The 21st Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival POPS CORK ON FIRST -TIME WINE LOUNGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Fort Lauderdale, FL) September 12, 2006 – This year, at the 21st Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, filmmakers and festival attendees will be able to enjoy a glass of fine wine, and make a toast to humanity, after festival films showcased November 6 – 12 at Sunrise Cinemas Las Riverfront theatres. The Toast to Humanity™ Wine Lounge at Las Olas Riverfront will be conveniently located just a short walk from the theaters within the Sundance Festival Cafe. The Wine Lounge is sponsored by Toast to Humanity™ , a 501c3 organization and cause-branding promotion,that aligns corporations with charitable organizations. Each vineyard represented in the Wine Lounge will don the Toast to Humanity Seal signifying that they are supporting humanitarian causes worldwide. This year's charities include the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, A Child Is Missing and Magic Beans Horse Camp. The wine lounge also provides an opportunity to learn more about vineyards and their wines, as tasting notes and vineyard notes will be provided as well as copies of the organization's Weekend Wine Watch, which appears monthly in USA Today. New initiatives are developed on a regular basis at Toast to Humanity™ Brands featured at The Toast to Humanity™ Wine Lounge at Las Olas Riverwalk include Napa Valley's Bourassa Vineyard's 2004 Sauvignon Blanc and 2005 Los Carneros Chardonnay, 2004 Odyssey Zinfandel, and 2004 Rhapsody Syrah. Maison Sichel, Bordeaux, France Sirius red, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with a small proportion of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Sirius white is mainly Semillon with some Sauvignon Blanc. This new blend, of regional Bordeaux, whose concept was developed in 1985, is now gaining popularity in the U.S. Palm Bay Imports will be also be presenting their Cavit Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir at the Wine Lounge. Cavit Wines are from the northern Italian province of Trentino and rate as America's #1 Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir. The Toast to Humanity™ Wine Lounge will be open to festival Film Talent, FLIFF Members, Fast Pass Holders, Gallery One Hotel FLIFF Package holders and Sponsors. To become a member, festival sponsor or to purchase a fast pass, visit www.FLIFF.com or call 954-525-3456 ext 103 for memberships and passes and ext 101 for sponsorships. Toast to Humanity's™ mission is to effectively utilize cause-branding, to align corporations with social and charitable causes, resulting in increased consumer confidence and loyalty for their products. Their goal is to provide worthy charitable organizations the support needed to fulfill their mission of being compassionate stewards of humanitarian causes. Information on Toast to Humanity™ as well as some their partners will be available in the Toast to Humanity™ Wine Lounge or visit www.toasttohumanity.com. FESTIVAL TICKETS/DETAILS: Tickets for films range between $5 and $10. Events are priced separately. For advance tickets, memberships, passes and a complete film schedule visit www.FLIFF.com or call 954-525-3456. FESTIVAL HOTEL: This year FLIFF's host hotel is the beautiful, newly renovated, 4-star hotel, Gallery One Fort Lauderdale located two blocks from the beach on the Intracoastal off East Sunrise Blvd. The hotel will also be the hub for late night conversation with visiting film talent, festival staff, and other film buffs, in a relaxed atmosphere. For special FLIFF rates and packages, visit www.galleryone.doubletree.com or call 954-565-3800. FESTIVAL THEATRE VENUES: October 21 – November 2: Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6 Street, Ft. Lauderdale October 20, November 3-5, November 12: Parker Playhouse November 6 – 11: Sunrise Cinemas at Las Olas Riverfront CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL FESTIVAL SPONSORS include: Broward County, Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Florida Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, City of Fort Lauderdale, Steve Savor, Jet Blue, Air France, British Airways, Gallery One Fort Lauderdale, Sundance Channel, DeSantis Center, Metro PCS, Toast To Humanity, IFC, Stella Artois, DubHouse, Alpine Jaguar, Autonation, Kodak, Antje Farber, Vasquez Foundation, Alitalia, UBS, Parker Playhouse, Blue Ocean Press, Boca Developers, Paramount Vending, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Random Access, Sunrise Cinemas, Pedicab, GLCC South Florida, Las Olas Fine Art Gallery, Stork's, African American Research Library, Gallery 721, Las Olas by the River, Media Freight, Chopin Foundation of the United States, Yamaha, City of Weston, Community Redevelopment Agency of Hollywood, , The Bay Harbor Islands, The Equitable Bank, Blue Martini, The Independent Film Channel, Funding Arts Broward, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Enterprise Rent A Car, Sun Dream Yacht Charters, Bank United, LaPlaya, Tikki Beach, Savoire Faire, Successful Images, MEDIA SPONSORS AND PARTNERS include: Comcast, Miami Herald, Go Riverwalk, City Smart Magazine, El Nuevo Herald, New Times, Promenade News, JumpOnMarksList.com, Express Gay News, The 411, WFLC-FM The Coast-FM, 93 ROCK, WLRN-FM, Deco Drive, "Big 105.9", "Y-100", WIOD-FM. ABOUT FLIFF: The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival is a 501(3)(c) not-for profit organization dedicated to presenting top new independent film from the U.S. and around the globe, introducing visiting filmmakers to Fort Lauderdale, supporting Florida filmmakers and film students, and providing an outlet for cultural arts to the South Florida Community year-round. For more information concerning any of the press releases listed above, please contact: Jan Mitchell & Associates, Inc Mobile: 954-649-0258 e-mail: janpubpromo@yahoo.com Back to Press Room © 2006 Toast To Humanity | All Rights Reserved | info@toasttohumanity.com