(Source: Rain Bird)
Rain Bird’s fourth 2011 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition honored three short films as the winners of the competition at a screening event on September 20. Held at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, California, the event was presented by Rain Bird and event partners The Chronicles Group, Film L.A., Denver Botanic Gardens, Southern Nevada Water Authority and Questex Media Group.
Jack Hanna, renowned environmental documentary filmmaker and animal expert, presented the six finalists’ films to a live audience and a panel of judges from the film, water, green and irrigation industries. After a brief deliberation, the judges chose the Jury Award Winner, and the audience voted for the Audience Choice Award Winner:
2011 Jury Award Winner
“Fun and Games” by Ben Mills, Basingstoke, Hants, U.K.
2011 Audience Award Winner
“Just Don’t Flush It” by Brian McAndrew, North Bend, Oregon, United States
Rain Bird presented Jury-Award-winning filmmaker Ben Mills with a check for $6,000 in recognition of his efforts, while Audience-Choice-Award-winning filmmaker Brian McAndrew received a check for $3,000.
The evening also included the presentation of the annual Green Industry Award to the film receiving the most votes from green industry professionals – landscape architects, landscape contractors, irrigators, golf course superintendentsand grounds maintenance professionals. Rain Bird and Questex Media Group, publishers of landscape and building publications including Athletic Turf, Golfdom and Landscape Management, presented this award and a $6,000 check to Jall Cowasji for his film “Water Ways.”
“The high level of ingenuity and creativity we found in this year’s film competition truly demonstrates the importance of water conservation,” said Rain Bird’s Director of Corporation Marketing, Dave Johnson. “Rain Bird’s Intelligent Use of Water platform is designed to provide filmmakers like these with a voice that can inspire others to take personal action.”
The 2011 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition judging panel included Doug Bennett, Conservation Manager at the Southern Nevada Water Authority; Jennifer Riley-Chetwynd, Director of Marketing, PR and Special Events at the Denver Botanic Gardens; Patrick Roberts, Group Publisher of Golfdom and Landscape Management Magazines; Philip Sokoloski, Manager of Communications at Film L.A. and Jim Thebaut, Chief Executive Officer of The Chronicles Group, Inc.
Now in its fourth year of actively raising awareness of the need for water conservation, Rain Bird’s Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition encourages filmmakers to use the power of film to creatively explore methods and ideas that responsibly manage and use the Earth’s most precious resource.
ABOUT RAIN BIRD CORPORATION
Headquartered in Azusa, Calif., Rain Bird Corporation is the world’s leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services. From simple beginnings in 1933, Rain Bird now offers the industry’s broadest range of irrigation products for farms, golf courses, sports arenas, commercial developments and homes, available in more than 130 countries. Rain Bird has been awarded hundreds of patents, including the first in 1935 for the impact sprinkler. Rain Bird’s philosophy called The Intelligent Use of Water™ is about using water wisely. Its commitment extends beyond products to education, training and services for the industry and the community. Rain Bird maintains state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities around the world.