FROM:  SNEAKY SNAKE FILMS
George Sanders
gsanders@nyc.rr.com
www.sneakysnakefilms.com

CONTROVERSIAL AWARD-WINNING SOCK-PUPPET FILM TO BE SCREENED AT THE INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER FESTIVAL IN KENT
MARGATE, KENT, JUNE 20, 2008

One wouldn't expect a harmless sock-puppet snake to challenge the stormy topic of circumcision in the world's holiest city, Jerusalem. But that's just what happens in the hilarious short film, "Sneaky Snake: Lost In The Holy Land."

In this six-minute short, a sock-puppet named Sneaky Snake searches for a bacon-cheeseburger in the Holy City of Jerusalem. Along the way, he meets a Rabbi, a Catholic Priest, and a Mullah, each determined to remove a particular small piece from his anatomy. In a visionary tour-de-force of thespianism, Sneaky plays all the roles. The film's concept began in a cab ride after filmmakers George Sanders and Shawn Curran toured Jerusalem.

"We'd never been to Israel, and Jerusalem was mind-blowing," says Sanders. "We noticed such a diversity of culture, language, costume, music and religion -- all co-existing side-by-side," says Sanders. "We asked our cab driver how this was possible." The driver replied, "We get along fine for the most part. After all, we're all praying to the same God!" Then he added, "But those people in India, praying to a cow? That's just meshuga!" And that's when the duo brainstormed and shot the film the next day.

Despite its controversial subject, the film has received three awards at festival appearances. The "Audience Choice Award" for "Best Of The Fest" at The Vine Shorts Fest in Santa Monica, The "People's Choice Award" for "Best Short Film" at The End Of The Pier International Film Festival in Bognor Regis, England, and "The Award of Excellence in Film" from the worldwide Accolade Competition. The team has also won first place in the Intel-sponsored Mobiflicks Division of Christopher Coppola's 2005 Duke City Shootout Film Festival in Albuquerque, NM, for their short film, "Sneaky In A Bottle," in which Sneaky plays a genie.

Sanders and Curran began shooting Sneaky Snake films after the puppet became popular in their live music and comedy act, which appears weekly at Don't Tell Mama, New York's premier piano bar.

"Sneaky Snake: Lost In The Holy Land," screens during the “Afternoon of Shorts” Sunday, June 22, at 3:30PM, at the Vue Cinema Westwood Cross Broad Stairs, Kent.
More information at:  www.filmmakerfestival.com

Sister Event,

To launch the first International film Festival UK and sister event of the Tenerife International film Festival the President of the festival Carl Tooney has decided to offer filmmakers free entrance to the screening of the independent movies being shown between the 20th and 26th of June 2008, subject to seat availability tickets will be on a first come bases

Lights, camera, action!
Carl Tooney Launches UK Festival for Filmmakers After the great success of his Tenerife International Film Festival.

Red Carpet  the Tenerife International Film Festival.
Celebrating an inventive selection of international films from all over the globe. The vibrant collection of movies is described as neither too traditional nor too sophisticated, and is open to all genres. However, the emphasis throughout is on passion for film.

The programme culminates in a gala awards evening, where The Teide prize - Tenerife's equivalent to the Oscar - will be presented to the winning filmmaker, considered to be at the peak of their profession. Last year's winning entry "Beautiful Dreamer", a drama set in World War II, received critical acclaim in the UK and a DVD distribution deal following its success at the Tenerife Film Festival.

A sister event to the festival in Tenerife has been established by its President, Carl Tooney. The International Filmmaker Festival takes place from 20th - 27th June in Kent, England, bringing the success of the Canarian festival to the UK. Through this unique partnership, both Spanish- and English-speaking audiences have the opportunity to appreciate fresh new films from both nations.
To find out more, visit www.tenerifefilmfestival.com or email info@tenerifefilmfestival.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18.02.08

Tenerife Rolls out Red Carpet for International Film Festival

Tenerife International Film Festival

21 – 25 April 2008

Tenerife is once again set to be at the centre of the world’s film industry with the arrival of the 3rd of the  Tenerife International Film Festival.

Running 21 – 25th April, the red carpet event has already established itself as a key event in the film calendar, celebrating a dazzling mix of the best international films and bringing together some of the most talented filmmakers from across the globe.

Audiences will have the chance to see a diverse, stimulating and always enjoyable programmed, from the smallest independent filmmaker to the most popular English and foreign language films, in a variety of genres.

The vibrant programme culminates in a gala awards evening, where filmmakers will be competing for Tenerife’s very own Oscar – The Teide. Named after the world famous mountain this award recognises those seeking to reach the peak of their profession.  The 2007 Best Film winner, ‘Beautiful Dreamer’, a moving World War II drama, later received its own high-profile premiere in the UK, meeting with worldwide acclaim and a DVD distribution deal.

Carl Tooney, Festival President, says: “Not only is the The Tenerife International Film Festival recognised by the industry, it also reaches out to the many countries that are aware that both Tenerife and the Canary Islands are a truly international destination, and we hope as we build the Tenerife International Film Festival to involve all who reside, visit or have a love for this stunning group of islands”.

With international sponsorship from CT Media, Ice Tropez and Fashion TV, Mr Tooney has now successfully developed a sister festival in the UK.  The International Filmmaker Festival, which takes place 20th – 27th June in Kent www.filmmakerfestival.com, the garden of England, will build on the success of the Tenerife International Film Festival, infusing the British Isles with some Latin flavor and developing the profile of Tenerife and the Canary Islands to an even wider market.  He has already secured sponsorship from Visit Britain, the key UK tourism organization; Archant, the leading newspaper publishers in the south of England, and international cinema chain Vue.

Mr Tooney says:  “The aim of the Tenerife International film Festival and the Filmmaker International Film Festival is to work with filmmakers from around the world and make available to them the unique opportunity of being part of two international events, to show in Tenerife their movies to the Spanish speaking market, and in The UK Filmmaker Festival to show their films to a UK audience.

“We are the only international film festival that has created two such events.”.

To find out more about the Tenerife International Film Festival and the UK International Filmmaker Festival go to www.tenerifefilmfestival.com and www.filmmakerfestival.com or email info@tenerifefilmfestival.com

Ends.

Contact:   Carl Tooney, Festival President
Telehone +44 (0) 1843 224924  Email info@tenerifefilmfestival.com

Press Contact:  Jean Lynch
Telephone +44 (0) 7980 040217  Email jeanl@close-upfilm.com