June 16, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Leslie Unger - (310) 247-3000

Beverly Hills, CA - The Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting competition of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has received entries this year from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and 28 countries, including first-time entries from Brunei, Egypt and South Korea, Academy President Robert Rehme announced today. He said that more than 4,200 entries have been received.

Fellowships for the year 2000 will be announced in October and will be presented at ceremonies in November.

Nicholl Fellowship Coordinator Greg Beal and his staff inventory some of the 4,200 + entries received.

The annual competition is open to any individual who has not sold or optioned a screenplay or teleplay for more than $5,000 or received a fellowship or prize that includes a "first look" clause, an option, or any other quid pro quo involving the writer's work.

Fellowships are awarded with the understanding that the recipients will each complete a feature-length screenplay during the fellowship year. The Academy acquires no rights to the works of Nicholl Fellows and does not involve itself commercially in any way with their completed scripts.

Program Coordinator Greg Beal said that since the program's inception in 1986, a total of 63 fellowships have been presented.

Among past Nicholl Fellows are Ehren Kruger ("Scream 3," "Arlington Road"), Susannah Grant ("Erin Brockovich," "Pocahontas," "Ever After"), Andrew Marlowe ("Air Force One," "End of Days," "The Hollow Man") and Randall McCormick ("Speed 2," "Titan A. E.").