LOTR: Audience Choice in Santa Monica
Xoanon @ 7:55 pm EST

Hurricane Kailin writes: The last movie in this year's Santa Monica Drive-In at the Pier series will be the first in the Lord of the Rings series -- The Fellowship of the Ring. Due to the length of the film and earlier sunset times, the screening will start at 7:30. Admission is FREE but tickets will be required for entry. Free tickets can be picked up between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at any Santa Monica Visitors Center location: Santa Monica Place Mall, 2nd Floor West; the Visitor Kiosk at 1400 Ocean Avenue; and the new Visitor Information Cart on the 3rd Street Promenade between Arizona and Wilshire. Check www.smff.com or call 310-458-8900 for additional outlets and more information. Especially enthusiastic guests may feel free to dress the part!

Over 1,000 fans of the Drive-in voted in the audience choice web poll. The Santa Monica Drive-In has been a great success, featuring ten movies in as many weeks, representing several different genres, time periods and interests. Welcoming crowds of 2,000 - 4,000 each week, the Drive-In raised almost $1,000 each week to help individuals undergoing cancer treatment.

All proceeds from these events support Cinema Fighting Cancer programs and help fund the Cancer Relief Fund; last year's Drive-In helped support 13 families going through treatment. Founded in 1999, Deep Ellum Film, Music, Arts and Noise, Inc., (DEFMAN) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization working to promote the art of filmmaking while raising funds to improve the quality of life for individuals fighting cancer. For more information on DEFMAN and "Cinema Fighting Cancer", please visit www.smff.com.

The Santa Monica Drive-In at the Pier is proudly produced by Deep Ellum, Film, Music, Arts and Noise (DEFMAN) and the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation and presented by Adelphia Cable with support from Arrowhead Water, the City of Santa Monica, CityTV, Comedy Central, Deep Ellum Pictures, DIRECTV, HBO, 95.5 KLOS, Lantana Hines, Lightning Entertainment, Premiere Magazine, Showtime, Starz Network, Sundance Channel and the WB Network.