ATOM PRESS

ATOMFILMS, SCI-FI CHANNEL & LUCASFILM HONOR STAR WARS FAN FILM AWARD WINNERS

George Lucas judges contest's top award; independent filmmakers earn prize money and appearance in SCI-FI Channel special

SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 2002 -- AtomFilms and Lucasfilm Ltd. have announced the winners in the Star Wars Fan Film Awards, an official contest designed to celebrate Star Wars-themed spoofs and documentaries created by fans of Lucasfilm's Star Wars saga. The event's top prizewinner, as judged by Star Wars creator George Lucas, is "Christmas Tauntauns," a computer-animated musical by British animator Matt Bagshaw. The online audience's top choice, as designated by voting in April, is "Star Wars Gangsta Rap." Eight other prizes were also awarded, judged by Lucasfilm representatives. All of the winners and finalists are now available for viewing online at the official Star Wars Fan Film Awards Web site: starwars.atom.com.

"The Fan Film Awards have given us the opportunity to officially recognize the unique passion and talents of Star Wars fans," said Steve Sansweet, Lucasfilm's head of fan relations. "We have been very impressed with the quality of the films submitted for this event."

Since beginning online at the award-winning AtomFilms Web site in December 2001, the Fan Film Awards have grown into an innovative entertainment event, generating large amounts of consumer enthusiasm on the Internet, in the 'real world,' and on television:

• Over 250 films were submitted to AtomFilms for contest consideration, and 44 award finalists were viewed online over 1,000,000 times during the month of April.
• Winners were first announced at a special ceremony at Lucasfilm's recent fan convention in Indianapolis, Star Wars Celebration II.
• Select winners and finalists will be presented on SCI FI Channel's upcoming one-hour special, "The Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards." Filmmaker Kevin Smith hosts the program, which premieres Sunday, May 12 at 8pm ET/PT.

AtomFilms Vice President & General Manager Scott Roesch said, "The Fan Film Awards have proven to be a great venue for celebrating fandom, and for helping talented independent filmmakers take their careers to the next level."

AtomFilms is the exclusive worldwide distributor for the finalists, all of whom will earn quarterly royalty payments based on online advertising and sponsorship. Contest winners also earn prize money from AtomFilms, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. More information on the Star Wars Fan Film Awards is available at starwars.atom.com.

Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the leading independent film and entertainment companies in the world. Lucasfilm's businesses include George Lucas' film and television production and distribution activities as well as the business activities of the THX Group. Lucasfilm's feature films have won 19 Oscars and received 52 Academy Award nominations, and its television projects have won 12 Emmy Awards. For more information on Star Wars, visit www.starwars.com.

SCI-FI Channel, owned and operated by USA Cable, a division of USA Networks, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: USAI) Entertainment Group, transmits fantastic images to 78 million human homes. Launched in 1992, SCI FI features a continuous stream of cinematic hits, new and original series, and special events, as well as classic sci-fi, fantasy, and horror programming. Check out SCIFI.COM®, the SCI FI Channel's award-winning Web site, at www.scifi.com.

A pioneer and leader in online entertainment, AtomFilms licenses and distributes quality short-form film and animation content across a broad range of distribution channels, including the Internet, broadband services, mobile devices, airlines, and television networks. The award-winning AtomFilms Web site (www.atom.com), visited by millions of consumers every month, is the Internet's leading destination for the viewing of high-quality entertainment and the discovery of new talent.