PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMPETITION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO FRIDAY 14 NOVEMBER.

Please feel free to circulate this release to any contacts who may be interested. For further information on the competition and to see sample proposals and the finished films, please also visit the Vision Awards website         www.rcsint.org/vision         where you can also apply online.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Alice

PRESS RELEASE

Release time:     For immediate release

Contact:              Alice Kawoya +44 (0) 20 7766 9206

Email:                  VisionAwards@rcsint.org

FILM COMPETITION CHALLENGE

The prestigious Commonwealth Vision Awards, jointly organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, encourages the development of short film production.

Important changes have been made to the competition.  Broadcasters and independent filmmakers from across the five regions of the Commonwealth are invited to submit a written proposal for a short creative film, between 3 – 4 minutes in length, on the theme for 2008,

‘Global challenges and the new generation’

At the first of a two stage process, film-makers aged up to 35 years old are encouraged to provide a written scenario that demonstrates originality and creativity, is relevant to the theme and overall will impact on audiences world-wide.

Up to fifteen of these entries will be short-listed by a selection panel and awarded £1,000 each to assist in the production of the finished film.

At the second stage, judging of the short-listed films will take place in January 2009 and the awards announced and presented in March.  The winning film-makers will be invited to attend the Awards Ceremony in London, where the winner will receive £2,500 and a trophy and other awards will be made.   The following day, a master class with a leading film director and workshop is planned.

The winning entries will, from January 2009, be broadcast internationally, in both Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth regions, particularly on and around Commonwealth Day (Monday 9 March 2009).

Further information on the competition, an application form and brochure may be received by sending an email to VisionAwards@rcsint.org, or by fax +44 (0) 20 7930 9705 or by writing to: Ms Alice Kawoya, Project Manager, The Commonwealth Vision Awards, c/o The Royal Commonwealth Society, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5AP, United Kingdom.  Applications may also be made online at www.rcsint.org/vision

The closing date for initial applications is: Monday 20 October 2008

Short-listed entries from 2001 - 2007 may be viewed on www.rcsint.org/vision

The initiative is supported by Warburg Pincus, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Foundation, the British Council, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the BBC World Service.  

Alice Kawoya

Project Manager

Tel: +44 (0)20 7766 9206

Fax: +44 (0)20 7930 9705
www.rcsint.org