Napa Valley Film Festival Wraps Highly-Anticipated Launch Celebration at 2011 Sundance Film Festival to Announce New Festival and Call for Entries

Napa Valley Film Festival Wraps Highly-Anticipated Launch Celebration at 2011 Sundance Film Festival to Announce New Festival and Call for Entries

NVFF paired with renowned Chef Michael Chiarello and 16 Napa Valley wineries for a series of special events sponsored by The St. Regis Deer Valley

NAPA, Calif., Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) Co-Founders and Directors Brenda and Marc Lhormer enthusiastically announced the success of a series of launch events - presented by The St. Regis Deer Valley - during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Featuring acclaimed Napa Valley Chef Michael Chiarello, of Bottega restaurant and NapaStyle, as well as 16 of Napa Valley's finest wineries, the events announced the Festival's first call for entries and introduced the new NVFF, an official Sundance Institute Associate, to Sundance attendees from around the world. Showcasing the best of new independent cinema while embracing the epicurean pleasures of Napa Valley, NVFF will debut November 9-13, 2011 with a five-day festival spread over four of the Napa Valley's postcard-perfect towns.

"If the Napa Valley Film Festival's party at Sundance was an indication, my home town should get ready for a high quality treat," said Gary Meyer, Co-Director of the Telluride Film Festival. "It was civilized, had great food and wine, was easy to move around and a fantastic crowd. I expect the movies and festival events will be equally special in November."

The NVFF events at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival kicked off with an intimate VIP reception at The St. Regis Deer Valley's Salon attended by 125 industry guests, including Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon. The actress chatted with Sheila Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, while enjoying sparkling wine from Schramsberg Vineyard. Guests dined on passed appetizers including: Swordfish Meatballs with fisherman sauce and salsa verde, Angry Prawn Spiedini and Pasta Fritta with San Daniele prosciutto wrap. Following the reception, The St. Regis Deer Valley and the Lhormers co-hosted a private dinner for 55 guests in The St. Regis Wine Vault at JG Grill, which featured a five-course menu created by Chef Chiarello. Attended by Sundance Patrons, notable business executives, filmmakers and media, guests feasted on the best of Chef Chiarello's classic cuisine. Courses included Grilled Octopus with olive oil braised potato, arugula salad and salsa verde and Whole Roasted Short Loin of Beef with ancient grain polenta, five onion cavalo nero, and cavalo crostino.

"The buzz among film industry insiders was terrific and everyone agrees ... A perfect alchemy exists when you blend the flavors of America's best chefs and vintners with the brilliant storytellers of film and the backdrop of scenic vineyards," said Michael Chiarello, Chef and Owner of Bottega. "The new Napa Valley Film Festival is not to be missed by lovers of food, wine and film."

The next day, the "Sundance House presented by HP" in downtown Park City was transformed into a "Napa Valley Barrel Cellar" for the official Napa Valley Film Festival Launch Party. The event was attended by 350 Sundance Patrons, industry executives, film directors, actors, agents, publicists, and media, and showed off a taste of Napa Valley's finest food, wine and hospitality - a preview of what to expect at the first annual NVFF in November 2011.

The entrance of the party was decorated with an enormous art piece made of barrel staves engraved with the NVFF logo and the large, low-lit room featured images of stacked wine barrels lined against the walls. Vintners poured their finest wines on large barrels with wood plank countertops. Guests were also treated to a large-scale digital display of picturesque Napa Valley scenery against the barrel-lined wall while enjoying Chef Chiarello's most famous dishes. Everyone raved about the Pumpkin and Fontina Risotto and the Lamb Spiedini with roasted onions, as well as the premium wines offered by: Cimarossa, Farella Park Vineyards, John Anthony Vineyards, Allora Vineyards, David Arthur Vineyards, Gemstone, Raymond Vineyard and Cellar, Salvestrin, Chimney Rock Winery, Tom Eddy Winery, Chiarello Family Vineyards, Gargiulo Vineyards, and Matthiasson. A smaller room was set up as the exclusive "St. Regis Deer Valley Wine Vault," with St. Regis Butlers welcoming guests into a comfortably elegant lounge, where Parallel Napa Valley and Staglin Family Vineyard wines were poured and dessert stations tempted food lovers with Chef Chiarello's Apple Fritters, Truffles and Olive Oil Carrot Cake.

Amidst the fabulous food and wine events, Brenda and Marc Lhormer announced the Napa Valley Film Festival is now officially welcoming submissions of any theme and will be selecting more than 50 new films, including narrative features, foreign films (world cinema), documentaries, short films, and student works. Organizers are looking for films that best entertain, inspire, educate and intrigue audiences. Categories eligible for Juried and/or Audience Awards include: Best U.S. Dramatic Feature, Best U.S. Documentary Feature, Best World Cinema (Dramatic and Doc), Best Live Action Short, Best Animated Short, and Best Documentary Short Subject.

