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"PANGEA DAY" AND PARTICIPANT PRODUCTIONS LAUNCH AWARDS AND GRANT PROGRAM FOR FILMMAKERS

New York, New York, - Participant Productions is supporting and promoting Pangea Day - a landmark, one-day, global film event showcasing short films from around the world on May 10, 2008 - by encouraging and rewarding the contributing filmmakers. Participant will be sponsoring two programs, "Outstanding Filmmakers Awards Program" and the "Filmmaker Grant Program."

"Entertainment which inspires and compels social change is our mission," said Jim Berk, CEO of Participant Productions. "Pangea Day goes hand in hand with Participant's belief in the power of film and media as a catalyst for change."

For the "Outstanding Filmmakers Awards Program," Participant Productions will select five filmmakers, each representing a different continent (North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia [including Australia]) to receive a $5000 filmmakers grant to both reward outstanding achievement and provide support for these filmmakers to continue making films. In addition, Participant will invite all the filmmakers whose films appear on Pangea Day to submit a treatment for a feature film or documentary. Participant will then reward one winner with the "Filmmaker Grant" which includes $20,000 to continue the development of the treatment and a non-binding first look deal with Participant for the treatment.

Jehane Noujaim, award-winning documentary filmmaker of Control Room, created Pangea Day after winning the prestigious TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) prize which granted her a wish to change the world - no restrictions. Knowing that people are divided by borders, race, religion, and conflict, but most of all by misunderstanding and mistrust, Jehane decided her wish would use the power of film to bring the world a little closer together, thus sowing the seeds for Pangea Day.

On May 10, 2008 - Pangea Day - venues in Cairo, Dharamsala, Kigali, London, New York City, Ramallah, Rio de Janeiro, and Tel Aviv will be linked to produce a live program of powerful films, visionary speakers, and uplifting music. More importantly, the world will be watching as the program will be broadcast live through the Internet, television, digital cinemas, and mobile phones.

"We are thrilled to have Participant as our partner," said Noujaim. "Their commitment to creating and fostering entertainment that propels audiences to make a difference in the world is a magnificent inspiration not only for filmmakers but also the entire industry."

Great minds and outstanding talent have committed to this project. Advisory Board members include:
J.J. Abrams, Film and Television Producer (Lost, Mission Impossible 3, Alias) Lawrence Bender, Producer (Good Will Hunting, An Inconvenient Truth, Kill Bill) Cameron Diaz, Actress (There's Something About Mary, Vanilla Sky, Shrek) Goldie Hawn, Actress, Director and Producer (First Wives Club, Private Benjamin) Alexander Payne, Director and Screenwriter (Sideways, About Schmidt, Election) Meg Ryan, Actress (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail) Jeff Skoll, CEO of Participant Productions and Former President of eBay Will.i.am, Founding Member of The Black Eyed Peas

"One of the core goals of the TED Prize is to recognize a new generation of global citizens," says Chris Anderson, Curator of TED. "Jehane's work has shown how powerfully film can help us understand and connect with people who we might otherwise view with suspicion, incomprehension or fear. We were proud to recognize this achievement and thrilled that she used her TED Prize wish to lay out such a powerful idea for bringing the world together."

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About TED
TED is an invitation-only event where the world's leading thinkers and doers gather for inspiration and insight. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design -- three broad subject areas that are, collectively, shaping our future. Each year, TED features 50 of the world's most fascinating people. TED presenters run the world's most admired companies and design its best-loved products; they invent world-changing devices, and write best-selling books. Collectively, they have won every major prize awarded for excellence, including the Nobel, Pritzker, Pulitzer, Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Tony and Macarthur "Genius" grant. TED was first held in Monterey, CA in 1984. In 2001, Chris Anderson's Sapling Foundation acquired TED from its founder Richard Saul Wurman. Visit www.ted.com for more information.

About Pangea Day
Pangea Day taps the power of film to strengthen tolerance and empathy while uniting millions of people to build a better future. Pangea Day was created by award-winning documentary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim after she won the prestigious TED Prize. Pangea Day's mission is to create a worldwide network of caring and concerned citizens who will make a difference. Visit www.pangeaday.org for more information.

About Participant Productions
Participant Productions is a Los Angeles-based production company that focuses on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films and documentaries. Participant's films have been chosen to awaken, inspire and empower audiences to take action and create change. The company is headed by CEO Jim Berk and President Ricky Strauss. Participant was founded by philanthropist Jeff Skoll, who serves as Chairman. Upcoming releases include Mike Nichols' CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR, Marc Forster's THE KITE RUNNER, Errol Morris' S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedure) and THE VISITOR, Tom McCarthy's first film since THE STATION AGENT, Brett Morgen's CHICAGO 10, Louise Hogarth's documentary ANGELS IN THE DUST, Ted Braun's DARFUR NOW, starring and produced by Don Cheadle, and Jonathan Demme's JIMMY CARTER MAN FROM PLAINS.

Past films have included GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, SYRIANA, NORTH COUNTRY and MURDERBALL which collectively received 11 Academy Award® nominations in 2006. Participant's AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH won two Academy Awards -- for Best Documentary and Best Original Song -- and has become one of the highest grossing documentaries in history. For further information, please visit www.participate.net

Contact:
Laura Galloway
Galloway Media Group
212.260.3708
laura@gallowaymediagroup.com