Hey Filmmakers, want to win a $100k and some serious klout? GE and CINELAN held a press conference today in Park City to announce the launch of a documentary short contest open to anyone with a message. The FOCUS FORWARD Filmmaker Challenge will award $200,000 in cash prizes to the top five entries in the professionally juried Challenge (www.focusforwardfilms.com/challenge), with $100,000 going to the Grand Prize Winner. Definitely not chump change.

The Filmmaker Challenge grew out of the FOCUS FORWARD – Short Films, Big Ideas program (www.focusforwardfilms.com), a series of 30, three-minute nonfiction films developed by leading documentary filmmakers. The theme is the power of ideas and invention. Those films will screen at film festivals globally, followed by Vimeo.com debuts. I bet you already have a few ideas for your own film. Think compelling nightly news packages. That’s a three-minute film.

You’ll need to make an end-to-end story about people or organizations whose innovative efforts in medicine, computer science, robotics, engineering, green energy, or other fields of applied technical knowledge have had a significant positive impact on humanity. It could even be technology in the sports field. The Challenge films will sit alongside the first 30 films produced by FOCUS FORWARD filmmakers on Vimeo. Submissions open in mid April, with winners to be announced at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. For more information, please visit www.focusforwardfilms.com/challenge.

Jack Myers, project producer, said at the conference. “The concept is to build a traveling nonfiction film series; we will be inviting filmmakers from every corner of the earth to join us in creating short films about game-changing innovation.”

Kari Feinstein’s Style Lounge has a certain kind of cache. Maybe it’s just the way the organizer tags her personal name to the front. Usually I’m good at going for what I want. I see something interesting, ask for it and it’s mine. Yet at The Style Lounge there was this air of aristocracy. The gifting lounge was set up in a way that VIPs/celebs had to cruise into small individual rooms to meet with companies. So then you had to wait for someone to leave the room before you could enter it. Where TR was a crazy fun scene, The Style Lounge was a well-oiled machine of sophistication. In fact, I didn’t feel comfortable meeting with a leather jacket company and a denim company. I skipped those rooms. Me! Go figure. And even when I the ‘C Studios‘ room it was like, um, where’s your publicist and name card (ie. Who are you?).

They were trying to show off their computer prowess as an internet app builder. This actually had a lot of promise for me. I’m looking to create an app for my Utah dog hikes library. Can We Meet is a social networking app where users can connect and meet up at nightclubs. Sundance being the ultimate nightclub, this was the perfect launch venue. I haven’t personally tried it because I’m not much of a clubber in need of an entourage. The person I come with (usually the boyfriend) is all I need. But back in the day maybe….

Inside, one C Studios partner was eager to explain how they had built the brand while the other partner was trying to shoo me out because “there wasn’t room”. I whispered to Dave that his partner could use some marketing and PR coaching. You never know who can help your exposure so don’t get cocky, Dude.

One company that gets it was Koolaburra. I had never heard of them before but their shoes are so damn hot! The Khloe is lined in soft plushy Merino- perfect for a Park City Summer evening. They were featuring their winter boots for gifting but since I’m wall-to-wall boots and zero heels, I couldn’t resist. Still, check out the shoes on the website. Totally sexy.

Another sweet owner was Vallora Sabourin from Flying Lizard Jewelry Design. Her necklaces and earrings have graced the lobes and necks of many Hollywood Starlets. I’ve been wearing my new earrings non-stop.

The vests from Tracker are made with faux fur. Retail? $600+! The designer used to design for Marc Jacobs and has only been doing his own thing for three months. I was impressed and wished them luck as I handed the vest back.

Paul Frank’s getting in on the winter scene but truthfully these are some seriously ugly skis. The cable knit hats on the other hand were soft and cute.

On the way out, I couldn’t help but grab a shot of Laura Prepon (That 70s Show). She was quite accommodating. Must have been the fuzzy bear hat from Spirit Hoods.

The games and gifting was off to a mild start for the first Friday of the Sundance Film Festival and that’s not a bad thing. You had ample time to get to know the products, the people behind them and mostly importantly move around. At the Timberland Lodge on Lower Main Street (the west side is for VIPs, the east for Public), men and women were treated to the perfect winter attire for the raging blizzard that has finally appeared- SNOWBOOTS! And down jackets.

My favorite was the long down with the faux fur hood. Very Hollywood while being very Utah. The boots are wrapped in down all the way up to your knees. They’re a bit funky and not for everyone but super warm on your legs.

I was asked if I could could alcohol when I entered the TR Suites. Huh? Apparently if you live in Utah you can’t write about liquor. I got a kick out of that one. Not only was I thrilled to see zero calorie margarita mix from Refine (sold in World Market) but these naughty Vice Merchants bedsheets also got my sexy on.

But of course it was too early to drink so I grabbed Hint Fizz instead. Unlike most flavored waters, these taste ‘infused’ rather than juiced. Kind of like those cucumber waters you’re handed at day spas.

Shoes seem to be a big thing at Sundance this year and the styles appearing from Matt Bernson mix the mountain look with fashion in a way that makes even a flat-soled gal like me sparkle.

I have never heard of DL1961 Denim but now I know. That’s the thing about Sundance. The exposure to brands and fashion you never knew existed. DL1961 is the only jean with 4-way stretch Lycra so it will never sag, bag, or lose its shape. When you’re used to wearing Lycra baselayers all winter it’s not a stretch- so to speak- to include it in your outwear.

Friendship bracelets and layering bangles and rings are popular according to the Rachel Roy rep. But the friendship bracelets they were gifting had a touch of bling that was irresistible.

You can’t get away from the harsh climate in Utah so Hollywood and New York is bringing their skincare saviors to us. Prasad Medical Skincare was gifting gels, lotions and potions designed to minimize free radicals, fine lines, and sagging skin. I walked with a skin survival kit of sunscreen, eye rescue and “intense vitamin serum”.

You can’t be beautiful without being thin and the Sensa rep vowed that In one of the largest clinical studies ever conducted with a non-prescription weight loss product, 1436 participants lost an average of 30.5 pounds in only 6 months just by sprinkling the virtually tasteless crystals on every meal. I’ll be trying that before ‘buying’ that one.

And there is was! A little table of SHRD. I discovered this magical hair protein crème at last year’s Sundance but ran out in the fall. I missed it badly. I tried two other leave-in conditioners but nothing smoothed my hair without making it feel dirty like SHRD. The stuff’s expensive so it was a sweet find.

Business was picking up as the day waned and I was starting to feel a bit mushed. It was time to crossover to the Style Lounge after a scoop of Cream O’ Wheat- Yes, they have gotten in on the celebrity scene- and a to-go cup of hummus from Sabra.