The Exhibitor (1966)

Movie Month Highlights TONE Regional Convention A wards Program Mapped To Honor Creativity Of Student Film-Makers NEW YORK — A national awards program to honor the artistry and skill of student film¬ makers was announced jointly by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Motion Picture Association of America and the United States National Student Association. To be called the “National Student Film Awards — -1966,” the program will end in the presentation of the best films in a special eve¬ ning event in Philharmonic Hall in Lincoln Center this November. Awards will be given in four categories: dramatic, documentary, animated and experimental. The project, in which students in all accredited U.S. colleges and universities are eligible, is expected to at¬ tract several hundred entrants, according to Schuyler Chapin, vice-president in charge of programming at Lincoln Center. The public presentation of the award-win¬ ning films will be held on Nov. 25 at Phil¬ harmonic Hall. It will be preceded by four public screenings of several dozen finalists at the Hunter College Playhouse on the evenings of Nov. 21 and 22. Judging will be done by five individuals with extensive production and critical experi¬ ence in student him work. Names of the judges will be disclosed shortly. A special west coast program, featuring the award-win¬ ning films, is being developed by the three sponsoring organizations in cooperation with the Theatre Arts Department at UCLA. Speaking on behalf of Lincoln Center, William Schuman, president, said, “We are happy to undertake this new program to aid development of young him talent in the United States as the hrst major expansion of our recently established Film Department, under whose auspices Lincoln Center’s Fourth New York Film Festival will be held.” Jack J. Valenti, president of the MPAA said of the program, “It is our common pur¬ pose to encourage young gifted student film¬ makers. The student hlm-maker is part of a community of young minds whose develop¬ ment is an asset to creativity in this nation. The motion picture industry wants to en¬ courage the creative instinct and skill on the campuses.” Arthur S. Weiner, director of cultural af¬ fairs for the United States National Student Association, which is a confederation of some 300 college and university student govern¬ ments, said, “The co-sponsorship in this pro¬ gram of Lincoln Center and the MPAA in the selection of the best hlms made by stu¬ dents is an important recognition of the need for fresh young talent in the film world and a welcome acknowledgement of the role of students in the arts.” Mr. Weiner pointed out that, according to a recent study by the National Education Association, more than 1000 courses in film are offered by leading U.S. colleges and uni¬ versities, a 50% increase in the last twelve years. “This rapid growth,” he said, “re¬ flects both the institutions’ recognition of the importance of the film medium in today’s society and the strong interest in film among young people.” A festival of student made films, the first event of its kind, was co-sponsored last year by the National Student Association and the University of California at Los Angeles. The award-winning films from this event have toured the United States and represented the The Moon Also Rises At Texas Drive-In SAN ANTONIO, TEX.— John Santikos, owner-operator of the new San Pedro Twin D-I now under construction, said that there will be “year round moonlight.” The artificial moonlight, an added at¬ traction at the theatre complex, will be a revolutionary lighting process to give the effect of moonlight over the entire 20 acres. Under completion, the new $500,000 D-I will be one of the city’s largest, boasting two screens with a 725 car capacity on one side and 525 on the other side. For those who desire a snack while watching the movies, architectural plans have included a cafeteria-style snack bar located between the two screens. Addition¬ ally, a 50 by 100 feet children’s playground in the same area will have a landscaped patio area with seating for those not wish¬ ing to remain in their cars. Tentative opening date is scheduled for Sept. 1 with live entertainment, attendance prizes and gala opening ceremonies. United States abroad at various film festivals. Regulations announced by the sponsors state that all films entered in the awards program must have been completed since Jan. 1, 1965. Both 16mm and 35nun prints are eligible. An entry which was not made for course credit must be accompanied by a signed statement from a college faculty member testifying that it was made on a non-commercial basis, that neither faculty members or professionals were engaged in the creative aspects of the film, and that it was made during the time period specified for entries. Submission of the film does not constitute a commitment for the right to distribute prints. Interested individuals and organizations should write for further information to: John Brockman, Coordinator, National Student Film Awards — 1966, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 1960 Broadway, New York. BOSTON — “Movie Month” was to be the theme of the Theatre Owners of New England 35th annual regional convention, Aug. 29 through 31, at the Mount Washington Hotel, Bretton Woods. N.H., and Joe Alterman, ex¬ ecutive director of NATO, was to address the exhibitors. Julian Rifkin, Rifkin Theatres, past presi¬ dent of TONE, was to chair the session on “Movie Month” on Aug. 31. Coming in for this session were to be Richard Walsh, inter¬ national president of IATSE; Ned Shugrue, Will Rogers Hospital; Si Sediler, MGM pub¬ licity chief; Sam Rosen, Stanley Warner The¬ atres, New York; and other industry leaders. Attendance at the convention, combined with the Northeast Conference of the National Association of Concessionaires, reached an all time high in advance reservations, Carl Gold¬ man, TONE executive secretary, legislative counsel, and coordinator for the convention, reported. Alterman was to explain and detail “Na¬ tional Movie Month,” which has been set for October; and the TONE convention was to kick-off “Operation New England Movie Month.” More than 300 New England exhibitors were expected to attend the three day session. Every film company was to be represented. Workshop sessions, round table discussions, and promotional discussions were to be held. The business session of the convention was to be held Wednesday, Aug. 31, and the affair was to climax with a cocktail party and grand banquet at which the toastmaster was to be George Roberts, Rifkin Theatres. The NAC meet on Aug. 30 was to feature addresses by Jack O’Brien, New England The¬ atres, president of NAC; Louis Abramson, executive director; Irving Shapiro, regional vice-president. Following the NAC meeting, a golf tournament was to be held by TONE. The committee for the TONE convention comprised Edward S. Redstone, TONE presi¬ dent general chairman; Carl Goldman, co¬ ordinator; Les Bendslev, Ed Fedeli, Mai Green, Jim Guarino, Ray Canavan, Roger Lockwood, E. M. Loew, A1 Lourie, Jim Ma¬ honey, Steve Minasian, Sam Pinanski, Julian Rifkin, Richard Smith, Joseph Stanzler, Saverio Romano, Chester L. Stoddard, James M. Totman, and Mel Wintman. The National League pennant-chasing Pittsburgh Pirates recently saw 20th Century-Fox's "The Blue Max" and decided to form their own elite corps. 20th-Fox obliged by awarding "Blue Max" medals to a group of Pirate ballplayers at Toot's Shors in New York. Attending the luncheon and ceremony were, left to right, standing, Willie Stargell, Elroy Face, Don Cardwell, Tom Sisk, Bob Prince, Pirate broadcaster; Jonas Rosenfield, Jr., 20th-Fox vice-president and director of advertising, publicity and exploitation; Bill Mazeroski, Peter Mikkelson, and (kneeling) Jim Paglioni. 12 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR August 31, 1966