BABAK GETS INTO FILM FESTIVALS by SARA SEFEED

NEW YORK, July 6, 2005 – Last week, Babak and Friends – A First Norooz was selected by the prestigious Napa Valley Wine Country Film Festival as well as the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival. The news is a great achievement for Norooz Production, the company behind this holiday film, which was launched into the market on DVD in March. The film tells the story of a young Iranian boy growing up outside of Iran and feeling left out when his friends celebrate holidays like Christmas. With the help of his family and the fantastical characters of Amoo Norooz and Haji Firooz, Babak learns about ancient Persian traditions and grows proud of his rich heritage.

Director Dustin Ellis is thrilled with the news. "It has always been our goal to reach a broader audience than the Iranian one the cartoon was initially made for. We are genuinely thrilled that this gives us the opportunity to show American audiences that there is more to Iranians than what the media portrays," he commented. Ellis was recently also featured in the American industry magazine called Animation Magazine, which reaches an International audience.

“We are going to the festivals with the hopes of educating all children about the rich history of Iran, “ added Executive producer Mastaneh Moghadam. And with festivals like KIDS FIRST!, Norooz production will be able to do just that. KIDS FIRST! Is the largest children's film festival in the world, reaching more than 150,000 people around the world through collaboration with children's museums, non-profit film centers and similar venues. In addition to being selected for these film festivals, Babak and Friends was also selected as an “endorsed product” by KIDS FIRST. The 19th Wine Country Film Festival and the Napa Valley Film Festival will take place over July and August in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Norooz Productions continues to enter other film festivals to reach a broader audience in the year to come.

About Babak and Friends – A First Norooz

Babak and Friends – A First Norooz is a cartoon about a little boy named Babak who is caught between two cultures and is trying to understand the beauty of Persian culture through celebrating Norooz. Amoo Norooz and Haji Firooz are there to help him through this life-changing process. They take him on an epic stroll through the halls of Persepolis in his dream, and teach him about his great heritage. For more visit www.babakandfriends.com.

About the Napa Valley Wine and Country Film Festival

Featuring Over 100 films from around the world screen at Copia, the American Center for Food, Wine and the Arts in Napa, the historic Sebastiani Theater and the Woman's Club in Sonoma. The Wine Country Film Festival stands for quality films that engage, inspire and deepen our common humanity. Many of the films are simply unavailable elsewhere. Our tradition of showcasing remarkable international cinema continues, providing a familiar environment, which dedicated film fest goers find comforting. Our program of features, docs, shorts and animation promises to be the strongest slate ever. For more visit www.winecountryfilmfest.com.

About KIDS FIRST! Film Festival

The KIDS FIRST! Film and Video Festival is dedicated to "promoting excellence in children's films and engaging children as film critics, curators and filmmakers." Critical to the impact of the Festival is providing educational programs alongside a showcase of outstanding children's films, videos, and DVDs from national and international producers as well as children themselves. For updated information on festival locations and dates, visit www.kidsfirst.org