Awards aimed at "unleashing movie maker in everyone" announced

New Delhi, Feb 8 (UNI) It is an award that seeks to bring out the moviemaker in everyone! In an initiative aimed at providing platform for the up-and-coming filmmakers in the country to showcase their talent to the world, a first of its kind "Mobile Film Awards" have been announced in the capital.

Being launched by Nokia telecom company in association with filmmaker Subhash Ghai's Whistling Woods International and Mediamatics Entertainment private limited, the ''Mobile film Awards'' will laud the best among a host of cinematic works shot on the small mobile camera.

Speaking at a press meet in the capital yesterday to announce the awards, the director multimedia of Nokia India Vineet Taneja said,''There is a movie maker everyone. By enabling people to send into the competition films shot and edited on their mobile cameras we are trying to provide a platform to all those who have always wanted to make a film but could not do so earlier.'' On the occasion, he said the launch of the new model N93i would set new benchmarks in mobile filmmaking in India.

''With advanced functionalities like DVD-quality movie recording, Wi-Fi and TV-out function, N93i will prove to be a serious alternative to handycams, traditional digital and movie cameras,''Mr Taneja said.

Under the mobile film awards, aspiring filmmakers above the age of 18 can send for the competition films, in the fiction and non-fiction categories, shot on their mobile phones. The entries will be judged by a distinguished jury assembled by the Whistling Woods International and Mediamatics.

The winner of the 'Best Film' award will get an opportunity to undergo a six month ''foundation course in filmmaking'' with Bollywood showman and ace filmmaker Subhash Ghai at WWI and produce his own film with Nokia's new N93i device. Two runners up in the fiction and non-fiction category will win a sponsored trip to Universal Studios in Hollywood and a Nokia N93i device each.

Speaking on the occasion, filmmaker Subhash Ghai said,''Indians are basically immensely talented people. Unfortunately, their talent and creativity has always been stifled. Infact, they have been programmed to become anything but filmmakers. In this context, it is my great pleasure to associate myself with an initiative which enable youngsters in the country to give an expression to their talent.'' More UNI