First-Time Director Wins Allstate's Beyond February 'Be Reel' Film Contest at 2008 American Black Film Festival

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Aug 28, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- ALL | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Allstate (ALL) announced today that New York native Roy Clovis is the winner of the Beyond February "Be Reel" short film contest. Clovis received his award during the 2008 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Los Angeles recently.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080828/AQTH076)

Clovis has been a film editor for more than 10 years, but the "Be Reel" contest was his first attempt at directing. Clovis edited the trailer for the 2007 ABFF Blockbuster Award winning movie "I'm Through with White Girls". Clover also edited the trailer and movie entitled "Sarbane's Oxley".

Clovis won for his film "The Lucky Suit," the story of one community coming together to help an individual become a success. Clovis will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a coaching session with American Black Film Festival founder and The Film Life, Inc. CEO Jeff Friday. Clovis plans to invest the cash prize in an upcoming feature film project.

Clovis, a Cornell University alum, applauds the forum the "Be Reel" contest and the Beyond February campaign provides. "The 'Be Reel' competition gave me the opportunity to create a film that delivers a message that demonstrates how something seemingly small can be so important to others. I wanted to inspire and motivate people to give back through small acts of kindness, like donating an old suit you've outgrown to help someone in the community become a success," Clovis said.

Beyond February is a national initiative designed to highlight Allstate's ongoing efforts to create, support and sponsor programs that empower the African-American community beyond Black History Month. As presenting sponsor of the ABFF, Allstate hopes to inspire up and coming filmmakers like Clovis to create positive images that are about and emanate from the African American community.

To learn more about the Beyond February initiative, view Roy Clovis' short film, visit http://www.beyondfebruary.com

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through approximately 14,700 exclusive Allstate agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R). Encompass(R) and Deerbrook(R) Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers. Customers can also access information about Allstate Financial Group products and services at myallstatefinancial.com.

SOURCE Allstate Corporation

http://www.myallstatefinancial.com

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