Delta and Gen Art Toast Second Annual Delta’s Fly-In Movies Short Film Contest Winner

Actress Cheryl Hines Hosts Celebratory Party at SKY360 by Delta – Park City for Vancouver Filmmaker, Robert Kirbyson, during 2008 Sundance Film Festival; Kirbyson receives cash prize and round-trip tickets from Delta

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) toasted the winner of its second annual national short film competition, Delta’s Fly-In Movies, at a celebratory party hosted Wednesday night by Cheryl Hines at SKY360° by Delta - Park City during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Vancouver filmmaker Robert Kirbyson was awarded the top prize for his film “Ctrl Z.” In addition to the trip to Sundance, Kirbyson receives a $10,000 cash award and a pair of round-trip tickets valid anywhere Delta flies worldwide.

“Ctrl Z” stars Tony Hale (“Arrested Development”) as Stuart Barnes, an office loner with a lifetime full of regrets who has a change of luck when a computer malfunction offers him the chance to magically undo his life’s mistakes. He takes full advantage, but how far is too far?

Delta, the Official Airline of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, partnered with Gen Art – one of the leading arts and entertainment organizations dedicated to showcasing the best emerging talent in film, fashion, visual arts and music – to host the contest which offers filmmakers a unique opportunity to showcase their short films both on the airline’s web site at delta.com and on Delta on Demand, the airline’s industry-leading in-flight entertainment system. All five finalists received a trip to Park City, Utah, the site of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, to attend the celebratory party - courtesy of Delta. The winning film was chosen from five films through audience balloting at delta.com and on Delta on Demand from Dec. 3, 2007 - Jan. 15, 2008.

“Delta is proud to recognize new filmmaking talent and celebrate independent film as a returning sponsor of the Sundance Film Festival," said Tim Mapes, vice president of Marketing for Delta. "We congratulate Robert Kirbyson, as well as the other talented finalists who have all produced truly inventive and entertaining short films.”

"I am honored and very excited to win this award, and am grateful to Delta and GenArt for this opportunity and recognition,” said Kirbyson. “I guess this means I'm now emerging."

This year, nearly 150,000 passengers viewed the five finalist films in-flight on Delta on Demand, with an additional 200,000 viewings taking place at delta.com.
The four other finalist films included:

Slow” by Kurt Kuenne: a depiction of a traffic safety worker who is accidentally caught in the background of a newspaper photo drastically changing his life forever.

“Tales of a Mere Existence: Conversation” by Levni Yilmaz: how a simple trip to the video store can bring up everything that’s wrong with your relationship.

“T’is the Season” by Bob Giovanelli: when a little girl goes to see Santa Claus, she is disappointed to find he is on a break. Fortunately for her, she stumbles on a somewhat unorthodox replacement.

“Morning Fall” by Edward McGinty: a mysterious man wakes up on the side of the road, injured and confused; Who is he? Where does he come from? And where will he end up when he can’t find his way home?

Delta’s first Fly-In Movies winner, Phillip Van, who was awarded the win by delta.com and Delta on Demand viewers in 2007, for his film “High Maintenance”, was honored on June 9, 2007 with a silver medal in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 34th Annual Student Academy Awards® competition.

Throughout the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, SKY360 by Delta - Park City, an experiential lodge showcasing Delta’s products and service offerings, played host to exclusive premiere parties and events, and opened its doors to the public. The lodge also served as the site for the WireImage Portrait Studio, where filmmakers, casts and industry executives posed for their official Festival portraits.

“SKY360 - Park City provided us with an ideal opportunity to host high profile Sundance Film Festival events, as well as welcome Festival guests to experience firsthand Delta’s new and distinctive products,” added Mapes.

SKY360 by Delta - Park City guests relaxed in Delta’s comfy, all-leather airline seats while sampling Delta on Demand which features a wide selection of movies, HBO, music and video games – all available on demand. Delta’s new full-flat bed seating in personal sleeper suite configuration was also available for guests to enjoy. The suites recline to multiple comfortable positions, including a completely flat surface that offers travelers a six-foot three-inch bed. In addition, SKY360 - Park City guests enjoyed selections from Midnight Sky – a signature cocktail program created exclusively for Delta by nightlife proprietor Rande Gerber – and food selections designed by Delta’s culinary partners, chefs Michelle Bernstein and Todd English.

Gen Art is one of the leading arts and entertainment organizations dedicated to showcasing the best emerging talent in film, fashion, visual arts and music. With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and San Francisco, Gen Art has succeeded in launching the careers of many young filmmakers, fashion designers, visual artists and musicians, providing them with high-profile events that welcome industry and new audiences alike. Gen Art was founded in 1993 by Ian and Stefan Gerard. The organization has quickly become a leader in championing the talent of a new generation.

Gen Art's film program includes over 60 events each year including the Gen Art Film Festival which will be celebrating its 13th year in 2008, its national film screening program which includes over 40 film screenings across the country each year, its "Cinema Circle" program as well as various customized film programs like "Shorts by the Beach" and 2nd Annual Gen Art Chicago Film Festival (June 2008) that occur throughout the year.

Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 321 destinations in 58 countries. Delta has added more international capacity than any major U.S. airline during the last two years and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers more than 500 weekly flights to 63 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 15,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 485 worldwide destinations in 106 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.