Filmaka Short Film Network Creative Talent

Filmaka, an online short film network designed by established filmmakers for emerging talent worldwide, is offering the chance for budding filmmakers to have their work placed online with the added incentive of winning $3,000 and the chance to make a feature film at the end of the year.
A group of eight leading filmmakers, who collectively have produced, amongst others, 'The Cotton Club' 'Bend it Like Beckham', 'The English Patient', 'Kill Bill 2' and 'Mrs Henderson Presents' have joined forces to launch filmaka.com - dedicated to finding fresh emerging talent.
In a similar vein to YouTube, Filmaka not only exhibits fresh new short films, it brings together industry professional to provide a more structured, professional and focused website.
The network is the brainchild of Deepak Nayer, producer of 'Bend it like Beckham', and will hold twice monthly competitions with three aims; to drive the creation of stimulating content, discover new talent online throughout the world and provide a forum for perspective filmmakers independent of their experience or access to equipment.
A jury of industry professionals including Colin Firth, Werner Herzog, John Madden, Paul Schrader, and Wim Wenders will judge the short-listed entries of the twice monthly competition.
A competition title will be published on the website every two weeks, and participants will be invited to submit a 1-3 minute film on that subject.
Entrants will be judged initially by other network members and the final shortlist will be judged by the panel. The winner of each competition will win $3,000 (£1,600) and the runner-up will receive $2,000 (£1,050).
The winners and runners up of each competition will then be eligible to go through to the end of year final, the winner of which will make a feature film with the FILMAKA.com partners.
Deepak Nayer, producer of 'Bend it like Beckham' and founder of FILMAKA.com commented:
"I believe that there are many talented individuals who do not have the opportunity to prove their ability and creativity, because of either a lack of equipment, funding, or simply the chance to. We have created filmaka.com to attempt to redress this issue of access and hopefully help nurture the filmmakers of tomorrow.
"The network is open to anyone interested in producing their own films and the judge's focus will be on the creativity of the idea not on technical presentation. Filmaka.com will provide filmmakers the platform to showcase their talent to an influential group of senior industry figures."
For further information visit www.filmaka.com or email: Chris or Robert
(DS/SP)