Virgin Atlantic launches Film Festival in the Sky

Virgin Atlantic has joined forces with the National Film and Television School once again to showcase new film-making talent onboard in its own 2008 Film Festival in the Sky.

Since February, Virgin Atlantic has been showing nine short films, which have been made by graduates of the National Film and Television School on its Vport inflight entertainment system. Passengers have been watching the films and voting on their favourite. By September the top three films as voted for by passengers will be selected and will be assessed by a panel of highly respected industry figures. The overall winner will receive two return flights on Virgin Atlantic and the two runners up will each receive a Nokia Nseries N39i mobile phone. These three filmmakers will also have their film screened onboard until the end of the year enabling thousands of passengers to watch them.

The panel of judges consists of star of stage and screen David Morrissey, director of The Commitments, Alan Parker, prolific film producer and former chairman of the British Academy, Stephen Woolley along with David Yates, director of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Nik Powell, Director of the NFTS, commented,

“We are proud of the quality of our films and it is exciting to have them showcased on Virgin Atlantic in this competition. Our filmmakers go on to work at the very top levels in the film & television industry and I am sure that the passengers will enjoy watching the films that have been made here at the NFTS.”

Lysette Gauna, Creative Director for Virgin Atlantic, commented,

"We are delighted to be working with the National Film and Television School again, following the runway success of our Film Festival in the Sky last year.

“Virgin Atlantic has a reputation for award-winning inflight entertainment offering a wide variety of independent films and documentaries in addition to the cinema blockbusters. This venture not only gives our passengers the opportunity to view the very best in new film making but also gives Virgin Atlantic the chance to support new film making talent – we wish them all the very best of luck!”

All passengers who view the short films need to send their nomination to tv@fly.virgin.com, where a randomly selected voter will win a Nokia Nseries N39i mobile.

All Virgin Atlantic aircraft are fitted with personal seat back TV’s for every passenger. V:Port is Virgin Atlantic’s award winning inflight entertainment system offering passengers over 300 hours of Video and Audio on demand which allows them to stop, start, fast forward and rewind all the action.

For more information, log on to virginatlantic.com.

The Celebrity Judges

DAVID MORRISSEY
Star of stage and screen, David Morrissey’s credits include State of Play and Viva Blackpool for TV and The Other Boleyn Girl and The Water Horse for the big screen.

ALAN PARKER
Sir Alan Parker is a film director, writer and producer whose wide range of films include Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning, Evita and The Commitments.

STEPHEN WOOLLEY
Stephen Woolley has spent a lifetime steeped in movies and filmmaking. Former Chairman on the BAFTA film committee and producer of amongst others Absolute Beginners, Scandal, The Crying Game and Mona Lisa.

DAVID YATES
A former student of the National Film and Television School, David went on to win a BAFTA TV award for Sex Traffic and directed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.