Filmmakers can submit films at Withoutabox.com. For early submission with discounted entry fees, deadline is February 28, 2011; regular submission deadline is April 15; late submission deadline is May 31; and the final extended submission deadline (for withoutabox.com members only) is June 30, 2011. Visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org for full details.

The inaugural NVFF (November 9-13, 2011) plans to present more than 50 new films, including narrative features, foreign films, documentaries, short films, and student works. Discussion panels with industry executives, Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, food and wine tastings, opening and closing night premieres and parties, awards ceremonies, VIP receptions, and celebrity tribute programs are all key ingredients rounding out the full NVFF experience. NVFF will also feature a unique community-focused footprint, with screening and hospitality venues clustered in four walk-able villages in Napa Valley's distinctive small cities and towns: Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. Films and filmmakers will travel from village to village, while festival attendees can choose whether to remain in one community or to sample the different venues.

Participation opportunities for the inaugural NVFF are available now, with Passes on sale at discounted rates until March 31. Also available are a limited number of Founding Patron Packages ($2,500) that offer a fully immersive VIP experience. Visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org for full details.

About the Napa Valley Film Festival

The Napa Valley Film Festival is produced by Cinema Napa Valley, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Napa, California. The festival's co-creators - and Cinema Napa Valley's co-chairs - are Brenda and Marc Lhormer, producers and distributors of the feature film Bottle Shock, about the historic upset victory by Napa Valley wines over the French at the famous 1976 wine-tasting competition in Paris. Bottle Shock premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival before going on to international theatrical distribution. The husband-and-wife team also ran the successful Sonoma Valley Film Festival from 2001 through 2008. In addition to producing the annual film festival, Cinema Napa Valley presents special film programs throughout the year and provides support to student filmmaking programs in Napa Valley schools. To learn more, visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org, http://www.facebook.com/NapaValleyFilmFestival, http://twitter.com//NapaFilmFest or http://www.youtube.com/NapaValleyFilmFest

About The St. Regis Deer Valley

The St. Regis Deer Valley features 181 guest rooms, including 67 exquisite one bedroom suites and 114 luxurious rooms which can be paired with the suites to form spacious two, three, and four bedroom combinations. The Residences at St. Regis Deer Valley also has 26 grand private residences on premises. The most luxurious amenities of any mountain resort in the world are offered. These include the iconic 24-hour St. Regis butler service; J&G Grill, a signature Jean-Georges restaurant; ski valets; a 14,000 square-foot Remede spa with pools; a Val d'Isere style "ski beach;" a world class 8,000 bottle wine cellar; and year-round recreational activities. The slope-side resort is located at Deer Valley Resort®, just 39 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport and one mile from Main Street in Park City. St. Regis Deer Valley is owned by Deer Crest Janna L.L.C. For additional information on the privilege of ownership, please explore www.stregisdeervalleyresidences.com.

About Michael Chiarello

Michael Chiarello is an award winning chef and owner of the critically acclaimed Bottega restaurant in Napa Valley. He is a three-time Emmy-winning Food Network host, Top Chef Masters finalist, a highly rated vintner of Chiarello Family Vineyards, author of six noted cookbooks including the just released Bottega Cookbook (Chronicle Books, 11/2010), and owner/tastemaker of NapaStyle, which showcases handcrafted and exclusive artisanal foods and home goods through its catalogue, website and retail stores.

About Napa Valley

The Napa Valley is home to the founders of America's fine wine industry and is prized for its natural beauty, phenomenal culinary scene, world-class hotel accommodations, robust arts community, and one-of-a-kind wellness experiences including the region's famed spas, mud baths and healing geo-thermal springs. The word Napa means 'land of plenty' in the language of its first known inhabitants, the Wappo Indians, and the Valley itself is one of the most precious agricultural preserves on earth - a place that moves in perfect synchrony with the seasons. Internationally recognized as one of only nine "Great Wine Capitals," the Napa Valley was voted the World's #1 Food & Wine Destination in the recent 2010 TripAdvisor® Travelers' Choice® Awards and boasts 14 Michelin Stars - the most per capita of any wine region in the world. Visit www.LegendaryNapaValley.com for more information or to download the free Visit Napa Valley iPhone App, and join The Napa Valley community on Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE Napa Valley Film Festival

Napa Valley Film Festival

CONTACT: Dana Pelfini, Dana@GlodowNead.com, Thea Bakkar, Glodow Nead Communications, +1-415-394-6500

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

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