Filmmaker Kristina Robbins-Higgins Wins Step Ahead With Audi A3

Filmmaker Kristina Robbins-Higgins Wins Step Ahead With Audi A3

Innovative Film Competition Highlights Emerging Trends Across America

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Life As You Know It won top honors for filmmaker Kristina Robbins-Higgins in the Step Ahead with Audi A3: Personal Journeys with AFI FEST Filmmakers competition as announced last night at a special celebration at ArcLight Hollywood. Robbins-Higgins received $10,000 and the keys to an all-new 2006 Audi A3 during the exclusive screening event.

Life As You Know It chronicles innovative, active professionals whose parenting journey takes their family life in new and fresh directions. Dr. Spock is just a tiny dot in the rear view mirror for these parents and actor- turned-director Kristina Robbins-Higgins (37, Wet Fur). Juror James Cromwell called it "a charming, insightful, beautifully-observed film about real people doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way." Life As You Know It also won the popular vote in the online People's Choice competition at http://www.audiusa.com/A3 , the site where all of the filmmakers blogged their way across America while shooting their films.

"My film is about a new trend in parenting -- stay at home, working parents -- two parents who both want to raise their kids and also want to continue doing what they are passionate about, either career or art, and finding a way to work improvisationally to cobble their work and family life to have it all," said Robbins-Higgins.

"Kristina's film exemplifies the A3's philosophy of 'what's next' and, in a very warm and genuine way, demonstrates the remarkable flexibility of people as they take on the tradition of family in a twenty-first century, non- traditional way," remarked Audi marketing director Stephen Berkov.

Robbins-Higgins competed with two other emerging filmmakers Shawn Ku (36, The Mobile Class, Pretty Dead Girl), and Jonathan Levine (28, Love Bytes, Shards). The filmmakers were selected from a group of select artists whose films were screened in a competition at AFI FEST 2004 -- one of the most influential film festivals in North America.

"We are always looking for opportunities for our AFI FEST filmmakers. This has proved to be one of the best. Step Ahead has given these three AFI FEST filmmakers the opportunity to tell their stories, as well as to tackle some relevant personal themes, in a way that was creative, inventive and fun," stated Christian Gaines, Director, AFI FEST.

The trio of filmmakers each directed 15-minute films that documented their three-week journeys across the U.S. in a program conceived and supported by Audi of America, Inc. that explores the theme "what's next." With high- definition, cutting-edge technology in tow, each filmmaker traveled in Audi A3s from Los Angeles to New York documenting emerging trends in America while a behind-the-scenes crew documented the filmmaking process. Films were shot with Sony HVR-Z1U cameras. The filmmakers then spent three weeks in an edit studio, producing their final cut. All three filmmakers were gifted the equipment used during editing, including the Apple PowerBook G4 and Power Mac G5, and the Bose Companion 3 Multimedia Speaker System.

A celebrity judging panel consisting of actors James Cromwell (The Longest Yard, Six Feet Under), Joshua Jackson (A Life In The Theatre, Aurora Borealis) and Emily Mortimer (The Pink Panther, Lovely & Amazing), as well as representatives from Audi and AFI FEST reviewed the films. The films were judged using pre-established criteria in three categories: 1) the manner in which trends were explored, 2) the way in which the filmmaker incorporated him/herself into the storyline, and 3) originality and how the film pushes the envelope creatively.

All three films are available for online viewing at http://www.audiusa.com/A3 through November. In addition to Robbins-Higgins' exploration of twenty-first century parenting, filmmaker Shawn Ku explores The Mobile Class, the title of his film. In it, he finds that home isn't where the heart is, it's where the Blackberry is. Taking us coast to coast, Shawn shows us how his generation conducts business, and life, on the road.

The Internet provides introductions for Jonathan Levine's quest to find his soul mate on the road. But does Jonathan's future love exist in one of the five cities he's set dates in? In Love Bytes, find out if the virtual Cupid brings Jonathan the girl of his dreams.

About Audi

Audi of America is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and markets performance-oriented European luxury vehicles: the A3, A4, A6, A8, and TT. For more information about additional Audi-related events and corporate news, visit http://www.audiusa.com/ .

About AFI FEST

AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen education and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art of film, television and digital media. Now in its 19th year, AFI FEST presented by Audi -- the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival -- is the longest-running film festival in Los Angeles and one of the most influential film festivals in North America. Additional information about AFI is available at http://www.afi.com/ .

Source: Audi

CONTACT: Media Contacts: Holly Rocheleau, +1-248-591-5170,
holly.rocheleau@mvpcollaborative.com , for Audi; Jennifer Cortez of Audi,
+1-248-754-4729, jennifer.cortez@audi.com ; or Alison Deknatel of AFI,
+1-323-856-7896, adeknatel@AFI.com

Web site: http://www.audiusa.com/A3
http://www.audiusa.com/
http://www.afi.com/

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