MONTREAL, April 28 /CNW Telbec/ - The search is back on for Canada's
newest film talent. Submissions are now being accepted for Air Canada's
enRoute Film Festival, an annual showcase of short films by emerging Canadian
filmmakers on board Air Canada flights. With a potential audience of almost 3
million passengers monthly, Air Canada is taking Canadian short films to new
heights. In addition, in a first for Canadian airlines, Air Canada customers
are able to start watching movies and enjoy other on-board entertainment from
the moment they take their seats on the aircraft up to the time they
disembark.
    Short films will be broadcast on Air Canada's seatback entertainment
system from July to December 2009. The public can watch the films inflight and
online at enroutefilm.com and follow the competition in Air Canada's enRoute
magazine.
    "We are very proud to be supporting emerging Canadian filmmakers for a
third year. Air Canada's inflight film festival provides talented young
Canadians with a unique opportunity to bring their creativity to millions of
viewers around the world," said Louise McKenven, Senior Director Product
Design - Marketing, at Air Canada. "Our customers now enjoy viewing original
Canadian productions before and during take-off and while landing, which makes
flying even more fun and reduces the chance that the flight will end before
their program is over."

    Awards will be handed out honouring:

    - Best Short Film
    - Achievement in Animation
    - Achievement in Direction
    - Achievement in Cinematography

    Awards will be decided upon by a celebrity jury and presented at a
special screening and awards gala in Toronto at the end of the year. The Best
Short Film winner will be awarded a brand new Ford vehicle and all award
winners will receive an all-inclusive Air Canada trip for two to a major
international film festival.
    The Festival is open to emerging Canadian filmmakers (currently studying
in a film program, recently graduated or informally trained) anywhere in the
world. For more information on eligibility, rules and regulations and an entry
form visit enroutefilm.com.
    "Our festival has come a long way in a very short amount of time," said
Shane Smith, Festival Director. "This year we are happy to extend the
competition to all emerging filmmakers formally and informally trained in
film."
    Entry to Air Canada's enRoute Student Film Festival is free of charge;
the deadline is May 31, 2009. Applications and relevant information are
available at enroutefilm.com.

    enRoute, Air Canada's in-flight magazine, celebrates Canadian achievement
in film, music, design and cultural innovation. The monthly magazine has
received numerous awards including Best Travel Magazine at the 2007 North
American Travel Journalists' Association Awards.

    Montréal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air
transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 170 destinations on five
continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 13th largest commercial airline in
the world and serves 33 million customers annually. Air Canada is a founding
member of Star Alliance, providing the world's most comprehensive air
transportation network for Canadian domestic, transborder and international
travel. Air Canada aircraft offer customers individualized seatback in-flight
entertainment systems with hundreds of hours of digital audio-visual
entertainment. As well, customers can collect Aeroplan miles for future awards
through Canada's leading loyalty program.
    In 2008, the readers of Business Traveler magazine voted Air Canada "Best
In-Flight Services in North America," "Best Airline for Business Class Service
in North America" and "Best North American Airline for International Travel."