VIDEO CONTEST ADDRESSES DATING VIOLENCE

(San Antonio) Young filmmakers have a chance to win cash prizes in a high school video contest entitled, Can't Beat Love: Shining A Spotlight on Teen Dating Violence. The video contest is sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women and Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc.

The goal of the project is to help increase awareness of teen dating violence. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Special Report: Intimate Partner Violence, May 2000:

• About one in three high school students have been or will be involved in an abusive relationship.


• Forty percent of teenage girls ages 14 to 17 say they know someone their age that has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.


• In one study, from 30 to 50 percent of female high school students reported having already experienced teen dating violence.

Top student filmmakers will be awarded $1,000, $750 and $500 for first, second and third place. Two winners in each category will be awarded. Submissions are due by Wed., Dec. 30, 2009.

The distinguished panel of contest judges include film critic Bob Polunsky, Zach Nasits with Geo-Media , Jimmy Williams, President of Shootz Productions, the Honorable Judge Peter Sakai and documentary film director Mary Ann Smothers Bruni.

The winning videos will be shown in conjunction with National Date Violence Awareness Week at a gala premier on Wed., Feb. 3, 2010 and featured on local television thereafter.