Independent Features, Much Emulated Virtual Film Festival, Unveils the Manhattan Film Festival

In Celebration, Will Offer Local Charities in Excess of 2,500 Free Tickets for Fundraising

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Mar 15, 2010, 08:46 ET

NEW YORK, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Manhattan Film Festival (http://www.manhattanfilmfestival.org ), the founders of the Independent Features Film Festival, are proud to announce the launch of the Manhattan Film Festival. The festival is a souped-up 2.0 version of their now former Independent Features edition. The event will take place July 21-25 and will screen over 40 films. Their final film submission deadline is April 1st. The festival has proven to be the most innovative festival of the 21st Century. Originally the first film festival in which film selection is done online via a web-based competition, they have since introduced virtual filmmaker Q & A's, streamed live festival events, and in 2008 introduced a VOD distribution model. In 2010 they continued their tradition of innovation, becoming the first film festival to offer filmmakers their preferred selection process: participation in their signature web-based competition or review by the festival's programming team.

As other film festivals have attempted to emulate their work, founder Philip J. Nelson said, "It's an honor to see other festivals following in our footsteps. It's my hope that they continue to follow, as we innovate and create a festival that both educates and entertains."

Formerly hosted at the Tribeca Cinemas, the Manhattan Film Festival has since found a permanent home on the Upper West Side. "We have been reaching out to local businesses attempting to truly make this a community event," said festival co-founder Jose Ruiz Jr. They are working to offer local restaurants, hotels, and bars special promotions for their festival attendees in exchange for promotion to their anticipated 10,000 festival-goers.

In celebration of their first year as the Manhattan Film Festival, they are offering local charities free ticket packages which can be used as fundraisers, as well as hosting a lottery offering free tickets for people who might not be able to afford it otherwise. Nelson explained, "Personally and professionally I know how tough this economy is. We have had to endure a lot since our doors first opened. We were founded as an organization dedicated to the advancement of independent filmmaking. After many trials and tribulations we are equally dedicated to discovering new ways to use the power of film to help humanity."

A ticket donation request form can be found at http://www.manhattanfilmfestival.org.

About Manhattan Film Festival:

The Manhattan Film Festival has proven to be the most innovated festival of the 21st Century. The festival was founded by two independent filmmakers who learned firsthand how hard it is to find an independent film an audience. Formerly known as Independent Features, they pioneered the first film festival in which film selection is done online via a web-based competition. Today they are the first to offer filmmakers their preferred selection process: participation in their signature web-based competition or review by their festival's programming team.