Pepperidge Farm Goldfish® Colors Crackers Launches Nationwide Online Animation Contest with New York International Children's Film Festival

With help from tutorials created by the Goldfish team and the New York International Children's Film Festival, and inspiration from the co-hosted "Get Animated! Workshop" in September, families will come together in the spirit of creativity to shoot their own stop motion videos. Parents can enter their families' creations for a chance to be recognized nationally and receive prizes.

For the first time, Goldfish Colors is a lead sponsor of New York International Children's Film Festival, the nation's largest film festival for children and teens.  As part of its sponsorship, Goldfish will provide on-site activities and free samples during the March Festival, and present the online filmmaking contest encouraging families to get creative with stop-motion animation.

"The partnership was built on a desire to bring families together through the art of filmmaking, by using the very thing that is often a distraction to family-time: our phones," said Chris Foley, SVP/CMO, Pepperidge Farm. "By using accessible technology, and a bit of creativity, Goldfish and New York International Children's Film Festival will provide families all the tools they need to become master animators and create something new, together."

To enter the contest, participants will create a 60-second animated video starring Goldfish crackers and upload it to YouTube. To complete the submission, participants must then visit www.goldfishsmiles.com and complete the entry form by providing their birth date, the YouTube link to their film and their contact information. Parents and guardians over 18 are eligible to submit their creations. During the month of March, all submissions will be reviewed by an independent judging committee including a member of the New York International Children's Film Festival and a Goldfish brand representative.

Entries will be evaluated in four categories:

• "Best Use of Goldfish" - This award will go to a film that showcases our little smiling movie stars in the most creative or amusing way.
• "Best Story" - This award will go to a film with the most compelling storyline whether it be funny, dramatic, thrilling—or all three.
• "Best Film by Up-and-Coming Animators" - This award will go to a film that might not be the most polished, but shows incredible enthusiasm all the same!
• "Best Overall Film" - This award will go to a film that combines multiple elements (technique, originality, and effort, etc.) resulting in the best overall final product.

On April 21, Goldfish will host an online awards show, in which the winners in each category will be announced. There will be four grand prizes in which each recipient will receive $5,000.00 and twelve nominee prizes in which each recipient will receive a gift bag consisting of an Animation Xperience cinch bag, Goldfish® Colors crackers, an octopus style portable and adjustable tripod and a Stoopid Buddy Stoodios DVD.

"This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Festival, which presents the best new films from around the world to kids and teens," Nina Guralnick, Executive Director, New York International Children's Film Festival. "We are excited to have Goldfish Colors as a partner this year as we recognize that Goldfish shares our appreciation for celebrating connecting families through creativity and imagination. We are excited to see the films families create through the Goldfish® Tales Animation Xperience Contest."

Each year, the Festival provides an exciting experience that cultivates an appreciation for the arts, encourages active, discerning viewing, and stimulates lively discussion among peers, families, and the film community.

Y&R developed the integrated campaign for the Goldfish® Tales Animation Xperience Contest consisting of stop-motion workshops, how-to videos, homemade animation and the film contest, all designed to inspire parents and kids to create stop-motion movie magic together.

For more information and to enter the contest, visit www.goldfishsmiles.com.

About the Goldfish Brand
Pepperidge Farm, based in Norwalk, Connecticut, introduced its Goldfish® crackers in 1962 after founder Margaret Rudkin discovered them on a trip to Switzerland. Today there are more than 25 Goldfish snack varieties including the popular Flavor Blasted® and Grahams lines, and the brand is leading the snacks category as one of America's most popular crackers. Pepperidge Farm has been part of Campbell Soup Company since 1961 and is part of its Global Biscuits and Snacks division.

About Pepperidge Farm^®
Pepperidge Farm^®, Incorporated, is a leading provider of premium quality fresh bakery products, cookies, crackers and frozen foods, since 1937. Founded by Margaret Rudkin, an entrepreneurial homemaker who began baking fresh, wholesome bread for her allergy-afflicted son, Pepperidge Farm^® is now in approximately ¾ of homes nationwide. Celebrating 80 years of "Making Moments Matter," the Pepperidge Farm^® portfolio includes Goldfish crackers, Milano cookies and more than 50 varieties of fresh baked breads including Pepperidge Farm Swirl™, Farmhouse and Whole Grain and frozen Puff Pastry, Layer Cakes and Garlic Bread. Pepperidge Farm^®, part of Campbell Soup Company since 1961, plays a major part in the company's ability to provide consumers – worldwide – with nearly 4 billion servings of whole grains annually. For more information, visit www.pepperidgefarm.com or follow Pepperidge Farm^® on Facebook and Twitter.

About New York International Children's Film Festival
New York International Children's Film Festival was founded in 1997 to support the creation and dissemination of thoughtful, provocative, and intelligent film for children and teens ages 3-18. The flagship New York City Festival has grown from one weekend of films into the largest film festival for children and teens in North America. Screened over the course of four weeks at venues throughout NYC, the Festival program – narrowed down from roughly 2,500 international submissions – is comprised of approximately 100 short and feature films, filmmaker Q&As, retrospective programs, parties, and premieres. Audience members of all ages vote on the Festival-winning films. The Festival is an Academy Award® qualifying festival, one of only four film festivals in New York State – and only two children's film festivals in the country – to hold that honor. Winners of the Festival's juried prizes are eligible for consideration at the annual Academy Awards®. In addition to presenting the annual event, New York International Children's Film Festival is a multifaceted arts organization that offers year-round engagement, including a nationwide touring program, filmmaking camps, and Film-Ed educational field trips.

The Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization.

CONTACT: Alicia Clarke, 212-299-8964, [email protected]

SOURCE Pepperidge Farm