LOS ANGELES (April 1, 2010) – The 10th Annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival  (BHFF) (www.beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com) presents its 2010 line-up of 50 competition films.  The festival kicks-off with the World Premiere of Eclectic Pictures’ feature film,  “As Good As Dead,” directed by Jonathan Mossek, and starring Andie MacDowell and Carey Elwes on Wednesday, April 14th, at the Clarity Theater (100 North Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills) at 8:15 p.m.  The film is preceded by the 6:45 p.m. Los Angeles Premiere of “Jesse’s Story,” an award-winning documentary from filmmaker Mark Jacobs about surfing hero Jesse Billauer; as well as the North American Premiere of the Brazilian documentary “Sequestro” (“Kidnapping”), directed by Jorge W. Atalla and executive produced by award-winning filmmaker Frederico Lapenda (“Bad Guys”) at 5:00 p.m.

Festival director Nino Simone says, “We are thrilled to be holding our 10th Anniversary for this truly independent film festival that has the good fortune to be located in the beautiful, gracious and affluent city of Beverly Hills.” 

For five days, the BHFF hosts red carpet premieres, networking events, panel discussions and after-parties, culminating in the annual closing night Gala Awards Ceremony held at the Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills (A Four Seasons Hotel), located at 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, on Sunday, April 18th.  Legendary producer and screenwriter Frank Yablans is the 3rd Annual Recipient of the Legends Award, which will be presented at the Gala.  That night also features the incoming Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy Delshad and a special Proclamation announcing the City’s full support of the Festival.  In addition, the spouses of the late influential filmaker Sergei Parajanov (1924-1990) and Mikhail Vartanov (1937-2009) will be presented with the Parajanov-Vartanov Award along with the BHFF founder Nino Simone for their devotion to promoting the art of these masters.

Partners of the 10th Anniversary BHFF include the Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills Hotel, City of Beverly Hills, Mosaic Hotel and Palihouse.

“As Good As Dead” features fundamental loyalists seeking revenge for the murder of their religious leader.  After kidnapping and torturing the man they believe responsible, the ensuing clash of right versus left ideologies quickly reveals that they might have the wrong man, which puts them on a path towards a shocking twist.

“Jesse’s Story” (jessesstory.com) chronicles the inspirational life of multi-sport professional athlete and quadriplegic Jesse Billauer and his vow to “never stop living.”

“Sequestro” (“Kidnapping”), shot over four years, features a film crew’s harrowing experience as they underwent extreme danger to follow covert tactics and operations of the São Paulo Anti-Kidnap Division, during which time, 400 people were kidnapped in the State and over 1,500 in the country of Brazil.

About Frank Yablans – Legends Award Recipient
Frank Yablans is co-managing executive and co-founder of Promenade Pictures LLC.  Mr. Yablans is considered one of the most highly regarded executives in the film entertainment industry, where he has a unique understanding of how to develop, produce, market, and distribute exceptional feature films under fiscally responsible budgetary constraints. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr.Yablans has been actively engaged in every arena of the film industry both in the United States and Europe. Mr. Yablans previously served as a producer on such notable feature films as “Silver Streak,” “North Dallas Forty,” “Mommy Dearest,” “The Other Side of Midnight” and “The Fury”; as well as co-authoring the screenplays for both “North Dallas Forty” and “Mommy Dearest.”  During this period, Mr. Yablans was recruited to head MGM/UA Studios.  Under his guidance, MGM/UA produced and distributed a variety of high quality feature films including such box office hits as: “War Games,” “Octopussy,” “A Christmas Story,”  "Rocky IV," “Yentl,” “Breakin’,” “Red Dawn,” “Teachers” and “2010.” Formerly, Mr. Yablans served as   president  Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Pictures and Television Corporation, with his tenure often referred to as “Paramount’s Golden Years.”  During this period, Mr. Yablans oversaw the development, production, and distribution of feature films acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, including "Love Story," “The Godfather,” “Chinatown,” “Paper Moon,” “Serpico,” “Death Wish,” “Lady Sings the Blues,” “Murder on the Orient Express” and “The Longest Yard.”  Moreover, Paramount Television, enjoyed extraordinary successes such as: “Star Trek,” “The Odd Couple,” “Mission Impossible,” “Love American Style” and thepilot “Happy Days.”  Currently, Mr. Yablans concentrates his independent filmmaking efforts on producing high quality inspirational feature films with moral value, such as the “Ten Commandments,” “Noah’s Ark: The New Beginning”(currently in production), the heartwarming “A Dog of Flanders,”and the crowd-pleasing “Baby Geniuses.”  His last independent feature film, “Congo,” grossed inexcess of $650 million worldwide.

Seminars
Seminars on Film Finance and Anti-Piracy will feature industry panelists, including: Jay Cohen (Gersh, Independent Film), Jason Constantine (Lionsgate, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions), Avi Lerner (Nu Image / Millennium Films, CEO) and Roeg Sutherland (CAA, Talent Agent).

Awards
The BHFF Jury judges for the following categories: Golden Palm Award (best film in all categories); Best Feature; Best Documentary; Best Short Film; Best Director of Photography; Best Editor; and the Golden Palm Screenplay Competition Award.  Audience Choice Awards include Best Feature; Best Documentary; Best Short Film; Best Director; Best Male Performance; Best Female Performance; Best Producer; Best Screenplay; and Best Animation.

About BHFF
The annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival was founded in 2001 by award-winning independent filmmaker Nino Simone.  The 10th annual event, taking place from April 14 through 18, 2010, is dedicated to showcasing and promoting non-studio films to the entertainment industry. Designed to bridge the world of premiere independent cinema with the renowned community of Beverly Hills, the festival hosts world-class screenings, networking events and industry seminars.  2010 sponsors include Akvinta Vodka, BCBG and Sagatiba Pura Cachaça Brazilian Rum.

Tickets are available online at www.beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com or by calling the BHFF office at 310.779.1206.  Prices range from $12.00 per screening to $275.00 for the Awards Gala. Screening Passes ($150.00) and VIP Festival Passes ($550.00) are also available.

Screenings are held at the state-of-the-art Clarity Theater (100 North Crescent Drive) in Beverly Hills, California.

For a complete 2010 festival line-up and schedule, please visit www.beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com.