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About the short film

Memories from the Holocaust have been portrayed in almost every medium, but rarely animation -- and never before by a child animator. Animated short film "INGRID PITT: BEYOND THE FOREST" is a cross-generational collaboration between a world-class animation master, two-time Academy Award-nominated Bill Plympton, and a first-time animator, 11-year-old artist Perry Chen. It is narrated by Ingrid Pitt herself.

Starting with Ingrid Pitt's poignant narration and Bill Plympton's 23 traditional pencil sketches as storyboard, award-winning artist and film critic Perry Chen brings this moving story and its contemporary implications alive. Read more

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2011

Ingrid Pitt: Beyond The Forest Acquired by Shorts International for Worldwide Distribution

Theatrical Debut at "ShortsHD at the Movies" in Los Angeles on September 20, 2011

Los Angeles, CA and Long Island, NY, Sept 20, 2011 — The Holocaust has been treated by almost every medium, but rarely animation — and never by a child animator — until now. VAMP Productions' film Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest, animated by 10-year-old filmmaker and award-winning critic Perry Chen, has been acquired for worldwide distribution by Shorts International, the distributor of Academy Award-nominated shorts tours for the last six years in theaters, inDemand!, and on iTunes and ShortsHD TV in over 100 markets. Perry finished the animation as a 5th grader and is now 11. Oscar-nominee Bill Plympton provided the storyboard, with Kevin Sean Michaels as director, and Holocaust historian Dr. Jud Newborn and Perry's mother Dr. Zhu Shen as co-producers.

Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest is included as the only animated film in "ShortsHD at the Movies," a night of short films that will not be short on star power, presented by Shorts International at the CGV Cinema in Los Angeles, California on September 20 - 22, 2011, along with 11 other short films. Perry Chen and his parents will attend an invitation-only Premiere Reception with Press and Filmmakers on Tuesday, September 20 at CGV Cinema in Los Angeles, an event to spotlight some of the year's best short filmmakers and actors, immediately followed by the public screening of the 12 shorts in two showcases. Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest is in "Showcase 2" of the program.

"We're thrilled to get this gem, Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest out to the world commencing with a theatrical debut at ShortsHD at the Movies, at CGV Cinemas in Los Angeles this Tuesday," said Linda "O." Olszewski, Shorts International's Co-Head of Global Acquisitions. "I was immediately attracted to this animation about the Holocaust through the eyes of a child, animated by 10-year-old Perry Chen, in a collaboration with Ingrid Pitt — one of my favorites —, Bill Plympton, and Kevin Sean Michaels. I mean, what were you doing at 10 years old? Most kids are dreaming about this kind of thing, but Perry Chen actually did it and is clearly a talent to watch."

In addition, a Shorts International "Short Notice" original feature recounting the making of Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest will air every day for two weeks (October 17th - 30th, 2011) on ShortsHD, a cable television channel dedicated to short movies, available in the US on DirecTV (Channel 568), Dish Network (Channel 375), and AT&T U-verse (Channel 1789).

Event Details
"ShortsHD at the Movies"
(showtimes given are for "Showcase 2")
Tuesday, September 20: Premiere Reception with Press 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM; showtimes 5:45 PM and 10:25 PM
Wednesday, September 21: showtimes 12:45 PM and 5:45 PM
Thursday, September 22: showtimes 12:45 PM and 5:45 PM

CGV Cinema
621 South Western Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
http://www.cgvcinemas.com
213-388-9000

Interested press should immediately contact Melissa Del Valle (310-829-6815) at Shorts International's LA office for credentials; deadline noon Pacific time, September 20, 2011.

ABOUT SHORTSHD
ShortsHD™ is the first high definition channel dedicated to short movies and is available on DIRECTV (Channel 568), Dish Network (Channel 375) and AT&T U-Verse (Channel 1789). ShortsHD™ is operated by Shorts International, the world's leading short movie entertainment company with the world's largest movie catalogue dedicated to short movies. Shorts International also operates ShortsTV™, which is available in France, Belgium, Luxembourg on Numericable (Channels 134 and 52) and in Turkey via TTNET's Tivibu service. Shorts™ is the short movie on-demand service available on iTunes movie stores in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan and throughout Europe. The company is headquartered in London, England with additional offices in Paris and Los Angeles and is led by Carter Pilcher, Chief Executive. Shorts International is owned by Shorts Entertainment Holdings and Liberty Global Ventures.

ABOUT VAMP PRODUCTIONS
VAMP Productions was founded in New York in 2005 by the husband/wife team of Kevin Sean Michaels and Theodora Michaels. The company's first film, the documentary Vampira: The Movie, was released by Alpha New Cinema in 2008, received extensive press and won the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Independent Film. In 2010 Alpha New Cinema also released their second documentary, The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels, about the grind-house filmmaker. Ingrid Pitt: Beyond The Forest is their first animated short film.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Ingrid Pitt: Beyond The Forest:
Official website: http://ingridpitt.co.uk/
Media/general info.: Dr. Zhu Shen, Co-Producer. Email: [email protected] Ph: 858-761-7955
Holocaust information: Jud Newborn, PhD, Historical Adviser. Email: [email protected] Ph: 516-931-7796
Producer/Director: Kevin Sean Michaels, Email: [email protected] Ph: 516-906-0082

Shorts International
Official websites: http://shortsHD.com, http://www.shortsinternational.com
Media inquires: Jason Damata, Email: [email protected], Ph: 917-279-8706
Press Credentials: (RSVP by noon Pacific time Sep. 20) Melissa Del Valle, Email [email protected] Ph: 310-829-6815

Updates October 5, 2011

View trailer:

See photos from the Premiere Reception on Perry's website