YouTube launch global short film contest on India

Mumbai: India`s external affairs ministry and YouTube have partnered to launch a second global short movie contest for students, video amateurs and filmmakers, top officials announced here. The competition is open to people around the world on the theme - "India Is A...Visual Journey", celebrating India and its diversity. The last date for submitting five-minute entries is Feb 9, 2013. The announcement was made here last (Thursday) night by Riva Ganguly Das, joint secretary in the MEA and head, public diplomacy division, and Nikesh Arora, chief business officer and senior vice-president, of Google Inc. As part of the initiative, YouTube has partnered with renowned director and scriptwriter Anurag Kashyap and his team of directors to produce five short showcase films under the three themes of the contest - India Is Incredible, India Is Unforgettable, and India Is Wherever You Are. These five films will be produced in association with Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and Anurag Kashyap Films Pvt. Ltd. Das said that the competition is "the first web-based campaign initiated by the MEA to connect and interact with people from all over the world and made them think of India." "Last year, we received more than 250 video entries on India from 42 countries. Through this initiative we aim to create a visual roadmap of India for Indians and foreigners alike with global players like Google, Taj and Conde Nast Traveller, and Incredible India as Partners," Das said. "YouTube is a powerful tool to express and share different opinions that can bring about a positive change in the society and as an organisation we`re committed to supporting all such initiatives," said Arora on the occasion. To be judged by a panel of eminent judges from the film industry, the entries will be rated on the basis of storytelling, creativity, originality, screenplay, performances and technical execution. A total of 10 winners with three from each category shall be selected and the toppers will get EOS Canon Mark II Camera and lens, along with weekend getaway across exotic locales in India, courtesy the Taj Holidays. Besides, there will be a special prize for the most watched and voted film on YouTube. "India Is..." campaign was launched last year as a Global Video Challenge by the MEA`s public diplomacy division through Mumbai`s Skarma creative agency. Last year`s winners included four from India and one each from Italy, Slovakia and Britain. IANS