PORTLAND, Ore., February 10-- The deadlines for entries for the International Electronic Cinema Festival (IECF) to be held May 15-19, 2000 in Portland, Oregon USA are only weeks away: Entry forms are due March 6, 2000 and final productions are due March 16, 2000.

The IECF, sponsored by Sony, Panasonic and supported by Thomcast, recognizes outstanding achievements in digital television and digital cinema. It is the most comprehensive gathering of the industries' finest in the areas of high definition and digital production. Rotating between Japan and Europe since 1987, this is the first time the Festival will be held in the United States.

The seven categories of the competition are:

• DRAMA (maximum 90 minutes) -- A largely fictional work, most often but not necessarily involving actors or animated characters.
• DOCUMENTARY (maximum 60 minutes) -- A work that is largely non-fictional, often reflecting the personal views or opinions of the creators. This category includes current affairs documentaries.
• ENTERTAINMENT (maximum 60 minutes) -- This category includes cultural entertainment programs e.g.: opera, ballet, concerts, which have preferably been created especially for the camera, light entertainment programs e.g.: light music, variety, comedy and humor, which have preferably been created especially for the camera.
• SHORT PROGRAMS (maximum 10 minutes) -- This category includes programs shorter than 10 minutes that cannot be properly classified in any other category, e.g.: (1.) Music videos (a visual interpretation of a musical score) (2.) Video art.
• SPORTS (maximum 60 minutes) -- This category includes sporting events, which may include team or individual competition.
• EDUCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL USE PRODUCTIONS (maximum 30 minutes) -- This category is reserved for innovative productions whose main destination is for scientific, educational or industrial use rather than for broadcasting/cinema use.
• COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENTS (maximum 2 minutes) -- This category includes advertisement spots under 2 minutes in length. The winners in each category will be announced on May 19th at an awards luncheon in Portland, Oregon, and awarded the industry's highest honor for high definition production -- the Astrolabium. The Awards Luncheon is the closing event for the 5 day International Electronic Cinema Festival.
  

For rules, regulations, and entry forms -- email: info@iecf.org or call 503-697-4901. For more information about the Festival, visit the official website at www.IECF.org.

SOURCE International Electronic Cinema Festival

CO: International Electronic Cinema Festival; Oregon Public Broadcasting