," says Kathleen J. Powell, Co-Founder and President of Cinequest. "Through technology, their voices will be empowered for all of us to hear their life stories; their daily struggles, worries and concerns; and their boundless hope for the future."

PTP will launch in summer 2010 with a world premiere event, hosted by high profile inspirational figures. The event will be telecast worldwide through the use of innovative and traditional technologies to involve the global community.

CINEQUEST FIRSTS OVER ITS FIRST TWENTY YEARS

A film company that not only weathered “dot bomb,” 9/11 and the recent economic downturns, Cinequest consistently has proven the capacity to pioneer and to succeed in its new ventures. The following represent some of the Cinequest firsts over its first twenty years:

Cinequest Mavericks Studio launched to integrate a unique position of innovation, talent discovery and leading-edge marketing and distribution into master-level content production and delivery. First company to completely integrate the successful traditions of Hollywood studios with the innovative edge of the Silicon Valley.
Picture the Possibilities launched to empower global teens to create change for their futures. First program of its kind.
First film institute to provide a comprehensive US distribution solution for festival films – including DVD, Internet, TV and select theatrical releases, launched in 2006.
First independent distributor to engage in direct Internet-to-TV distribution.
First in the world to enable online downloads of feature films in DVD/HD quality in 2004.
First to present online festival in conjunction with live festival in 2004 at Cinequest 14, allowing film lovers around the globe to view festival films, now common festival practice.
First festival to bring short films to handheld mobile devices in 2004 at Cinequest 14.
First festival to showcase 24P cameras and workflow in 1998 at Cinequest 8.
First festival to showcase solid-state filmmaking technology in 2006 at Cinequest 16.
First festival to accept all digital film formats and to project digitally in all screens in 2000 at Cinequest 10.
First festival to showcase the media delivery capacities of QuickTime in 1997.
First festival to create and to implement its own server system for digital content in 2005 at Cinequest 15.

ADDITIONAL CINEQUEST FACTS

To date, more than five million people have watched Cinequest distribution films online or on DVD.
More than 500,000 people have attended CQFF to date, with more than 80,000 attending in 2009.
More than 10,000 artists have attended CQFF to date, including more than 500 from 44 countries in 2009.
More than 600 feature-length and short films have made their world premieres at CQFF.
CQFF has given its annual Maverick Spirit Award to such film luminaries as John Schlesinger, Kevin Spacey, John Waters, Rod Steiger, Sir Ben Kingsley, William H. Macy, Sir Ian McKellen, Spike Lee, Alec Baldwin and many more.
The Cinequest Distribution label now has 60 award-winning and festival favorite feature films and 150 shorts.
Cinequest Distribution films include Maverick stars Gillian Anderson (X-Files), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) and the brilliant Bob Hoskins.
Cinequest Film Festival has discovered countless artists who have gone on to industry including: Brad Anderson (The Darien Gap at CQ- Next Stop Wonderland); Edie Falco (Cost of Living at CQ- The Sopranos); Alejandro González Iñárritu (Amores Perros at CQ- 21 Grams); Deepa Mehta (Water at CQ); Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking at CQ); Bryan Singer (Public Access at CQ- The Usual Suspects, X-Men); Mira Sorvino (Sweet Nothing at CQ- Mighty Aphrodite); Renee Zellweger (Love and a .45 at CQ- Chicago); Gavin Hood (A Reasonable Man at CQ- Tsotsi).

Cinequest enjoys the support of innovative sponsors and partners including:

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Panasonic (NYSE:PC), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ), Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE), Applied Materials (NYSE:AMAT), Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), Peet’s Coffee & Tea (PEET), Motorola (NYSE:MOT), SanDisk (NASDAQ:SNDK), Fry’s Electronics, and Hearst Foundations.

Cinequest Empowers the Maverick via:

Cinequest Film Festival 20, February 23 – March 7, 2010: discovering Maverick films and innovations while connecting artists, innovators and film lovers.
Cinequest Mavericks Studio: producing and distributing A-list movies, episodic television and new media.
Picture the Possibilities: empowering underserved youth with innovative tools, mentors, and training needed to turn their stories into film: driving change in their local community and around the world.

www.cinequest.org