ABSOLUT and Spike Jonze Premiere I'm Here at Sundance Film Festival

ABSOLUT and Spike Jonze Premiere I'm Here at Sundance Film Festival

Stockholm, Sweden/Park City, United States, January 21 /PRNewswire/ — Acclaimed filmmaker Spike Jonze premieres his latest work - I'm Here, a 30-minute short film - today at the Sundance Film Festival as part of the first-ever Opening Night's Shorts Program at the festival. The film is a collaboration with ABSOLUT VODKA, and the partnership acknowledges the brand's position as a pioneering and culture-shaping brand. ABSOLUT has always stood out in the marketplace as a groundbreaking company that has been supporting artists for decades. Previous collaborations include those with Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Helmut Newton. I'm Here honors the brand's history while embarking on a new and innovative alliance with one of today's most original filmmakers. The film came about when ABSOLUT reached out to Jonze to make a film, and gave him creative control to create the film he wanted.

"It was a pretty incredible opportunity," says Jonze. "They (ABSOLUT) didn't give me any requirements to make a movie that had anything to do with vodka. They just wanted me to make something that was important to me, and let my imagination take me wherever I wanted. And it wasn't like working with some huge corporation where I had to meet with committees of people. It was just a small group, and it seemed like creativity and making something that affected them emotionally was the only thing that really mattered to them. I got to make my first love story. It's about the relationship between two robots living in Los Angeles". I'm Here will also screen at the Berlin Film Festival in February, followed by a global release in March on www.imheremovie.com. View the teaser trailer at the official film site www.imheremovie.com.

"Since its inception, ABSOLUT VODKA has been driven by creativity, and together with Spike Jonze we set a new standard for creative collaborations," says Anna Malmhake, Vice President Global Marketing at The Absolut Company. "Spike Jonze is one of the most important influencers of modern popular culture, and this 30-minute film subtly and artfully expresses our enduring commitment to collaborations and creativity."

I'm Here, a 30-minute short film by Spike Jonze. Featuring Andrew Garfield and Sienna Guillory in the lead roles. The soundtrack includes original music by Sam Spiegel and original songs by L.A.-based art musician Aska Matsumiya and other emerging musicians.

Follow the I'm Here blog at http://blog.imheremovie.com/
Press images are available at http://press.absolut.com.

Credits:
Title: I'm Here
Length: 31 minutes
Director: Spike Jonze
Writer: Spike Jonze
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Sienna Guillory
Producer: Vincent Landay
Executive Producer: Mark Figliulo, Matt Bijarchi
Director Of Photography: Adam Kimmel, A.S.C.
Editors: Eric Zumbrunnen, A.C.E., Stephen Berger
Production Designer: Floyd Albee
Casting By: Justine Baddeley & Kim Davis-Wagner
Costume Designer: Casey Storm
Robot Designer: Sonny Gerasimowicz
Sound Designer: Ren Klyce
Original Score By: Sam Spiegel
"There are many of us" By: Aska Matsumiya
Lost Trees Music Produced By: Nick Zinner
Visual Effects Supervisor: Ben Gibbs
Visual Effects By: Method Studios
Produced In Association with MJZ

Notes to the editor:

The creative collaboration between ABSOLUT VODKA and Spike Jonze will be accompanied by a charitable donation of $30,000 to 20/20, an American Film Institute (AFI) initiative, designed to enhance cultural exchange, understanding and collaboration through filmmakers and their films from the US and abroad. Spike and ABSOLUT are each donating $15,000.

The collaboration with Spike Jonze was created by long-standing ad agency of record TBWA\Chiat\Day. In addition to the 30-minute film, there are also 30 and 60 second trailers, to be used online and as TV commercials globally.

The Absolut Company has the worldwide responsibility for the production and marketing of ABSOLUT VODKA and Level Vodka. ABSOLUT VODKA is the world's fourth largest premium spirits brand, and it is sold in 126 markets. Every bottle of ABSOLUT VODKA is produced in Ahus in southern Sweden. The head office is located in Stockholm, Sweden. Since July 2008, The Absolut Company is owned by Pernod Ricard, which holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector.


The Absolut Company has the worldwide responsibility for the production and marketing of ABSOLUT VODKA and Level Vodka. ABSOLUT VODKA is the world's fourth largest premium spirits brand, and it is sold in 126 markets. Every bottle of ABSOLUT VODKA is produced in Åhus in southern Sweden. The head office is located in Stockholm, Sweden. Since July 2008, The Absolut Company is owned by Pernod Ricard, which holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector.

Press Contact
Åsa Caap
Senior Manager Global PR
The Absolut Company
asa.caap@absolut.com
Tel: +46708211765

Amanda Lundberg
Festival PR
amanda.lundberg@42west.net
Tel: +1 212 2777554