The Cayman Islands Sponsor the 2003 New York University Film Festival
Pilar Bush, Deputy Director of Tourism, poses with NYU award winner, Andrij Parekh and Caymanian filmmaker, Frankie Flowers at the 2003 Wasserman Awards Ceremony and Gala held at Lincoln Center, New York.
The Cayman Islands, in conjunction with New York magazine, sponsored the 2003 New York University First Run Film Festival, held in New York City from 614 April.
Official destination sponsor, the Cayman Islands, joined other notable sponsors such as Benetton; HBO: Project Greenlight; Chrysler; JetBlue; Time Warner Cable; and the Pressure Lounge, in New York City.
Pilar Bush, Deputy Director of Tourism, US Sales & Marketing said, "The Cayman Islands' co-sponsorship of the NYU Film Festival allows us to accomplish two goals. First and foremost, it allows us to build relationships with upcoming filmmakers by recognizing and rewarding their hard work with a great Cayman getaway. Secondly, it re-introduces the Cayman Islands to successful alumni of the NYU Film School, e.g.
Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone and Spike Lee."
The weeklong festival kicked off on 6 April with an evening of cocktails in one of downtown New York's hottest bars, Pressure Lounge. Three to four hundred film aficionados, including student filmmakers, prominent NYU alumni, and editors from New York magazine were invited to meet the best new film talents.
Monday night 14 April at the 2003 Wasserman Awards Ceremony and Gala held at Lincoln Center, the Cayman Islands awarded Andrij Parekh with the New York magazine Award of Excellence for his outstanding film "Dead Rooster". The Cayman Islands honoured Andrij with a vacation package to the Cayman Islands, including airfare and accommodations.
"Film is, in essence, a series of snap shots of a particular time, people, culture and their stories," said Caymanian filmmaker, Frankie Flowers. "It is superb that the Cayman Islands, at a time when we are celebrating our own '500-year story', lend our support to those who seek to tell their own experiences through a medium that is, without question, the most engaging and dynamic contemporary art form motion pictures." (DoT).