WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA—Veteran film composer Elmer Bernstein presented TCM’s 2003 Young Film Composers Competition Grand Prize to Ms. Linda Martinez for her original score for the classic silent film, The Rag Man, at the Harmony Gold Screening Room in West Hollywood on January 29th at 7:00pm.

Mr. Bernstein, who was honored by TCM with a month-long film retrospective in 2001, continues his association with the network and has also accepted the role as spokesperson for the 2004 competition. He was one of the preliminary judges for the first round of finalists in June, 2003.

The Rag Man, starring Jackie Coogan and released in 1925, is one of the many classic silent films in Turner’s film library. Recently restored, it was screened for the first time at Harmony Gold with its new original score, and will air on the network shortly thereafter. Ms. Martinez, who hails from Marina del Rey, California, won the opportunity to compose the score. She is the recipient of $10,000 and has been mentored by Mr. Bernstein.

This is the fourth year of the competition, which is part of Turner’s ongoing program for film restoration. The competition is presented by Turner Classic Movies, Film Music Magazine, Ascent Media and Tonos, and is sponsored by Guitar Center.