Spike Jonze's Robot Love Story - A Creative Collaboration With ABSOLUT VODKA

USA - English

• USA - English

STOCKHOLM and PARK CITY, Utah, January 21 /PRNewswire/ --

- ABSOLUT and Spike Jonze Premiere I'm Here at Sundance Film Festival

Acclaimed filmmaker Spike Jonze premieres his latest work - I'm Here, a 30-minute short film - today at the Sundance Film Festival as part of the first-ever Opening Night's Shorts Program at the festival. The film is a collaboration with ABSOLUT VODKA, and the partnership acknowledges the brand's position as a pioneering and culture-shaping brand. ABSOLUT has always stood out in the marketplace as a groundbreaking company that has been supporting artists for decades. Previous collaborations include those with Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Helmut Newton. I'm Here honors the brand's history while embarking on a new and innovative alliance with one of today's most original filmmakers. The film came about when ABSOLUT reached out to Jonze to make a film, and gave him creative control to create the film he wanted.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/absolut/40772/

"It was a pretty incredible opportunity," says Jonze. "They (ABSOLUT) didn't give me any requirements to make a movie that had anything to do with vodka. They just wanted me to make something that was important to me, and let my imagination take me wherever I wanted. And it wasn't like working with some huge corporation where I had to meet with committees of people. It was just a small group, and it seemed like creativity and making something that affected them emotionally was the only thing that really mattered to them. I got to make my first love story. It's about the relationship between two robots living in Los Angeles."

I'm Here will also screen at the Berlin Film Festival in February, followed by a global release in March on http://www.imheremovie.com. View the teaser trailer at the official film site http://www.imheremovie.com.

"Since its inception, ABSOLUT VODKA has been driven by creativity, and together with Spike Jonze we set a new standard for creative collaborations," says Anna Malmhake, Vice President Global Marketing at The Absolut Company. "Spike Jonze is one of the most important influencers of modern popular culture, and this 30-minute film subtly and artfully expresses our enduring commitment to collaborations and creativity."

I'm Here, a 30-minute short film by Spike Jonze. Featuring Andrew Garfield and Sienna Guillory in the lead roles. The soundtrack includes original music by Sam Spiegel and original songs by L.A.-based art musician Aska Matsumiya and other emerging musicians.

    Follow the I'm Here blog at http://blog.imheremovie.com/.
    Press images are available at http://press.absolut.com.

    Credits:

    Title: I'm Here
    Length: 31 minutes
    Director: Spike Jonze
    Writer: Spike Jonze
    Cast: Andrew Garfield, Sienna Guillory
    Producer: Vincent Landay
    Executive Producer: Mark Figliulo, Matt Bijarchi
    Director Of Photography: Adam Kimmel, A.S.C.
    Editors: Eric Zumbrunnen, A.C.E., Stephen Berger
    Production Designer: Floyd Albee
    Casting By: Justine Baddeley & Kim Davis-Wagner
    Costume Designer: Casey Storm
    Robot Designer: Sonny Gerasimowicz
    Sound Designer: Ren Klyce
    Original Score By: Sam Spiegel
    "There are many of us" By: Aska Matsumiya
    Lost Trees Music Produced By: Nick Zinner
    Visual Effects Supervisor: Ben Gibbs
    Visual Effects By: Method Studios
    Produced In Association with MJZ


    Notes to the editor:

    - The creative collaboration between ABSOLUT VODKA and Spike Jonze will
      be accompanied by a charitable donation of $30,000 to 20/20, an
      American Film Institute (AFI) initiative, designed to enhance
      cultural exchange, understanding and collaboration through filmmakers
      and their films from the US and abroad. Spike and ABSOLUT are each
      donating $15,000.

    - The collaboration with Spike Jonze was created by long-standing ad
      agency of record TBWA\Chiat\Day. In addition to the 30-minute film,
      there are also 30 and 60 second trailers, to be used online and as
      TV commercials globally.

    - The Absolut Company has the worldwide responsibility for the production
      and marketing of ABSOLUT VODKA and Level Vodka. ABSOLUT VODKA is the
      world's fourth largest premium spirits brand, and it is sold in 126
      markets. Every bottle of ABSOLUT VODKA is produced in Ahus in southern
      Sweden. The head office is located in Stockholm, Sweden. Since July
      2008, The Absolut Company is owned by Pernod Ricard, which holds one
      of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector.

For further information, please contact:

Asa Caap, Senior Manager Global PR, The Absolut Company, E-mail: [email protected], Tel: +46708211765. Amanda Lundberg, Festival PR, E-mail: [email protected], Tel: +1-212-2777554.

SOURCE Absolut Company