Contact: Jeanne Corcoran
NFO Production Manager
Phone: (702) 486-2713

For Immediate Release
January 30, 2006

LAS VEGAS, Nv. Lieutenant Governor Lorraine T. Hunt, Chair of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development which oversees the Nevada Film Office (NFO), received the Las Vegas Film Critics Society annual Silver Nitrate Award at a Nevada Film Office press event Friday afternoon held at the Aladdin Resort and hosted by Planet Hollywood.

Tim Rubald, Executive Director of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, made the unannounced introduction of the Las Vegas Film Critics Society President as the press conference was ready to begin, and the Lieutenant Governor was pleased although surprised by the award.    "This is a very special honor and I appreciate it greatly," said Lt. Gov. Hunt.  "The film industry is an important element in our economic diversification efforts, as the revenues clearly indicate.  I look forward to continuing to work to attract more production.  With the competition for productions increases between various states and internationally, we need to be as creative and aggressive as possible to maintain and increase our market share."  She  also acknowledged the Nevada Film Office’s efforts that have helped take filming activity to new heights during her two terms of office as Lieutenant Governor. 

 “The Silver Nitrate Award is given each year to a person or organization that has served filmmaking in Nevada to an extraordinary degree,” says Jeffrey Howard, President of the Las Vegas Film Critics Society.  “Lieutenant Governor Hunt has been an enthusiastic and energetic proponent and supporter of filming for several decades in Nevada.  The Lieutenant Governor not only seeks to encourage filming in her current leadership role, but she helped found Nevada’s first film board and develop programs and materials to reach out to the filmmaking community of industry professionals throughout California nearly twenty years ago.”

Previous recipients of the Silver Nitrate Award have included Anthony Zuiker, creator and producer of the hit CBS television series, C.S.I., which has provided millions of dollars worth of “free” publicity for Las Vegas through its exposure to a national and worldwide audience of countless  millions of potential tourists.  Additionally, the far-reaching television exposure has generated expanded production interest in shooting on location in Nevada.  Such location production contributes to more than $100 million in annual filming revenues of all types throughout the state. 

During the awards luncheon Lt. Gov. Hunt was also acknowledged for her role in the establishment of the Nevada Chapter of Women in Film.  Phyllis Cesare-Taie, president and founder of WIF Las Vegas said, "The accomplishments and support of Lorraine Hunt were key to the final approval of a Nevada chapter of Women in Film.   In 2002, WIF International division granted my requested to establish a chapter, based on the phenomenal growth Nevada has shown within the film industry over the past 5 years.  We owe our chapter's acceptance to Lorraine."

For additional information, questions or comments, please contact Jeffrey Howard, President of the Las Vegas Film Critics Society at (702) 220-5073.