Arnold Sports Film Festival to Debut in March 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Arnold Sports Festival and Ideas United today announced that the first Arnold Sports Film Festival will be held March 4-6, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio, in conjunction with the Arnold Sports Festival.

The Arnold Sports Film Festival (ASFF) will be committed to the discovery, nurture and presentation of the best short-form international filmmaking focused on personal athletic endeavor. The ASFF will complement and extend the largest multi-sport event in the world, which was founded in 1989 by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The ASFF will build on the Arnold Sports Festival’s decades-long commitment to highlighting achievement in individual sport and athletic competition. Submissions opened in July 2010.

Produced in partnership with Ideas United – the creators of Campus MovieFest (CMF), the world’s largest student film festival – the ASFF will seek films and filmmakers who explore the journey, perseverance, and triumphs of individuals who participate in athletic expression and competition.

“We couldn’t be more excited to combine the power of film with the passion of athletics for this one-of-a-kind showcase,” said David Roemer, CEO of Ideas United and Co-founder of Campus MovieFest. “We feel honored and privileged to partner with the Arnold Sports Festival while leveraging our experience of providing filmmakers with unforgettable opportunities.”

Filmmakers of all ages will be invited to submit films less than 15 minutes in length to the ASFF in a variety of categories including narrative, documentary, animated, and broadcast films. The films should explore the lives, efforts, inspirations, and hopes of people striving for achievement in individual athletic pursuits ranging from bodybuilding to boxing, gymnastics to judo, table tennis to weightlifting, grappling to skateboarding.

“Arnold and I welcome this opportunity to join in partnership with the long-established and highly successful Campus MovieFest team,” said Jim Lorimer, co-promoter of the Arnold Sports Festival. “The CMF program focus has been on affording students throughout the nation the chance to compete as film producers and directors. This goal fits perfectly with our youth-oriented Arnold Sports Festival program. Short film submissions will also be encouraged from film production artists of all ages throughout the nation and the world.

“The film focus will be on the athletic endeavors and motivations of the individual athlete. Why does the athlete do it and what does it mean in his or her life? The stories will be of great human interest and the ASFF winner will be invited to spend a day on a Hollywood movie set with Arnold in addition to other prizes.”

The Arnold Sports Film Festival encourages both traditional and alternative storytelling, combining creativity and excellence in cinema with the drama of athletes determined to be the very best. In addition, Ideas United will bring the ASFF to more than 50 colleges, universities and high schools as part of Campus MovieFest. CMF provides students with everything they need to create short movies for free and will extend the ASFF reach to more than 100,000 college students.

The ASFF – through a renowned entertainment and sports industry jury that will include Gov. Schwarzenegger – will award significant prize packages to winning filmmakers during the Arnold Sports Festival. The ASFF will be held at the Arena Grand Movie Theater in downtown Columbus.

Filmmakers, partners, and media can learn more about the Film Festival and how to submit at www.arnoldsportsfestival.com and www.arnoldsportsfilmfestival.com.