1ST ANNUAL NEW YORK DIGITAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL Begins

THE 1ST ANNUAL NEW YORK DIGITAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, celebrating innovation in digital filmmaking through an exciting lineup of work crafted by filmmakers who exhibit excellence in directing, writing, and cinematography.

Hosted at the prestigious Director's Guild of America in New York City, the Festival offers filmmakers an opportunity to promote their work to producers, distributors, and casting directors. The Festival strives to offer a springboard for filmmakers to hone their craft and artistry through mentor sessions, networking opportunities, and valuable exposure for screening films.

New York Digital's exhibiting filmmakers will also find a worldwide audience for their projects through a live stream of the Festival from the DGA screening room on THEVIENETWORK.com, offering global exposure for selected shorts. Awards include a $1,000 USD cash prize for Best Picture and a private mentor session with Oscar Winner and Emmy-nominated Producer and Festival Director Diane Batson-Smith (THE JOY LUCK CLUB). What's more, award recipients will be considered for future project financing and production through The Vie Network.

Among the incredibly talented filmmaking from animation to drama, Tom Hardy stars in Greg Williams' ‘Sergeant Slaughter, My Big Brother' as an abusive older brother who's eminent enlistment into the French Army fuels the rivalry between him and his younger brother. In a beautiful opening scene between the two, Hardy, who brilliantly executes the scene wearing only a Green French Beret and a hunting knife tied to his shin brings his character to life to reveal a vulnerable, yet tactful lesson for his bullied younger Brother. Other films include a stunning performance by a Christopher Guest favorite John Michal Higgins in ‘The Burying Beetle' that escalates the question of religion through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy, who is losing his Atheist father, played by Higgins to Terminal Cancer. Greg Williams' ‘Tell Tale', starring the incomparable ‘Watchmen' star Carla Gugino and ‘House's' Jesse Spencer is an achievement in its own in cinematography and storytelling. Adam Arkin never fails. Many other films included in the 14-Short presentation rise to the top in filmmaking innovation and will compete for the Best Picture Award at March 28th's Grand Festival Event at The Director's Guild of American NYC. 110 West 57th Street, NY, NY 10019.