Five chosen for Hypnotic $1 mil film fest
Cyberbiz Brief
Netcaster
Hypnotic.com and Universal Pictures have tapped the five finalists to compete for a $1 million production deal as part of the Hypnotic Million Dollar Film Festival. The finalists are "Bullet in the Brain," directed by David von Ancken; Hal Long's "Dishpan Man," "Drone," helmed by Kyle Newman; "Killing Time," by Carlo De Rosa; and Jesse Peyronel's "Swimming Out to Holly." One filmmaker will be chosen at the Sundance Film Festival to helm a full-length feature to be produced by Hypnotic and distribbed by U. A panel of judges that include helmers Jay Roach and Jonathan Mostow, Universal Pictures production prexy Kevin Misher and Propaganda Films prexy Rick Hess will tap the winner.
Since November, Hypnotic users have rated the top 25 semifinalist films. The short films, including both animation and live action, were selected by U and Hypnotic from hundreds of entries. "Our company is dedicated to nurturing and developing the filmmakers of tomorrow," Hypnotic CEO Jeremy Bernard said. "The Million Dollar Film Festival is a joint effort by Hypnotic and Universal to open doors for a talented individual who has not yet made a feature film."
