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U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TO BE SHOWCASED DURING TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
~ Hollywood’s heavy hitters to preview America’s Caribbean at industry event ~

ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands, April 28, 2008 — As film industry insiders descend upon lower Manhattan for the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, the U.S. Virgin Islands Film Office will be front and center at Leviathan Productions’ annual industry reception on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. During the reception, an estimated audience of 200 film producers, creative directors, feature filmmakers, established actors, musicians, entrepreneurs and record label representatives will have a chance to discuss the destination with USVI representatives, sample signature Cruzan Rum punch and view the new destination DVD, which includes video, photos and narrative of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ various location offerings. Attendees will also receive the Film Office’s new marketing materials in their gift bags and will be given a chance to win a five-night trip to Carambola Beach Resort in St. Croix to scout the destination’s filming locations firsthand.

“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Rena Brodhurst, Publisher of The Avis on St. Croix and Senator James Weber III for initially presenting this opportunity to us,” said Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty. “We would like to continue to encourage the public to present their ideas and opportunities for promoting the U.S. Virgin Islands to the Department of Tourism.”

One of the Department of Tourism’s initial objectives was to get the community involved in the overall marketing of the destination. “[The] Tribeca Film Festival’s event could open new and exciting doors in your quest to improve tourism in the Virgin Islands,” stated Brodhurst when presenting the idea to the Commissioner.

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2001 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff following the attacks on the World Trade Center to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan through an annual celebration of film, music and culture. Since its founding, the Festival has attracted over two million attendees from the U.S. and abroad and has generated more than $425 million in economic activity for New York City. For more information about the Tribeca Film Festival, visit www.tribecafilmfestival.org.

For information about the United States Virgin Islands, visit usvitourism.vi. When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel—including on-line check-in—making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.

Member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization

For more information contact:
Shone Jemmott/Yale Frederiksen
M Booth & Associates
300 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010
(212) 481-7000
usviteam@mbooth.com