Showtime Announces the 6th Annual Screenwriting Award Winner at the Nantucket Film Festival

New York, NY -- Showtime Networks Inc. and the Nantucket FilmFestival announced the presentation of the 6th Annual Tony Cox Awardfor Screenwriting to Debra Granik for her original script entitled DOWNTO THE BONE. The award - presented to the writer of the mostoutstanding screenplay submitted to the Nantucket Film Festival'sScreenplay Competition - was presented to Ms. Granik by Jay Larkin,Senior Vice President/Executive Producer, Sports and EventProgramming.

Matthew C. Blank, Showtime Networks' Chairman and CEO stated,"Showtime is an enthusiastic sponsor of the Nantucket Film Festival,which, since its inception seven years ago, has begun to develop asignificant impact on the motion picture and television film industry.We are always looking for new product and gifted talent and weanticipate a strong, productive and continued relationship with thefestival."

Tony Cox, a summer resident of Nantucket Island who diedunexpectedly in 1996, was an entertainment industry leader who alwaysbelieved in conscientious and thought-provoking programming. As theformer chairman of Showtime Networks, he was one of the architects ofSundance Channel, which he helped create in order to bring high qualityindependent films to cable television.

During his life, Cox was responsible for initiating severalcampaigns to increase the representation of minorities in theentertainment industry and, also, to curb the amount of senselessviolence on television. Matthew C. Blank stated, "It is appropriatethat the Nantucket Film Festival continue to honor Tony, whose valuesand convictions were consistent with the tenets of this award. Thecontinued presentation of an award with Tony Cox's name will serve as aliving memorial to a man who believed in excellence."

Jonathan Burkhart, Executive Director, Nantucket Film Festival,added, "This award encourages screenwriters and filmmakers to strivefor value and merit as Tony did, in all his achievements."