Industry Professionals Honor Breakout Talent In Avid ContestGrand Prize Winners of Editing Competition Receive Avid "Billy" Award and Home Studio Prize Package

    TEWKSBURY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 2008--Avid Technology,
Inc. (Nasdaq: AVID) has announced the winners of its back-to-school
video competition, a contest designed to connect aspiring talent to
some of today's most popular filmmakers, editors and news
professionals. Judged by pros on the creative and technical edits of
the submission, this year's grand prize winning entries are: Aaron
Hudson's "Editing + VFX" and Carol Benwell's "2007 Editing Reel." In
addition to gaining widespread exposure to more than 10,000 industry
professionals within the Avid community by having their videos
displayed on Avid.com, the grand prize winners will receive a $3000
USD online credit to build their own home studio package (comprised of
Avid's family of products), as well as the Avid "Billy" Award, an
industry accolade named after Avid founder Bill Warner, which
recognizes skill and creativity in editing. The contest ran from
August 20 - November 1, 2007.
    "This is a great opportunity to introduce my work to some of the
top names in the industry. There's just no way I could get this type
of exposure on my own," said winner Benwell. "I love creating media
content that uses music as a central element, so I carried that theme
over in my reel. My entry is a compilation of several design projects,
promos, music videos, short films and commercial pieces that I've done
on Avid (products). Avid's editing tools are easy to use for simple
things, but also allow you to make more complex edits while
concentrating on being creative."

About the Winners:

-- "2007 Editing Reel" is a compilation of previous film and design projects that reflect Benwell's interest in motion graphics, video and multimedia work. She created her winning entry on Avid Xpress^® Pro and Avid Xpress Studio.

-- "Editing + VFX" is a demo of recent work that Hudson created using Media Composer^® software and Avid Xpress Pro. Hudson enrolled in his first Avid editing class following his high school graduation at age 16, and has since served as both editor and videographer on a countless number of short films and projects with friends.

    Scott Boyd, contest judge and editor of the hit TV series Heroes,
said, "Both of the grand prize winners demonstrated tremendous
creativity and editorial chops. Though the two reels are very
different, both editors clearly love what they do and it's that
passion that will create opportunities like this one throughout their
careers. When I first watched Aaron Hudson's Editing + VFX, I liked
his creative use of animation within 'live motion' - and that he went
beyond straight-cut edits. Carol Benwell's 2007 Editing Reel had a
certain rhythm with recurring frustrated editor scenes and the use of
static to transition from project to project. Benwell's music
selection pleasantly exaggerated what was being portrayed visually to
the viewer."
    In addition to recognizing the grand prize winners, four entries
were selected as runners-up and will receive M-Audio IE-30 headphones
valued at $299.95 USD. To view the winning entries, for a complete
list of this year's honorees and more information about the contest,
please visit: www.avid.com/backtoschool.
    About Avid Technology, Inc.
    Avid is a worldwide leader in tools for film, video, audio, 3D
animation, gaming and broadcast professionals - as well as for home
audio and video enthusiasts. Avid professional and consumer brands
include Avid, Digidesign, M-Audio, Pinnacle Systems, Sibelius,
Softimage and Sundance Digital. The vast majority of primetime
television shows, feature films, commercials and chart-topping music
hits are made using one or more Avid products. Whether used by
seasoned professionals or beginning students, Avid's products and
services enable customers to work more efficiently, productively and
creatively. Avid received an Oscar(R) statuette representing the 1998
Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design, and
engineering of the Avid(R) Film Composer(R) system for motion picture
editing. For more information about the company's Oscar, Grammy(R) and
Emmy(R) award-winning products and services, visit www.avid.com.
    (C) 2008 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product
features, specifications, promotion and availability are subject to
change without notice. All prices are USMRP for the U.S. and Canada
only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid
office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, Avid
Xpress, Digidesign, Film Composer, M-Audio, Media Composer, Pinnacle
Systems, Sibelius, Softimage, and Sundance Digital are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in
the United States and/or other countries. Emmy is a registered
trademark of ATAS/NATAS. Oscar is a trademark and service mark of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Grammy is a trademark of
the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. All other
trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective
owners.

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CONTACT: Avid Video Amy Peterson, 978-640-3448 amy_peterson@avid.com or Avid Corporate Lisa Pistacchio, 650-930-3083 lisa_pistacchio@avid.com

SOURCE: Avid Technology, Inc.