VENICE, Italy -- Babelgum, the free-to-view global Internet television network, will hold the Babelgum Online Film Festival, a major online event celebrating and rewarding the very best in international independent short filmmaking. The announcement was made today by Valerio Zingarelli, Chief Executive Officer of Babelgum, during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival.

Critically acclaimed and award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee has been named as Honorary Judge of the Babelgum Online Film Festival jury of industry experts drawn from around the world. The general public also will play a role in the selection of award finalists in six specific competitive categories:

Mr. Lee joins Jury members Joe Bateman, Festival Director of the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival (U.K.); Ally Derks, Director of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (The Netherlands); Bhuvan Lall, Founder of the Indian Independent Filmmakers Worldwide Association (India); Tiziana Loschi, Managing Director of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Citia (City of Moving Images) (France); Joe Neulight, Co-Founder and President of Withoutabox (U.S.); Sandra Ruch, Executive Director of the International Documentary Association (U.S.); Teri Schwartz, Dean of the Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television (U.S.); Jess Search, Co-Founder of Shooting People (U.K.); and Carl Spence, Artistic Director of the Seattle International Film Festival and Director of Programming of the Palm Springs International Film Festival (U.S.).

Regarding the announcement, Mr. Lee stated, “Now more than ever before, independent filmmakers need every bit of help to showcase their work. The Babelgum Online Film Festival will accomplish this, as it combines the value of a film festival with the openness of the Internet for those seeking to advance their careers.”

Mr. Zingarelli noted, “We are honored to have Spike Lee and this talented jury for our festival. The Babelgum Online Film Festival is an exciting project that will heighten awareness for Babelgum, attract quality films for the competition and give the public an important voice in identifying the next great filmmakers of our time.”

Babel Networks Ltd.