For Immediate Release
October 27, 2008
FIRST ANNUAL OVERRIDE 60-SECOND FILM CONTEST A SUCCESS
Three Films Make Their Debut During 2008 NH Film Festival in Portsmouth
$5,000 prize awarded to Winthrop, MA filmmaker Henry Dane
PORTSMOUTH, NH – A pile of dimes. A chicken with a fiddle. Scenes from long-forgotten silent films.
These were the dominant images from the three winning films in the first-ever Override “Make A 60 Second Film, Win $5,000 Contest”, which was launched this year in association with the New Hampshire Film Festival. Override is New England’s premier gas savings program and was the premier sponsor of the 2008 NH Film Festival.
Filmmaker Henry Dane, from Winthrop, MA, submitted the winning entry, titled “Override Overture.” Dane was in the audience and appeared onstage at The Music Hall in Portsmouth to pick up the $5,000 check.
“By splicing together images from silent films, Dane, in a witty, informative fashion, told the story of how Override can help consumers save on their price of gas,” said Override Spokesperson Lars Trodson. “Our judges at Override were correct in their choice for the number one film, because this was also the audience favorite.”
Portsmouth filmmaker Dan Freund, also in attendance, won a $500 gift certificate to Best Buy for his offbeat film, “Tim Saves Money.” Tim is a human-sized chicken who, with his savings from Override, decides to “buy a fiddle,” according to the narrator in the film.
“This was a very clever and charming film, which had a unique sensibility,” said Trodson. “We were very happy to have received this film, and pleased the judges deemed it worthy of a prize.”
Photographer Ralph Morang, from Berwick, Maine, was on hand to pick up his iPod Touch for his film titled “Dimes.”
“Ralph’s film was elegant and mostly silent, using simple images to tell the power of the Override story,” said Trodson. “The judges were impressed by how such a minimalist approach could be so effective.”
The three films were shown at The Music Hall during the NH Film Festival.
“The ‘Override 60-Second Film Contest’ was an amazing addition to the Festival,” said NHFF Director Nicole Gregg. “We were able to offer exposure to another group of very talented filmmakers, and we hope we began a tradition that will carry on for many years to come.”
About Irving Oil
Founded in 1924, Irving Oil is a regional refining and marketing company serving customers in New England and Eastern Canada with a range of finished energy products and complementary products and services. In 2003, Irving Oil became the first oil company to win a USEPA Clean Air Excellence award for its low sulfur gasoline. For more information, visit irvingoil.com.
About Override
Override, created in July 2007, is a network of highly respected retail brands that provides consumers an opportunity to lower their individual price of gas at the pump. Consumers can earn gas savings at participating Shaw’s Supermarkets and Dunkin’ Donuts, and the opportunity to save is also offered to more than 9,000 L.L. Bean employees through the Override employee program. Gas savings are redeemable at 200 participating Irving fuel locations throughout New England. For more information, please visit Override.com.
