Released on: May 15, 2008, 12:11 am

Press Release Author: Integrity Publicity

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: West Potomac Academy's Professional TV Production class is
holding its 2nd annual film festival on Friday, May 16, beginning at 12:45 p.m. in
Springbank Auditorium at West Potomac High School. West Potomac Academy is one of
six high school academies in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

Press Release Body: This year, nine films have been entered into competition.
Academy students worked cooperatively during the fourth quarter on their films, the
culminating project in Professional TV Production, using all the concepts and
theories taught to them during the school year. Professional grade equipment and
industry-standard editing systems were available to the students throughout the
2007-08 school year.

Judges include Meena Gupta, director of training, Fairfax Public Access; Pixie
Monroe, owner of Monroe Casting in Hollywood; Marie Dyak, producer, Entertainment
Industries Council; Shannon Days-Diane, producer, CW50; and Chad Maclin, FCPS trade
and industrial coordinator. Serving as master of ceremonies is Alivia Tagliaferri,
author and film producer. The judges are not only participating in the film festival
but have been mentors, internship sponsors, and guest speakers during the school
year.

Some of the special features included in the festival will be from award-winning
student filmmakers. Wes Beale won first place for a film in Video Fairfax, Alishia
Hemingway won an honorable mention for a commercial in the Journalism Education
Association Film Festival and Competition, and Marcus Clarke won an honorable
mention for a public service announcement (PSA) in Video Fairfax as well as first
place in the Cinema Cities International Film Festival along with the Student
Filmmaker's award.

Hemingway and Clarke, as well as Nathan Baer and Graham Jenkins, received
nominations in the MHz Shorties film festival.

###


Web Site: http://

Contact Details: West Potomac Academy and West Potomac High School are located at
6500 Quander Road in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County. For more information and
video links go to www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacAcademy.com or contact Nancy Mantelli at
703-718-2636 or nancy.mantelli@fcps.edu.