FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Karen Logsdon
Expedition Films
650-576-2436 or 650-363-1007
info@thesurpriseparty.com

"THE SURPRISE PARTY" TO DEBUT AT WORLDFEST-HOUSTON

Feature Length-Film's World Premiere Slated for April 22

SAN CARLOS, Calif. -- March 26, 2001 -- Expedition Films LLC today announced that its first full-length feature film, "The Surprise Party" will make its world premiere at the 34th Annual WorldFest-Houston Film Festival. The film's debut will take place in Houston's Meyerland Plaza THX Theaters on Sunday, April 22 at 9:00pm. An encore matinee showing will be held on Tuesday, April 24 at 3:00pm.

"The Surprise Party" joins a number of films that have used WorldFest-Houston as a launching pad to success, including "Love and Basketball" produced by Spike Lee, "Three Seasons" by Tony Buwie and Oscar-winning Best Foreign Language Film "Burnt by the Sun". WorldFest has previously offered its festivalgoers the opportunity to rub elbows with Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Oliver Stone, Jonathan Demme, Ridley Scott, the Coen Brothers, Ang Lee and many others who are industry giants today, but who were novice filmmakers when they each received their first awards at WorldFest.

"We are delighted to be invited to debut our film as part of the 2001 Houston International Film Festival Program," said Garrett Rice, writer and director of The Surprise Party. "The cast and crew anxiously awaits the first public opinion of our efforts from the audience and judges of this prestigious event."

The Surprise Party tells the tale of Ozzie, a normal guy with a simple plan to ask his girlfriend to marry him on his 30th birthday. Ring box in hand, Ozzie embarks on an odyssey of unresolved issues that threaten his romantic plans. A funny and touching exploration of adult relationships, "The Surprise Party" is the feature-film debut of writer/director Garrett Rice. It stars Colin Ferguson, Amber O'Shea and Dianne Luby.

WorldFest has more than 4,300 category entrants each year, submitting everything from feature films to student shorts to documentaries to screenplays and commercials for judging. "These are artists who have created highly personal works," explains founder and executive director J. Hunter Todd. "For many, this is their first recognition and that, coupled with the chance to get very direct feedback from audiences, is what makes this festival so magical and exciting."

When WorldFest was founded in 1968 by Mr. Todd, there were only three other film festivals in existence in the United States. Mr. Todd is still the director of WorldFest today, making it the longest running festival under a single director. Now more than 27,000 people attend WorldFest to view US independent world premiers, international cinema, award-winning documentaries and children and family films.

Expedition Films LLC is pleased to offer discounted tickets for supporters wishing to attend WorldFest-Houston. For more information, please send an e-mail to worldfest@thesurpriseparty.com.

About Expedition Films

Expedition Films LLC, headquartered in San Carlos, California, develops and produces feature-length motion pictures that are both expressive and marketable. For more information, please visit www.thesurpriseparty.com or call 650-363-1007.


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