NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE THREE AMIGOS RECEIVES TWO MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AWARDS 
Humour and non-threatening approach to AIDS prevention education gaining wide-spread support 

 The Three Amigos, a series of twenty (20) world-class animated Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) 
designed to entrench the use of condoms to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the world, received two 
major international awards announced recently:

*	The Grand Festival Award at the Berkeley Film and Video Festival in Berkeley, California. 
*	An Honorable Mention at the Chris Awards in Columbus, Ohio. 

The Berkeley Video & Film Festival (BV&FF): The BV&FF was created in 1990 to provide a venue for 
independent film and videomakers. BV&FF programs and screens original works, all which have been juried 
by a screening committee of professional media makers at film theaters in Berkeley, California, home of the 
free speech movement. The Grand Festival Award is the highest prize. The award presentation is in 
California on October 15, 2004.  Further information on the BV&FF can be found at: 
http://berkeleyvideofilmfest.org/index.shtml

The Columbus International Film & Video Festival: (Chris Awards): The Chris Awards have been 
awarded continuously for 51 years, making it one of the oldest film festivals. The Awards Ceremony is 
November 13, 2004. Further information on the Chris Awards can be found at: 
http://www.chrisawards.org/pages/home.html

The Three Amigos has been produced by over 80 volunteers in Canada, India and South Africa. The PSA’s 
are 60, 30, 20 and 15 seconds each.  Featuring three animated (2D) condom characters called Shaft, 
Stretch and Dick, the PSA’s use comedy as a medium.  The PSA’s are currently being dubbed in Ottawa into 
50 languages, making 1000 spots available for use through-out the world.  

The PSA’s are available free to broadcasters, NGO’s and community groups.  Further information is 
available at www.thethreeamigos.org

Since completion in March, 2004, The Three Amigos has also received two Golden Reels (Gold), a Silver 
Hugo and ZoieFest Award.  The Three Amigos has also been Official Selections at several festivals, 
including the Ottawa International Animation Festival, CINEME in Chicago, the XV International AIDS 
Conference in Bangkok, Vue D’Afrique in Montreal, Ten Years of Freedom in New York, the Durban Film 
Festival and the One World Festival in Ottawa.

For additional information and interviews please contact: 

Firdaus J. Kharas. Producer & Director. Tel: (1)(613) 820-6121 Fax: (1)(613) 820-4679 e-mail: 
info@thethreeamigos.org