FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 29, 2008
CONTACT: Bobbie Fisher, Chief Communications Officer, 757.889.9107

WHRO FILM GOES TO CANNES
Kingdom by the Sea: Fortress Monroe selected in short film category

Norfolk: WHRO has announced that one of its productions, Kingdom by the Sea: Fortress Monroe, has been selected for the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival.
A production of WHRO’s Center for Regional Citizenship, Kingdom by the Sea explores the history, reviews the debate and considers the future of Fort Monroe as the U.S. Army plans to vacate by 2011.  A state appointed Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority or FADA has been authorized to decide, but a passionate community debate has continued.  WHRO’s film highlights the various options for the site and draws attention to the common ground that unites many of the voices in the debate. “WHRO’s goal with this project was to facilitate collaborative discussion and further engage the community in considering the best possible future for Fort Monroe,” says Kelly Jackson, Director of the WHRO Center for Regional Citizenship and executive producer of the film.

The Short Film Corner presents films from all over the world.  In 2007, the fourth edition of the Short Film Corner supported nearly 3000 participants from 80 countries, 200 registered shorts and more than 22,000 film viewings.  Created in 2004, the Short Film Corner is both a meeting place and a showcase for producers and directors.
The Festival de Cannes is one of the most important film events in the world, representing the entire spectrum of the motion-picture industry.  It has become the most media-covered annual event of the film industry, with more than 4,000 journalists representing 1,600 media companies.    
 
Kingdom by the Sea was produced and directed by Amy Broad of Rock Eagle Productions through the WHRO Center for Regional Citizenship. The Center for Regional Citizenship is a multi-platform initiative to engage the citizens of Hampton Roads in discussions of local interest. The Center extends the impact of public broadcasting with a goal to build civic, social and educational capital in Hampton Roads.