Leza’s films have been showing across the globe, here is the breakdown:

Stem Cell Boutique

Official Selection at the Bridge Fest
Official Selection at the Film Stage and Showbiz Expo
Honorable Mention at the Rochester International Film Festival

Auditions for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo

Award of Merit from the Accolade Competition
Official Selection at the Urban Suburban Film Festival

Tahitian Wedding

Nominated for best LGBT short film at the Heart of England International Film Festival

Park Bench Affair

Official Selection at the Heart of England International Film Festival

Cesar, Adolfo and Sonny in Tahitian Wedding.

Tahitian Wedding hulas away with an Aloha Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the 2009 Honolulu International Film Festival.

The full list of winners can be found here.

Actors Sonny and Stan.

Whimsical spin from New Masters Films

For Immediate Release

EL SEGUNDO, Calif./EWORLDWIRE/March 23, 2009 — Writer/director Leza Lidow (www.lezalidow.com) of New Masters Films picks up the prestigious Indie Fest Award of Merit for her film, “Auditions for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.”

“Auditions for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo” is set in a dance studio in Paris and bears a cast of characters and friends – including Stan Hancock, Cesar Smith-Diaz, Sonny Childers, Yelena Moiseyeva, and Lynda Lefever – which are lead by Dimitri (Hancock), the task-master whom whips his corps de ballet into shape for their audition of a lifetime. The lively characters perform in front of three esteemed international ballerinas of yesteryear for the lead role: Giovanna Gentilli (Anna Pavlova of Russia), Maxine Pink (Margot Fonteyn of England) and Vera Wong (Mei Lanfang of China).

Lidow has captured the audience with laughter and gaiety in this whimsical ballerina tale.

“Leza Lidow’s creative journeys in film emerges us in a ‘Dali-esque’ delight as she brings her sets and actors alive to bask in creativity – gifting her audiences with frolic and laughter. Prozac-a-licious fun, all the way around. She is a treat to work with. I feel honored,” says Lefever, whom has appeared in four of her films.

“As soon as I saw the ballerina cut-outs, I knew it was going to be a cut-up,” chuckled producer Kory Goetzman.

“The cast and crew are a joy to work with and make the entire process an adventure in creativity. It is nice to be rewarded with such gifts, and even better to win an award because of it,” commented Director and Executive Producer Lidow.

The Indie Fest recognizes film professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the film industry. In winning an Indie, New Masters Films and Leza Lidow join the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award. “The Indie is not an easy award to win,” said Chairman Thomas Baker, Ph.D., of the Indie Fest.

The film was recorded at New Masters Studios in El Segundo, Calif., with set construction by Ray Yeater, ballerina cut-outs prepared by Keith Blum and cinematography by Yasu Tanida.

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Indie awards go to those filmmakers who produce fresh, standout entertainment, animation and compelling documentaries. The Indie is a showcase for cinematic gems and unique voices. In 2009, “Auditions for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo” received an Award of Merit.

Congratulations to all of the Cast and Crew!

Starring:
Sonny Childers as Micha Potemkin / Giovanna Gentilli as Anna Pavlova / Stan Hancock as Dimitri Grand Master / Lynda Lefever as Madame Gregoriavich / Yelena Moiseyeva as Yelena / Cesar Smith-Diaz as Tolya Protefski / Vera Wong as Mei Langfang

Crew: Kory Goetzman: producer / Leza Lidow: executive producer / Min Lee: film editor / Keith Blum: set decorator / Christina Chilcote: key makeup artist / Thomas Curley: sound mixer / Veronica Chavira: assistant to the producers

Writer/director Leza Lidow did more than kick sand on winning the prestigious “Indie Fest” Award of Merit for her short subject film, “A Day at the Beach.”

Lidow banked on a zany cast of characters and friends – which includes Sonny Childers, Cesar Smith-Diaz, Stan Hancock, Giovanna Gentilli, and Elizabeth Nussbaum – to present her view of a time and setting where anything is possible when time loses its importance.

“A Day at the Beach” is set inside a visually dramatic impression of a Paris train station. Lidow’s characters bob along in a story of funny people behaving with innocence and charm as they rely on their social tet-a-tet to distract attention from their contagious inability to catch a train on time.

“Surrealiscious,” stated Sonny Childers. “Leza tosses her actors into her surreal paint buckets and then directs their visually delicious escape.

“We hope that we leave for the audience a story about hope, love and friendships as performed by imperfect, vulnerable characters from Leza’s imagination.”

“The work made me happy, and the main point is to make the audience happy and laugh,” said Lidow.

“Leza guides her troop of lovable, crazy friends through a series of unlikely circumstances and tumults, and then she allows them to end their journey with laughter and dance,” added Kory Goetzman, producer.

The Indie Fest recognizes film professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. In winning an Indie, New Masters Film and Leza Lidow join the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award. “The Indie is not an easy award to win,” says Chairman Thomas Baker, Ph.D., of the Indie Fest.

The film was recorded at New Masters Studios in El Segundo, Calif., with set decoration prepared by Keith Blum, cinematography by Yasu Tanida, and original music developed by Giulio Carmassi.
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(Source: LOS ANGELES (EWORLDWIRE) Jan 9, 2009)