As you know, currently PortMedia is Newburyport’s Channels 9 & 10. But get ready, and re-program your remotes … Channel 10 is moving to Channel 8 on March 20, 2012. So Government and Education programming will, as always, be seen on Channel 9, but the Public Channel is moving to Channel 8.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beach and Nature Company Demonstrates Commitment to Environment

Earth Port Film Festival Announces Cash Prizes for Festival Winners

February 28, 2012, Newburyport, Massachusetts –

PortMedia is pleased to announce that Beach and Nature Company, whose line of nature oriented products create awareness and promote interaction with our environment, has come on board as the Lead Sponsor of the Earth Port Film Festival.  “This is the perfect venue for us to support our mission of environmental awareness by promoting independent film makers that share the same vision,” said Andrea Montoni, President of Beach and Nature Company.  The Earth Port Film Festival will screen short films about the environment and the environmental movement on May 12, 2012 at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in historic Newburyport, Massachusetts.

“As a result of Beach and Nature Company’s sponsorship of the Earth Port Film Festival, we are now able to award cash prizes for Festival winners,” said Sarah Hayden, Executive Director of PortMedia, the principal organizer of the festival.  “Each of the winners for Adult-produced film categories will be awarded a cash prize of $500 by the Festival jury.  Student-produced film winners will be awarded $250.  And, at the evening screenings on May 12, 2012, an Audience Choice Award of $500 will be determined by Festival attendees.”

With today’s announcement of cash prizes, the deadline for film submissions communicating Earth Day 2012’s theme of “Mobilize the Earth™” is being extended to April 5, 2012.  For information about the Earth Port Film Festival, and to learn how to submit a film, visit www.EarthPortFilm.org, or contact Joe DiBiase, PortMedia’s Director of Development at joe@EarthPortFilm.org.  For more information about Beach and Nature Company, visit www.BeachandNatureCo.com.

# # #

PortMedia and Transition Newburyport Announce the Earth Port Film Festival!

Earth Port Film Festival
The Firehouse Center for the Arts
Newburyport, Massachusetts
May 12, 2012

Attention Filmmakers and Videographers!

Newburyport, Massachusetts – Inspired by a desire to highlight and raise awareness of both pressing environmental issues and the important role of community media, PortMedia and Transition Newburyport announce the Earth Port Film Festival to be held on May 12, 2012.

The Earth Port Film Festival will feature short films by independent filmmakers guided by the 2012 Earth Day theme “Mobilize the Earth™.”  Entries will focus on building the environmental movement and engaging new activists by inventing, discovering, inspiring, catalyzing or documenting environmental action through the media of film and video.

Submissions will be accepted from filmmakers of all ages (see www.EarthPortFilm.org for details). All submissions must be received by March 15, 2012.  The winning films in each category will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2012.  Winning films and other selected entries will be screened during two showings at the Earth Port Film Festival on May 12, 2012 at the beautiful Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport, Massachusetts (www.firehouse.org).

Newburyport is an historic New England seaport community of 17,000 people with a strong tradition of independent journalism, support for the arts, and a commitment to the environment, having recently been named a Commonwealth Green Community.  The Firehouse Center for the Arts is a vibrant, waterfront theater and cultural center in downtown Newburyport.

Proceeds from the Earth Port Film Festival will be used to support the work of PortMedia, Newburyport’s community media center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides independent and original public affairs, arts, education, and government programming to Newburyport and the surrounding area.. Further information is available at the festival website, www.EarthPortFilm.org.  For additional questions please contact PortMedia’s Director of Development, Joe DiBiase at joe@EarthPortFilm.org or (617) 701-7678.

“Mobilize the Earth” is a trademark of the Earth Day Network.