May 10, 2002: The Online Film Critics Society, the association of the world's leading Internet-based cinema journalists, is celebrating its fifth anniversary as the cyber-epicenter for original film reviews and interviews.

Since its creation in 1997, the OFCS has been the key force in establishing online film journalism as a legitimate and invaluable source for high-quality journalism relating to the contemporary and classic cinema. Today, the OFCS membership consists of more than 100 writers from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America, Australia and Africa. The OFCS members represent many of the most important online news sites including Salon, Slate, TV Guide Online, the Apollo Guide, FilmCritic.com, Daily-Reviews.com and the Internet Movie Database.

The Society's web site, which has been hosted since January 2001 by the highly influential film resource Rotten Tomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com), provides the most comprehensive online listing of reviews and original interviews with the leading artists in today's cinema, plus links to the most important motion picture-related web sites. The annual OFCS Awards, announced on January 2, are widely regarded as a prime barometer in determining which individuals and films are top contenders for the Academy Award nominations.

The OFCS Governing Committee, elected in April for a one-year term, consists of Chicago-based Erik Childress of eFilmCritic.com, New York-based Phil Hall of Film Threat, and Liverpool's Ian Waldron-Mantgani of The UK Critic. The Governing Committee is the OFCS liaison with the film industry and the Net community.

"Once thought of as a 'bathroom wall' where anyone could express their opinion, Internet journalism has become so integral to society that the OFCS' purpose becomes clearer by the hour," says Erik Childress. "My association with the OFCS was one of many reasons that the Chicago Film Critics Association changed their by-laws to accept Internet critics, of which I became their first Net-based member."

"The OFCS has been the primary factor for introducing the next generation of film critics," says Phil Hall. "Many OFCS members are young and vibrant writers who would not be able to get a chance to shine in print and broadcast media due to the limited opportunities in those fields. Yet the Internet has enabled scores of gifted young critics to present their opinions and find global audiences who've responded to their observations and commentary."

"Our increasing recognition within the film industry and in the general media over the past five years has been heartening," says Ian Waldron-Mantgani. "In this small amount of time, we've become almost as recognized as the New York Film Critics Circle and perhaps more recognized than such organizations as the Broadcast Film Critics Association. It's a remarkable achievement."