BC Film + Media and CBC Television in British Columbia, in association with the Alibi Unplugged Script Reading Series, are pleased to announce the winners of their third annual Signature Shorts Screenwriting Competition for emerging writers.

Close to 300 writers from across the province submitted scripts inspired by this year's contest theme, "Redemption".

"The response from the writing community, both in quality and quantity, was tremendous again this year. It is gratifying to see that British Columbia writers are so inspired by this opportunity," says Rae Hull, Regional Director of Television in BC and Senior Director of Network Programming, CBC Television.

"Signature Shorts has struck a responsive chord with British Columbia writers," said Rob Egan, President and CEO, BC Film + Media, "and it speaks to the need to support new creative energy and ideas within the province's writing community."

After careful deliberation by jury members, the following three finalists made the cut:

- "Heart of Flesh" (Writer: Michelle Adams; Director: Jessica Bradford; Producer: Bonnie Jean Mah): A 13 year old girl believes buying her first bikini will redeem her from a boring childhood, and grant her admission to a sexy adult world. It does...but is it for keeps?

- "Sarah's Room" (Writer: Ita Margalit; Director: Bob Fugger; Producer: Michael Patience): The love of a mother and daughter is tested by a host of everyday power struggles.

- "Rugged Rich & the Ona Ona" (Writer: David Taylor; Director: Eric Finkel; Producers: Kevin Eastwood & Jason James): A soft urbanite goes to extreme lengths to impress his new nature-jock girlfriend - even if that means facing the dreaded Ona Ona.

Each of the three winning teams receives $16,000 in cash and up to $30,000 in facilities and services. The final short films will be broadcast on CBC Television next season. Finale Editworks & Line 21 also sponsor the winning projects with colour correction and closed captioning services.

A public reading of the three scripts, organized by the Alibi Unplugged Script Reading Series, will be held August 8, 2003 at 6pm at the CBC Studios in Vancouver (700 Hamilton Street). For more information, go to vancouver.cbc.ca/signatureshorts.

For additional information, please contact:

Jill Webber Hrabinsky,
TV Program Marketing Coordinator
CBC Communications
Vancouver (604) 662-6680
mailto:jill_hrabinsky@cbc.ca