The premiere screenings will be held today at BAMcinematek in Brooklyn at
7 p.m.
Freidus and Curt McPhail, Chia, Directors and Producers
Producers Winner of the Tolerance Education
Winner of the Youth Voice Award Award ($1,000 ) sponsored by Third
($1,000) sponsored by Paola Millennium Foundation and
Freccero and presented by presented by Carol Stakenas of
Robert McChesney, founder of Third Millennium Foundation
Free Press
Homecoming (5:30 min) - Youth
Happy Ending (8:00 min) - Youth Documentary
Documentary Brian Schirber and Kirstin
Chris Irrizarry, Director, HBO Nelson, Directors , Listen Up! and
Young Filmmaker Lab, Producer Perpich Center for Arts
Winner of the Family and Education, Producers
Society Award presented by Winner of the Peter Yarrow Peace
Eliza Byard, President of the in Our Classrooms Award ($1,000)
Arts Engine, Inc. "We live in a world where in each generation there are people
who become active ."
"Music and celebration are part of Creole culture," agrees Leslie Nesbitt,
LA vocalist who is performing at the benefit with a jazz trio. For more
information on the LPO, contact Martina Mills at MMTina@aol.

entertaining guild

Many of the 11 schools and 800 students that
received musical instruments valued at over $300,000 from this foundation,
suffered extreme loss from floodwaters. Patrick's Day
and the Swedish Mid-Summer) are held at NYC's legendary Puck Building (295
Lafayette Street & Houston Street) and all have creative and well-developed
themes that bring in between 5,000-7,500 people of all ages, ethnicities,
races and creeds. "We are in the forefront of
insuring that music programs are available in public and charter schools.org

NEW YORK, The Fifth Annual Media That Matters Film
Festival, produced by Arts Engine, Inc. Henry and Andrea J. And
humor has always been part of that tradition.com.

marshals spoken

"When I went back to New Orleans in October, I found my apartment roof
damaged ," said Mr.

marshals wig

The Tipitina's Foundation, which works closely with the Harry Connick, Jr. The vast majority of the students
who were served by this program came from low-income, single-parent,
African -American families. However, it always comes back to
the music, and our bands are always fantastic .mediarights. Fowler, "New Orleaneans have always used Mardi Gras as a release.

musician humor

and 9:30 p. Tickets to the premiere screenings are $10 each and are
available at the BAM Box Office (718) 636-4100 or through
http://www. At the same
time, it is difficult to reach audiences with this media through mainstream
distribution outlets," said Katy Chevigny, Executive Director of Arts Engine,
Inc."
This work is paying off as evidenced by the organization's success
promoting the films in last year's festival. "All musicians
owe a great debt to New Orleans, so I think it's appropriate that we sing ,
dance and give a little of our time to recognize that debt."
Besides Morgan Grays, sponsors for the event include Mimio, Pasadena's
premiere paper boutique, The Glove Lady, and The Brand Equity Showroom. Since August's devastating
hurricane, the LPO has been traveling around the United States .

musician transsexual

"
Sarah McLachlan sent a speech to the awards ceremony commenting on the
importance of social change.

considered guild

The Toshi
Mardi Gras party will be held at NYC's Puck Building on Friday, February
10th from 9pm to 3am -- a couple weeks before the New Orleans festivities
in order to pay respect as awareness to the great tragedy of Hurricane
Katrina.com

For more information on The Tipitina's Foundation , visit:
www.m. The Fifth Annual Media That
Matters Film Festival awards ceremony and reception was held at HBO's New York
screening room.
"It is important that we help these musicians find their way home.

ftm julia

and Branford Marsalis organization, Musician's Village, which is backed by
Habitat For Humanity, provides new musical instruments to Southeast
Louisiana public middle and high schools and is a catalyst for raising
awareness of public music education. "Netflix is proud to be back in the Media
That Matters Film Festival because we share the vision that film is not only
an amazing source of entertainment but also an essential vehicle for social
change. "The Orpheum Theater, our historic downtown home, flooded," lamented
Babs Mollier, LPO managing director.

musician drag

We have the Internet
to distribute and to find new material, new voices and new points of view --
points of view that have been thwarted or kept back by a studio system that is
not very adventurous or daring."
The ball, at the Grand Cafe of the Omni Hotel Los Angeles, begins at
8 PM with a silent auction of the entire 2006 collection of Morgan Grays bags
and accessories.com and click on
"Events." Tickets at the door will be $25 per person.

royalty ftm

That's why we felt so
strongly about donating to The Tipitina's Foundation.
"Independent media of all kinds, especially films that address social
issues have been reaching larger audiences and growing in impact.
"It's an exciting time.

