LAS VEGAS, Nv. Lieutenant Governor Lorraine T. Hunt and Nevada Film Office Director Charles Geocaris presented a variety of awards and prizes to the top three screenwriters of the 2000 NFO Screenplay Competition at a luncheon held in their honor at Planet Hollywood, Caesar's Palace Las Vegas. Planet Hollywood hosted the luncheon together with "The Movie Guys" film critics Jeffrey Howard and David Neil. Professor Sean Clark of the UNLV Film Department were among the guests present.

The first place winning script BRO - Bull Riders Only was written by Melinda May of San Diego, California. Ms. May commented, "Although I am the 13th winner of this honor in the history of the competition, I am particularly pleased to be the first screenwriter whose script was presented as a script-in-hand reading at CineVegas [Film Festival]." At that event, Ms. May was also the first recipient of the CineVegas/Nevada Film Office award statuette for her accomplishment, which she received on stage at the awards ceremony of the festival.

Colleen Bridget Irwin, second place winner of the competition for her screenplay Pardon My Spurs is a local Las Vegan. Ms. Irwin stated, "I think it's wonderful how much the Nevada Film Office does for the writers. It's quite an opportunity." For the first time in the competition's 13-year history, six of the top ten finalist scripts were written by Nevadans. "This says great things about the talent growing right here in our State," said Lieutenant Governor Hunt, "as all scripts are judged completely bind, without any indication of the writer's gender, nationality, residency or other characteristics. Nearly two dozen professionals judge scripts that come in from around the world, so the competition is quite diverse."

Joseph Zeccola, third place winner with his comedy Get Off The Schnide, is a former Nevada resident whose parents still reside in Las Vegas. He traveled from Los Angeles to attend the luncheon and said "I'm excited to know my script will go out to industry professionals in the Hollywood/Los Angeles area." The top three scripts are copied and distributed by the Nevada Film Office to a select group of producers and production companies who have specifically requested the opportunity to read the winning scripts.

In addition to the luncheon for the honorees and invited guests, prizes and awards for the top three winners of the 2000 competition included Certificates of Achievement from Governor Kenny Guinn and the Lieutenant Governor, cash awards in the amount of $500 for first place, $250 for second, and $125 for third, "Final Draft" screenwriting software, screenwriting books, hats, tee-shirts and miscellaneous other items from the NFO.

Information concerning the 14th Annual Screenplay Competition for 2001 -- the oldest event of its kind in the United States -- can be accessed on the Nevada Film Office website at www.nevadafilm.com. Interested persons can also request that complete rules and guidelines be sent to them by fax, mail, or e-mail by calling the Film Office in Las Vegas at (702) 486-2711 and in Reno/Tahoe at (775) 687-1814.