Video Contests, Film Festivals, and Awards

Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Patty Jenkins, Lainie Kazan, Tasha Smith

(Beverly Hills, CA) The Award Honorees were announced for the Seventh Annual LA Femme Film Festival 2011,October 13-16, 2011. "Each year we have an amazing celebration of female entertainment leaders, and this year is especially close to my heart," said Leslie LaPage, founder/director of this premiere festival which empowers women Producers, Writers, Directors and Actors in the entertainment industry. "We have finally broken through the glass ceiling into the age of the woman director," said LaPage.

LA Femme is excited to announce this year's festival Honorees. Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Director: Kung Fu Panda 2) will receive the Maverick Award. Kung Fu Panda 2 is to date the highest worldwide box office grossing film directed by a Female Director. Patty Jenkins (Director: Monster) will receive the Visionary Award. Directing and penning the film Monster about the serial killer Aileen Wuomos garnered Charlize Theron an Academy Award in 2003. Jenkins is now in talks of directing Thor 2. Lainie Kazan (Actress: You Don't Mess with the Zohan) will receive the Thespian Award. Starring in over 100 notable projects from Broadway to Screen, Lainie has charmed audiences with her singing and comedic style that only a few have been able to match. Tasha Smith (Actress: Why Did I Get Married?) will receive the New Establishment Award. She has become a Tyler Perry favorite as well as wowing audience with her critically acclaimed role as Ronnie Boyce in HBO's "The Corner".

LA Femme launches October 13-16, 2011, in Los Angeles screening over 100 films highlighting independent features, documentaries, shorts, music videos, commercials, seminars and much more. This year LA Femme is hosting a Musical Concert Fundraiser on October 15, 2011 – "VMG presents LA Femme Unplugged" – with musical artist Anna Nalick, known for her hit single "Breathe (2 AM)," and featuring Sykler Stonestreet with Madeline Sampson. Musical Concert begins at 6 pm with an "A List" After Party to follow at the Renberg Theatre. Tickets on sale now for $20 or $35 at www.ticketweb.com. The performance will benefit the "Young Women of Nepal Foundation."

The four day festival event in Los Angeles hosts special networking events at LA hot spots (The Next Door Lounge, The Falls, and the Bodega Wine Bar-Hollywood) and a gala Awards Ceremony attended by A-List celebrities and top industry executives as they walk the red carpet. Master of Ceremony is comedian Sandra Valls (Latina Divas of Comedy) and musical performer is Carmen Carter (Dancing with the Stars).

LA Femme is dedicated to celebrating and empowering female artists creating media for a worldwide audience. LA Femme showcases works "by women for everyone" from all over the world. Ms. LaPage states, "No Festival does what we do for women. Weactually care, and we have a very high success rate with distributed and produced films that were screened at our festival." For information on the festival, visit our website at www.lafemme.org.

Past Award Honorees include: Angela Bassett (Green Hornet), Virginia Madsen (Sideways), Marianne Jean-Baptise (Without a Trace), Sara Gilbert (Roseanne), Diablo Cody (Juno), Vivica A. Fox (Kill Bill), Rosanna Arquette (After Hours), Lea Thompson (Caroline in the City), Penelope Spheeris (Wayne's World) Susan Seidelman (The Boynton Beach Bereavement Club), Maria Conchita Alonso (Mermaids), Jacqueline Bisset (Domino) and many more.

Resources:

http://www.lafemme.org