The Adrienne Shelly Foundation Announces Educational Initiatives, Additions to Its Advisory Board

NEW YORK, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non- profit organization dedicated to the memory of writer/director/actor Adrienne Shelly, today announced the launch of several educational initiatives in conjunction with a number of the industry's premiere film institutions, most of them based in New York. The Foundation also announced two new, high- profile members of its advisory board.

As part of the Foundation's mission to aid in the advancement of talented women filmmakers, it has committed funds to the establishment of the following:

American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women - The Adrienne Shelly Foundation Production Grant will be given annually to a participant at the Los Angeles-based AFI's Directing Workshop for Women, beginning this spring. The foundation will also underwrite the Adrienne Shelly Master Class in Directing as part of this prestigious program.

Columbia University School of the Arts Film Division - The Adrienne Shelly Award for Best Female Director will be granted annually to a promising filmmaker beginning this spring.

New York Women in Film & Television - The Adrienne Shelly Foundation Finishing Funds Grant will be awarded to a promising filmmaker annually, beginning this spring.

New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television- The Adrienne Shelly Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to a sophomore student annually, beginning with the fall semester of 2007.

IFP - The Adrienne Shelly Director's Grant will be awarded to a promising filmmaker annually, beginning this summer/fall.

These initiatives mark The Adrienne Shelly Foundation's first major undertaking after its formation in December 2006, in response to Ms. Shelly's untimely death. The endowment program was decided upon at the inaugural meeting of the Foundation's advisory board, which includes director Hal Hartley, producer Ted Hope and actors Rosanna Arquette, Keri Russell and Paul Rudd, among others. The board was recently expanded to include well-known New York actor/producer Fisher Stevens and actor Emily Deschanel.

"With our first contributions to New York and the industry's finest filmmaking institutions, we hope to nurture the talent of up-and-coming women filmmakers who possess the drive, vision and passion that Adrienne was known for in her own career," said Ms. Shelly's husband, Andy Ostroy, founder and executive director of The Adrienne Shelly Foundation. "We feel sure that the recipients of these endowments will go on to make their own imprints on the film industry, and we are proud to be a part of their journey."

"We are also thrilled to welcome Fisher and Emily to our advisory board," Mr. Ostroy added. "Their guidance will no doubt be invaluable as the foundation grows and continues its work in the independent film community."

Shelly's final film, WAITRESS, was a hit at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Fox Searchlight Pictures will release WAITRESS, which stars Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cherly Hines and Shelly, nationwide on May 2.

ABOUT THE ADRIENNE SHELLY FOUNDATION

The Adrienne Shelly Foundation supports the artistic achievements of female actors, writers and directors through a series of scholarships and grants, providing recipients with financial support and consultative access to the Foundation's advisory board of actors, directors, producers, composers, law, public relations, academic and trade professionals. Reflecting Adrienne's spirit, generosity, courage and whimsy, our goal is to recognize the tremendous passion and commitment of women artists in creating their own work, and provide them with support and guidance particularly during periods of transition and struggle. For more information on the Foundation, please visit http://www.adrienneshellyfoundation.org/

  BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  Andy Ostroy, Dan Katcher, Liz Benjamin, Michelle Byrd, Ted Hope

  ADVISORY BOARD

Rosanna Arquette, Emily Deschanel, Sasha Eden, Annette Insdorf, Hal Hartley, Andrew Hollander, John Logigian, Bennett Miller, Peter Newman, Reid Rosefelt, Paul Rudd, Keri Russell, Jen Small, Fisher Stevens, Jeremy Walker.