Avon & Expresion en Corto to Launch 'Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Short Film Contest' During Cannes Film Festival

Avon & Expresion en Corto to Launch 'Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Short Film Contest' During Cannes Film Festival

CANNES, France, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon Products Inc. and the Expresion en Corto International Film Festival (Mexico) have joined forces to launch the "Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Short Film Contest" during this year's Cannes Film Festival in France.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090515/NY17520-a )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090515/NY17520-b )

The short film competition, which accepts and awards short films and documentaries whose content or themes deal with domestic violence issues, originated in Mexico in 2007 as part of a joint project between Avon Mexico and Expresion en Corto, and has been held on two previous occasions.

"Avon Mexico's social commitment started a long time ago, and we realized that for years, domestic violence was never addressed publicly although it was pervasive throughout the country. We have been working for the last five years with young people to make them aware of this issue and to maximize our impact this year Avon and Expresion en Corto are pleased to launch this competition internationally during the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival. With this initiative Avon reaffirms its commitment to become a pioneer by raising our voice for a better tomorrow without domestic violence!" commented Jorge Martinez-Quiroga, General Manager of Avon Mexico.

The competition will be launched on May 15th during the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, the most important film event in the world, with more than 4,000 journalists in attendance among the 30,000 accreditees, representing the entire spectrum of the motion-picture industry. Over its 60+ year history, Cannes has solidified itself as the most respected film festival in the world and become synonymous with the glamorous, trendsetting and fashionable lifestyle that its guests, stars and the media celebrate throughout the festival.

The "Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Short Film Contest" will be officially launched during a presentation to be held on Friday, May 15, 2009, between 12:00pm - 1:00pm within the Short Film Corner, the most important platform in the world for short film distribution and the most visible location within the Marche du Film, where producers, international sellers, distributors and financiers meet up in Cannes to make the deals for tomorrow's films. Immediately following the presentation there will be a screening of the "Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Short Film Contest" program to be held in one of the Marche du Film screening rooms within the Palais des Festivals et des Congres from 1:30pm and 3:30pm.

The program, representing the best films from the first two years of the "Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Short Film Contest," will be directly viewable on more than 40 screens within the Digital Film Library and highlights of the films will be found in the Short Film Corner's official program catalog and website. This Digital Film Library can be viewed by festival guests, industry professionals, top festival programmers, television stations, media outlets, producers and distributors looking to program and purchase content.

"Avon Products Inc. and Expresion en Corto share a mutual belief in the power of film," commented Carol Kurzig, President of The Avon Foundation for Women, "not only as a medium that reflects the state of a society, but also as a vehicle with long-lasting and far-reaching impact, especially amongst today's youth, which is capable of transcending all areas of society."

Around the world, one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Most often, the abuser is a member of her own family. In the U.S., where the Avon Foundation is located, the statistics are staggering: every 9 seconds a woman is assaulted or beaten, and domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women -- more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined. According to National Institute for Mexican Women (INMUJERES), domestic violence affects some 44 percent of Mexican women, being emotional violence the most common type with 38 percent, followed economic violence with 23 percent.

Studies suggest that up to 10 million children in America witness some form of domestic violence annually, and nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup.

"We are pleased to invite filmmakers from around the world to reflect and react upon this important topic and help raise awareness against the problem of domestic violence within our society," commented Sarah Hoch, the Executive Director of Expresion en Corto International Film Festival. "We would also like to encourage programmers to collaborate with us in bringing these important films to wider audiences around the world by inviting the program for future screenings at festivals and events," added Hoch.

During its inaugural program in 2007, the "Speak Out" competition received 65 short films from 9 countries and from 10 States within Mexico. In 2008 the contest received 92 short films from 23 countries and from 12 States within Mexico. Short films of up to 15 minutes in length are accepted in the categories of Fiction, Documentary, Animation and Experimental.

The contest will be announced once again during Expresion en Corto in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, on Friday, July 31st, during the Women In Film and Television Luncheon, before the festival's invited guests and assembled media. The competition will close on Thursday, October 1st, the Deadline for Entries. The third edition of the "Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Short Film Contest" will culminate during the Awards Ceremony to be held on Tuesday, November 24th, at the Cineteca Nacional in Mexico City, when the 2009 award winners will be announced. Cash prizes totaling $100,000.00 Mexican Pesos will be awarded to the top three films in competition.

For additional information on the "Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Short Film Contest," the official Call for Entries and online Registration form can all be found on: www.expresionencorto.com.

ABOUT The Avon Foundation for Women: The Avon Foundation for Women is a U.S. based philanthropy founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and their families. Today it focuses on two causes: breast cancer and domestic violence, which are consistently rated as top concerns of women worldwide through 2008, Avon global philanthropy had raised and awarded more than $660 million in over 50 countries.

ABOUT the Expresion en Corto International Film Festival: Expresion en Corto is Mexico's largest competitive film festival and the most prestigious of its kind in Latin America. The non-profit festival has been held since 1997 during the final week of July in the two colonial cities of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. The festival does not charge admission to its viewing audience and estimates an attendance of over 72,000 total audience members, while receiving over 2,000 works from more than 80 participating countries in its international competition. It presents a variety of films, conferences, workshops, tributes and activities at no cost to the visiting public.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090515/NY17520-b
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090515/NY17520-a
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN 5,6

Source: Avon Products Inc.

CONTACT: Debora Coffey of Avon Products, Inc., +1-212-282-8187, or fax,
+1-212-282-6613, debora.coffey@avon.com; or Araceli Becerril Martin of Avon
Cosmetics, +52-55-9138-4191, or fax, +52-55-9138-4364,
araceli.becerril@avon.com

Web Site: http://www.avonfoundation.org/

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