Sacramento Film and Music Festival 2008

Award winning producer Larry Meistrich and his new production company Nehst Studios is changing the film industry as we know it, as they are dedicated to providing access to emerging, undiscovered talent and in seeking interactive new methods and technology to engage the audience in the film experience. As a visionary in today’s film industry, Meistrich is a perfect addition to the line up for the 9th annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival. The region’s longest running all-genre independent film festival is scheduled for Friday August 8th through Sunday August 17th, and on Saturday August 9th, Meistrich will present a screening of ‘Running The Sahara’, a historic and riveting documentary film that his company is promoting and distributing, (while a ‘sequel’ film “Running America” is launching filming production out of the Bay Area at the same time - see www.RunnngAmerica08.com). The screening will be immediately followed by a presentation from Meistrich about the future of filmmaking, and he will share how his company is positioned to lead the way into the changing industry. Nehst Studios has secured a $250 million film fund and is actively seeking new scripts and film talent to fill a slate of upcoming productions, and on Sunday August 10th, Meistrich will also hold one-on-one pitch sessions on for filmmakers and writers who wish to present their best script / story idea for financing and/or production consideration. Meistrich was so impressed with his last visit to Sacramento (during the 2007 Sac Film & Music Festival, and again at his 3-day filmmaker’s boot camp in Nov. 2007), with four writer/filmmakers being offered possible development deals, that he was very excited to come back again… Meistrich added “A typical percentage of potentially good film scripts and talent seen at any given pitch session across the country is about 30%, and in Sacramento it was closer to 60-70%!” Joining Meistrich is Supervising Producer Antonia Ellis (Sex and the City, Men in Trees, etc.) who will be on hand to discuss her roles in mega hit television productions and her new role with Nehst Studios. Writers and filmmakers that are interested in scheduling an appointment for the pitch sessions can go to www.pitchnehst.com to register or an individual appointment. Note: There is a $10 administrative fee). Meistrich has proven that he is well prepared to recognize new talent and lead the changing film industry into the technical ages to come. In 1990, at the age of 24, Larry Meistrich, with just $7,000, founded The Shooting Gallery (TSG). In his triple role as Founder, Chairman of the Board, and Executive Officer of TSG, Meistrich was hands-on producer and an integral part of the production of roughly 100 films, commercials and music videos including the Academy Award-winning "Sling Blade" and the Academy Award nominated "You Can Count on Me". Meistrich made industry history when Thornton's "Sling Blade" was purchased by Miramax for a price that broke all previous sale records in independent film. Meistrich's other well-known films include Cannes winner "Henry Fool," Clive Owen's breakout film "Croupier," and "Belly." His pictures have won the gamut of international awards including the Academy's Oscar and include Golden Globes, SAG Award, DGA Award, Top Five category awards at Cannes, Sundance, Berlin. Actors and directors Meistrich has produced include Al Pacino, Laurence Fishburne, Spike Lee and Billy Bob Thornton. Meistrich was also the founder and CEO of Film Movement, a groundbreaking DVD-of-the-month club that releases films in theaters and on DVD at the same time. By creating a new distribution model, Meistrich provided audiences everywhere access to award-winning films that usually only play in select markets like Los Angeles and New York. He received the 1998 Crain's Small Business Award and the 1999 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in New York. He received "The Maverick Award" at the 10th Annual Choltrudis Society Awards in Boston. He currently serves on the board of the New York Production Council. He graduated Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. The 9th annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival is proud to add Larry Meistrich, Antonia Ellis and Nehst Studios to the 2008 event. For more info on Larry Meistrich and Nehst Studios, visit www.nehst.com or www.pitchnehst.com.