EliaSchneider's Punto y Raya (Step Forward) has been named as Venezuela'sofficial entry for best foreign language consideration in this year's Oscarrace.

Thehighest grossing local film of the year in Venezuela, Punto Y Raya wasalso winner of the Rita Award for Best Picture at the recent 2004 Los Angeles,Latino Int'l Film Fest (LALIFF) in July.

Producedby Jose Novoa and Elia Schneider's Unity Films, Punto y Raya tells thestory of two soldiers, one Venezuelan, the other Columbian, who are stationedon opposite sides of the tension filled border between the neighbouringcountries. Enemies at first, the twobecome entangled in a love/hate relationship of surprising intensity.

Internationalsales are handled by CMG.