HDFest Euoprean Events Screen High-Def to Enthusiastic Audiences

HDFEST is the world's only high-definition film festival and screensprojects created exclusively using high-definition technology. The 2002leg of the tour included two HDFEST events: a "mini-festival" in Paris,France Dec. 1 at the CNIT (Centre National des Industries etTechniques) in La Defense area, and a London HDFEST event, December 7thand 8th, at Regent's Conference Centre in world-renowned Regent'sPark.

The main sponsors of the 2002 festivals were Runco and B&WLoudspeakers. Runco provided superb projection for our London event andB&W Loudspeakers provided top-notch sound to compliment thehigh-definition screenings. In Paris, B&W provided a 7.1 systemfrom their award-winning 600 series range. At the London HDFEST event,a B&W 604 powered by a Rotel RA1070 was installed in the HDFESTCinema. Other HDFEST Europe sponsors include Avid, ProductionHub, andCinemaNow. In addition, Barco provided additional projection at HDFESTthis year.

Audiences in London and Paris were delighted to see independent filmshowcased in Europe through the high-definition screenings, makingHDFEST the first high-definition film festival to take place in Europe.Highlights of the festival included director Dean Lincoln Hyers whoarrived to attend and introduce the European premiere of the film"Bill's Gun Shop." During the HDFEST London panel "High-Definition andPost Production" a lively discussion centered on a variety of topicsincluding the future of high-definition post production. Other topicsof discussion included the differences and advantages of high-defscreenings versus prior downconverted screenings at other festivals.Part of what makes HDFEST unique is that it provides filmmakers andaudiences the opportunity to see projects screened in their original HDformat.

In 2003, HDFEST will enter its fourth year as it continues itsworld tour in Canada, Los Angeles and New York. HDFEST has experienceda dramatic increase in submissions over the last few months, and willannounce the new projects chosen for the tour in early 2003. For anyquestions about the HDFEST tour or high-definition filmmaking, pleasecontact HDFEST at admin@hdfest.com.