Katie Holmes Serves As A Mentor, 'Life Is Amazing' To See Two New Short Films

Lexus and The Weinstein Company have once again come together in the spirit of innovation to produce two new short films for their second annual "Life is Amazing" Lexus Short Films series.

Two rising filmmakers (Jon Goldman, Satsuki Okawa with script writer Ken Ochiai) are being mentored by acclaimed members of the film community including actress Katie Holmes (The Giver, Wonder Boys) and directors Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, upcoming Tulip Fever), Simon Curtis (My Week With Marilyn, upcoming Woman in Gold), Antoine Fuqua (Brooklyn's Finest, Training Day,upcoming Southpaw), and Phillip Noyce (The Giver, The Quiet American).

The group will also film featurettes that highlight the mentoring process as each talent meets with the up-and-coming directors and offers guidance and support.

The pieces will also focus on the art of the short film, the evolution of the medium and its importance, and the growing global appetite for the format.

The featurettes will be released leading up to the films' theatrical run in Los Angeles and the worldwide release in October.

Said Noyce, "It's an honor to have been approached by The Weinstein Company and Lexus International to participate in such an innovative and important program.

What they are doing with the next generation of filmmakers will have a significant impact in the world of cinema. I'm truly excited for audiences to see what these talented, young directors are creating."

The first presentation of the shorts, Market Hours and Operation Barn Owl, took place at the Short Shorts Film Festival in Tokyo on May 29th.

As part of the marketing campaign, both films will play at numerous festivals around the world including the Los Angeles Shorts Festival, The Rhode Island Film Festival, and The Portland Film Festival.

They will also be attached to major Weinstein Company releases such as The Giver.

World premieres will take place July 30th in Los Angeles and August 6th in New York.

Noyce will show footage from his new upcoming Weinstein Company film The Giver, starring Brenton Thwaites, Odeya Rush, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgard, Katie Holmes, and Taylor Swift at the New York event.

The Lexus Short Films series will premiere online in October this year. In the meantime, the films' progress and film festival schedule can be followed at www.lexusshortfilms.com.