VISUALIZATIONS 2001 KINGSTON, R.I. — April 11, 2001 — The University of Rhode Island College of Arts & Sciences Film and Video Festival VISUALIZATIONS 2001, will be held April 16 through 18. The third annual festival showcasing the work of URI students begins on April 16 with a screening of all entries and ends with an awards ceremony on the evening of April 18, at which time the best of each category will be shown and the winner of the “Best of Festival” will be announced. There are six categories: Documentary/news, commercials, animation, and experimental—plus an “open” division for films that mix categories or do not readily fit the other categories. In addition, there is a film and television criticism category for written essays addressing aspects of film or television criticism, history or theory. Professionals working in Rhode Island, as well as in the national film community will serve as judges. Judging is based on conceptual originality, coherent development and technical accomplishment. Winners in each division will receive cash prizes ($500 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd, and $100 for 3rd ). Each first place winner will also receive a pass to the Rhode Island International Film Festival in August. “The Best of Festival” winner will be awarded an additional $500 prize, plus a scholarship to a Rhode Island International Film Festival Filmmaker’s Master Class. On April 17, there will be a special presentation of “Gentleman Bandit” by independent film producer and URI graduate Fred Joyal (URI class of ’79). Major funding of the student film festival is made possible through the generosity of Mr. Joyal, with additional funding provided by: Scott Randall (URI class of ’76), president of Media Designs/Brand Games; the Rhode Island International Film Festival; the College of Arts & Sciences Hope & Heritage Fund; Lowel-Lights Manufacturing; and the URI Film Studies Program. At the awards ceremony on April 18, the film festival will recognize the talent and creativity of URI’s students and will showcase the best of their achievements by screening the winners in each category. At that ceremony, one of the judges for “Best of Festival”, Robert Downey, Sr., will speak on his work as a film director, writer and actor. Downey has directed such off-beat feature films a Putney Swope, Greaser’s Palace, and Hugo Pool; and episodes of the television series Twilight Zone, and has appeared in more than a dozen films, including Boogie Nights, Magnolia and The Family Man. Currently Downey is working on a documentary about the effects of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) while also developing a new feature film. Festival times and dates are: Monday, April 16, “Open Screening” of all entries (4 to 9 p.m.), Independence Hall 304; Tuesday, April 17; “Gentleman Bandit” by Fred Joyal (4 p.m.), Independence 304; Wednesday, April 18, Awards Ceremony (7:30 p.m.), Auditorium of the Biological Sciences Building. A reception will immediately follow. All events are free and open to the public. Parking for the Awards Ceremony will be in the Chafee Hall lot. For further information call 874-9014. For Information: Jerry DeSchepper, 277-5073, Tom Zorabedian, 874-2853, Jan Sawyer, 874-2116