Chief Content Officer of
Netflix Fast and Reliable (7:53 min ) -
Documentary
All That I Can Be (8:30 min) - Tom Soper, Director/Producer,
Youth Documentary Sean Morrison, Co-Producer
Educational Video Center, Winner of the Against the Odds
Producer Award presented by Sam Seder
Winner of the Economic Justice
Award presented by Barbara Neglected Sky (1:36 min) - Youth
Kopple Animation
John Cooney, Director and
Pizza Surveillance Feature Producer with Citizens for Global
(2:20 min) - Public Service Solutions
Announcement Winner of the Environment Award
Micah Laaker, Director , ($1,000) sponsored by Loreto Bay
American Civil Liberties Union, Company and presented by David
Producer Butterfield of Loreto Bay Company
Winner of the Civil Liberties
Award presented by New York Young Agrarians (8:00 min ) -
State Assembly Member Documentary
Deborah Glick Johanna Divine, Director/Producer
Winner of the Nourishing Change
The News Is What We Make It Award ($1,000) sponsored by W.org) and documentary
films such as Deadline (http://www.

mardi wig

--
the organization behind the internationally recognized Toshi Parties --
today announced that 10% of their online credit card transactions in
February will be donated to The Tipitina's Foundation, which is dedicated
to restoring and preserving the musical culture of New Orleans.

Fifth Annual Media that Matters Film Festival Celebrates Cinema and Social Activism

"Media that Matters is about people making the
switch from apathy to action.artsengine .net.
(Photo: http://www.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051206/LATU111 )
The LPO fell on hard times last summer when hurricane Katrina hit New
Orleans. Rosen is remaining in California with family for now; indeed, many of
his colleagues remain scattered throughout the country.

gras postings

All rodent shadows aside, Toshi Films, Inc. The
lavish parties (New Year's Eve, Halloween, Mardi Gras, St.

"Because we work with amazing sponsors,
like Boru Vodka, Red Bull, Bud Light, Nibus Clothing and Bacardi Silver,
the parties offer interesting additions., visit: www.newscom. Rosen, "I retrieved some belongings and my music and
returned to Santa Monica. A
live auction will be hosted by MG 's Official Jester, Dennis Fowler.com, and
through The Brand Equity Showroom in Los Angeles.

drag mardi

Asher , Executive
Director of The Tipitina's Foundation. I want to pay tribute to all of you [filmmakers] for
carrying on this work.

guild suggestions

Technology is creating a lot of exciting
opportunities for so many different points of view, and providing important
new delivery systems," commented award presenter Tim Robbins.K.

For movies, performing arts, humor, and other entertaining arts related to or created by transgendered people.

suggestions ftm

com. "Arts Engine and the Media That Matters Film Festival in particular work
to develop innovative strategies to get social-issue films to new groups and
individuals."
The Fifth Annual Media That Matters Film Festival includes a yearlong
program of web streaming , DVD distribution and screenings around the country
intended to connect audiences to inspiring, independently and youth-produced
short films that spark debate and action. For more information
visit http: //www. For more information on the
Morgan Grays Handsome Style collection or the Mardi Gras LPO Benefit , call
1-888-My-MG-Man or visit morgangrays.

suggestions gras

PRESS RELEASE New York Based Mardi Gras Party Teams With New Orleans Music and Culture Non-Profit Organization

The Tipitina's Foundation

Toshi, who is known for his frequent roles on "Late Night with Conan
O'Brien" and later this year will be featured in the Martin
Scorsese -directed film "The Departed" (Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark
Wahlberg and Jack Nicholson), is known internationally for the cultural
theme parties that he spearheads (five in the USA and two in Europe)."

"We are extremely thrilled to work with Toshi Films and believe that
they've tapped into the New Orleans feel," said Carol G.org).

marshals decadence

The Jury Award was sponsored by Netflix and presented by Ted Sarandos, the
company's chief content officer.deadlinethemovie.com). Molthrop .

drag lineage

All 16 films were honored with awards and $10,000 in outreach
grants were distributed. Over 50 screenings around the
country and the world were organized for festival films, and the festival's
website , which offers streaming video of all of the films, averages 150,000
unique visitors each month.

Morgan Grays Mardi Gras Ball to Benefit Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

applicants considered

tipitinasfoundation., a nonprofit that supports the
creation of documentary films that make a difference, today will premiere 16
documentary films that were celebrated last week at an awards ceremony, which
featured actor/director/writer Tim Robbins as a presenter and Air America
Radio's Sam Seder as its host. Board sponsored by Frank Marshall and
presented by Peter Yarrow of
Peter, Paul and Mary

"We marched a long time ago for the mother of all efforts which let us
know that we could change things in this country," commented award presenter
Peter Yarrow."
Mr.

activist slant

At the May 26th awards ceremony that honored this year's crop of visionary
filmmakers, Robbins and Seder were joined by two-time Academy Award-winning
filmmaker Barbara Kopple, comedian and radio host Al Franken, social activist
and musician Peter Yarrow ("Peter, Paul + Mary"), media policy reformist
Robert McChesney, filmmaker Rodney Evans and New York State Assembly Member
Deborah Glick, all of whom presented awards. "We no longer
have to rely on major corporations for things to be seen. I'm so happy to have World on Fire be
recognized as a motivator of that kind of change. Arts Engine projects include MediaRights (http://www. Los Angeles Mardi Gras Helps N'Awlins Musicians Displaced by Katrina

Performances by Comic Dennis Fowler and Vocalist Leslie Nesbitt

LOS ANGELES, Morgan Grays Handsome Style(TM), the
California-based designer of men's lifestyle accessories will host a New
Orleans-style Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday, February 25th at the Omni Hotel Los
Angeles to benefit the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). He and his
partner, London-born designer Stewart Grays, traditionally throw a private
Mardi Gras fete, but this year decided to open the event to support the LPO.

