Mobile Phone Film Competition

Film-buffs who would like to get more functionality from their smartphones can take part in the Arterial Network/ DOEN Foundation inaugural Mobile Phone Film Competition. The short films will be shot on cell phones for its first Mobile Phone Film Competition. Experts in various fields will evaluate the films while public awareness and participation will be increased through on-line voting. Application forms are available at;  http://arterialnetwork.org/page/competition
In other filmmaking news, STEPS is commissioning 30 short films as part of its cross media project “WHY POVERTY”. The short cinematic works should challenge preconceptions about poverty, provoke discussion and action. They should also be almost impossible to forget. The run time should be one to five minutes long because they will be used on the web and broadcast supporting eight long films that are in production. More information is available at www.whypoverty.net.

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And for young people aged 18-24, UNESCO has launched a YouTube and Youku-run 90-second video contest as part of its special programme for the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. Each video is intended to provide a personal vision of the meaning and future of cultural diversity. All genres and means of recording are accepted. The videos will not be subtitled or dubbed, so that verbal communication should not be essential for their understanding.
The final winner of the contest will win a video camera (approx. 2,500 USD dollars value). The winning video will be selected by an international jury of experts among the first five videos resulting from the pre-selection of the public. Information and participation information is available at: www.unesco.org/new/video-challenge.

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Hot Docs-Blue Ice Film Documentary Fund
Ugandan documentary filmmakers do not have to keep their cinematic ideas stuck in their heads. The Hot Docs – Blue Ice Film Documentary Fund is a grant program providing financial support to African documentary filmmakers for development and production. Development grants of $3,000 - $8,000 and Production grants of $5,000 - $40,000 are awarded to four to 10 projects annually.
In addition to financing, the initiative also offers valuable resources to support production, and professional development, and offer filmmakers opportunities to access the international documentary community. Through an accompanying peer-to-peer mentorship program, grantees may team with international production partners to bring their projects to international markets, festivals, broadcast and online audiences. Additionally, grantees have travel, accommodation and accreditation support to attend Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and Hot Docs Blue Ice Filmmakers Lab. Applications for the 2011 funding cycle end Wednesday, December 14, 2011 and are open to professional filmmakers who are citizens and residents of countries in continental Africa. More information is available at http://www.hotdocs.ca/shawmedia/hot_docs_blue_ice_film_documentary_fund_guidelines and http://www.hotdocs.ca/shawmedia/hot_docs_blue_ice_film_documentary_funds_faq. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.