HP to host VIP Lounge, Closing Night Party and Technology Experience Zones

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 28, 2011 — Embracing the innovation that spurs artistic vision, HP is partnering with Cinequest Inc. for the second year in a row to sponsor the 2011 Cinequest Film Festival. Held from March 1-13, the annual Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, CA empowers mavericks through the creation and discovery of cinematic art and innovation, plus the connection of artists, innovators, movie lovers and students. The dynamic 13-day event, which includes over 250 international films, 75 U.S., North American and world premieres, and represents 41 countries, expects 90,000 people in attendance this year.

This year’s festival will include an HP-hosted VIP Lounge and closing night party, and will feature various HP technology experience areas throughout festival grounds, including HP TouchSmart PCs, notebooks, digital signage, workstations, ePrint printers, HP Beats premium audio and more.

“HP and Cinequest are collaborating to celebrate the unique relationship between content producers and film fans around the world, highlighting the spirit of filmmakers, designers, artists, directors and enthusiasts,” and said Carlos Montalvo, vice president, Innovation Program Office, Personal Systems Group, HP. “This year’s event will showcase how these individuals can use HP technology to pursue their personal and professional passions.”

This year, HP will deploy a network of more than 15 HP LD4200 and 2310e Digital Signage Displays, powered by HP SignagePlayer mp8000s media players, throughout the festival. The digital signs will display real-time information on film screening schedules, Twitter activity from event attendees via TweetRiver, news feeds about the festival and live event photos.

Festival patrons will also have the chance to interact with HP TouchSmart PCs loaded with a touch-enabled interactive program guide application, developed by Trellist, Inc., which will connect users to a wide array of festival information about screenings, special events and Cinequest ticket packages. Users can also search for films, and browse by country, genre, date and venue or view film summaries and trailers.

HP and Cinequest will also encourage film viewers to take a touch-enabled, interactive film survey using the HP TouchSmart PCs that will aggregate and display live audience review data.

Located in downtown San Jose, this year’s HP VIP Lounge will be open daily to VIP ticket holders and filmmakers for the duration of the festival. The VIP Lounge will offer festival attendees a place to relax and experience HP’s latest innovations, including a music station featuring HP ENVY notebooks with integrated Beats Audio where attendees can learn how to DJ.

Adobe will also join HP in the VIP Lounge to offer live demos and instruction on content creation, including video editing and high-quality production techniques with Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 Production Premium, and script creation with Adobe Story and Premiere Pro® CS5, that will be hosted on HP Z workstations, EliteBook 8740w mobile workstations and ZR24w commercial display monitors.