The Video Software Dealers Association Announces The Inaugural DVD Festival 2000 Award Winners At Its 19th Annual Home Entertainment Convention And Expo

Warner Home Video And DreamWorks Big Winners

17-Jul-00

The first annual DVD Festival culminated with the announcement of the winners of the DVD Festival 2000 Awards. The awards presentation was hosted by famed comedian Pauly Shore. Warner Home Video walked away with the most awards, four, while Dreamworks secured three and Columbia-TriStar two. Anchor Bay Entertainment, MGM and Pioneer Entertainment each took home one. Warner Home Video's ""Contact"" tied for ""Best Use of Audio/Language Tracks"" with Columbia-TriStar Home Video's ""Run Lola Run."" Over 100 entries were received to vie for just eleven categories. A 16 member blue-ribbon panel made up of home entertainment journalists from across the nation were selected to judge the entries. They included Marc Bernardin, Entertainment Weekly, Kevin Brass, Video Store, Al Brumley, Dallas Morning News, Eileen Fitzpatrick, Billboard, Chris Gore, host of ""The New Movie Show"" on FX, Guido Henkel, dvdreview.com, Scott Hettrick, Video Business and Daily Variety, Jeffrey Howard, ""The Movie Guys,"" Bill Hunt, digitalbits.com, Laurence Lerman, Video Business, Donald Liebenson, The Chicago Tribune, Leonard Maltin, ""Entertainment Tonight,"" Mike Mayo, Author of VideoHound's Guide to DVD, Scott McKim, The Hollywood Reporter, Gary Reber, Widescreen Review and Ralph Tribbey, The DVD Release Report. To be qualified, a DVD had to be released between March 1997 through December 31, 1999. Every DVD company, regardless of size, was asked to choose their best titles in each category. Over 25 DVD companies participated.Following is the list of the winners: Best Use Of Menu Features ""Ghostbusters"" - Columbia-TriStar Home Video Best Supplementary Material Presentation ""The Matrix"" - Warner Home Video Best Music DVD ""Yellow Submarine"" - MGM Home Entertainment Best Use Of DVD-ROM Features ""The Matrix"" - Warner Home Video Best Use Of Audio/Language Tracks (Tie) ""Contact"" - Warner Home Video and ""Run Lola Run"" - Columbia-TriStar Home Video (Winner) Best Overall Transfer ""Saving Private Ryan"" - Dreamworks Best Overall Audio Presentation ""Saving Private Ryan"" - Dreamworks Best Audio Commentary ""Army Of Darkness"" - Anchor Bay Entertainment Best Of Show - Children's DVD ""The Prince Of Egypt"" - Dreamworks Best Of Show For A Non-Theatrical Release ""The Judy Garland Show Collection"" - Pioneer Entertainment Best Of Show - Theatrical ""The Matrix"" - Warner Home Video Established in 1981, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) is a not-for-profit international trade association for the $17 billion home entertainment industry. VSDA represents over 3,000 companies throughout the United States, Canada and 22 other countries. Membership comprises the full spectrum of video retailers (both independents and large chains), as well as the home video divisions of all major and independent motion picture studios, video game and multimedia producers, and other related businesses that constitute and support the home video entertainment industry. The VSDA Convention & Expo is organized through Home Video Entertainment Events (HVEE), a joint venture between the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) and Advanstar Communications to own and produce conferences, tradeshows and other industry events in support of the home entertainment industry.