Morgan Grays Handsome Style sells men's lifestyle products -- leather
bags, belts, wallets and folios -- on its internet site, morgangrays.

Contact: Marje Bennetts
1-310-574-7870 or
Morgan Molthrop
1-888-My-MG-Man

weekend decadence

Our programs, such as Instruments A Comin', have greatly benefited students
in the New Orleans area who certainly need our assistance.movietickets."
The sixteen provocative, short, social-issue films in the festival range
from fast-paced musical animations to insightful personal documentaries that
offer new perspectives on the war in Iraq, racial identity, global warming,
gay rights, civil liberties, sustainable agriculture/development, drug
addiction and more.

AWARDS
"Everything I have seen so far has been fascinating ," said former
Minnesotan Al Franken, who introduced Battleground Minnesota, the eight-minute
Jury Award-winning film that follows a young African-American hip-hop artist
as he gets the low down on the political process from former vice-president
Walter Mondale and other key political figures in the battleground state."

Awards were presented to:

Battleground Minnesota (8 min .

ABOUT ARTS ENGINE, INC.org),
the Youth Media Distribution initiative (http://www.

"
The ultimate fate of the LPO, now sharing an office with the Baton Rouge
Philharmonic Symphony, remains uncertain.
"Music is the lifeblood of New Orleans," said Mr. The evening will include all the trappings of Mardi Gras:
king cakes, beads, doubloons, a tableaux of costumes and a Dixieland band. Log onto http://www.

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is the only full-time musician-owned
and operated orchestra in the United States.

wig considered

In addition, all 16 festival films will begin
streaming online for one year today on the Festival's website
(http://www.
LPO Cellist David Rosen was visiting California when the hurricane hit.com.

marshals humor

"We've been throwing unusual theme parties, such as OcToshiFest, The
Wigstock Party, The Gatsby Party and The Tacky Prom Party, for the past
fifteen years," exclaims Toshi.mediathatmattersfest.
(8:21 min) - Animation Kellogg Foundation and presented
Nickey Robare, by Nicole de Beaufort, Kellogg
Director/Producer Foundation consultant
Winner of the Media Reform
Award ($1,000) sponsored by World on Fire (4:20 min) - Music
Utne Magazine and presented by Video by Sarah McLachlan
Judy Rudrud of Utne magazine Sophie Muller, Director
Winner of the Citizen Engagement
Laptop (0:30 min) - Public Award ($1,000) sponsored by Green
Service Announcement Mountain Coffee Roasters
Larry Frye, Director, Public Foundation and presented by
Interest, Producer Michael Dupee of Green Mountion
Winner of the Digital Divide Coffee Roasters Foundation
Award presented by Sam Seder
The Luckiest Nut in the World
A Girl Named Kai (8:00 min) - (8:00 min ) - Musical
Experimental Emily James, Director, Fulcrum
Kai Ling Xue, Director/Producer TV, Producer
Winner of the Lesbian, Gay, Winner of the Global Justice
Bisexual, Transgender Rights Award ($1,000) sponsored by Oxfam
Award presented by Rodney America and presented by Barbara
Evans, Director of "Brother to Fiorito , Board Chair of Oxfam
Brother" America

Bad Choices (3:00 min) - Youth Something Other Than Other (7:05
Digital Story min) - Experimental
Aderian Fair, Director, Natasha Jerry A.
"While there is nothing funny about what happened in New Orleans," said
Mr.

activist musician

"

For more information on Toshi Films, Inc. By fostering the production and use of
independent film, video and new media, Arts Engine connects media makers and
active audiences in order to spur critical consideration of pressing social
issues . "Also, several of the musicians lost
their homes and their instruments, so we're fighting a battle on many fronts.
Advance tickets for the LPO benefit, $20 per person, can be purchased online
using any major credit card.morgangrays.

mardi julia

Public/Charter school music and band
programs prior to Hurricane Katrina (and certainly post-Katrina) are
totally without funding. Their work with
students is second to none and they are a fabulous organization.toshiparty.) System Failure (8:00 min) -
- Youth Documentary Documentary
Directed by Gabriel Cheifetz, WITNESS , Executive Producer, Ella
Produced by Phillips Community Baker Center for Human Rights,
Television Co-Producer
Introduced by Al Franken, Winner of the Criminal Justice
Winner of the Jury Award Award ($1,000) sponsored by
($1,000) sponsored by Netflix Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation
and co-presented by Tim and presented by Robin Reid,
Robbins, and Ted Sarandos, Board Member of Arts Engine, Inc.
The Media That Matters Film Festival is produced by Arts Engine, Inc, a
nonprofit organization that supports, produces, and distributes independent
media of consequence and promotes the use of independent media by advocates,
educators and the general public.ymdi. But the LPO still
plans an abbreviated season this March, a good sign according to Morgan
Molthrop, Crescent City native and CEO of Morgan Grays, the ball's organizer.