Three Columbia University filmmakers, whose Oscar nominations this year constitute an unprecedented distinction for the Film Division of the School of the Arts, will be celebrated in a public program on Thursday, March 29, which includes a film screening and discussion. This is the first time that both a faculty member and two recent alumnae were nominated in the same year. The event is presented by the Columbia University Program Board in association with the School of the Arts. It begins at 5 p.m. in Alfred Lerner Hall's Roone Arledge Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

James Schamus, associate professor of film in Columbia's School of the Arts, and executive producer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, will speak about his experiences co-writing the screenplay and producing and distributing America's most successful foreign-language film. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won four Oscars and received 10 nominations overall. It won awards for foreign language film, art direction, cinematography and music. The Oscar for music (score) was awarded to Tan Dun, DMA '93, who received his doctorate in music composition at Columbia.

One Day Crossing, made at Columbia as a masters thesis film and nominated for the Academy Award for best short film (live action), will be screened, and director Joan Stein, SOA '00, and screenwriter Christina Lazaridi, SOA '98, will be present to answer questions from the audience afterwards.

One Day Crossing tells the story of a young family living in Budapest during the last phase of World War II. At that time Hungarian Jews were terrorized not only by the "Nazi foreign villains" but also the "Arrow Cross"—Hungary's indigenous Nazi movement. The 25-minute film movingly recreates the world and moral choices confronted by Teresa, a young woman who poses as a Christian to protect her family.

Three other Columbia alumni also received Academy Award nominations this year. They are Gail Lerner, SOA'96, Colin Campbell, SOA'96, for best short film for Seraglio and David Brown, J '37, for best film for Chocolat.