Simply by uploading your short films on the Internet, you could win a deal with MTV Films and receive the infamous Golden Popcorn award at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards. And, of course, launch your film career.
MtvU, MTV’s 24-hour college network, is looking for the top filmmakers of our generation. On Feb. 22, mtvU launched “Best Film on Campus” (BFOC), an online farm system that offers students the chance to connect with their peers, launch their careers, and, of course, win prizes.
“[Bestfilmoncampus.com] is a national platform for our incredible audience, which is the next generation of film-making talent,” said Ross Martin, vice president of programming at mtvU.
Students who register on bestfilmoncampus.com can create a profile, upload their original short films and are automatically entered to win significant prizes. The deadline to enter the competition is April 6, but videos will be viewed and voted on by students until the end of the school year. Martin says that “Best Film on Campus” used to only run during the fall semester, but because of the contest’s popularity, mtvU is now running the competition all year long.
“We saw such a tremendous response . in how much interest our audience had in watching short films of their peers,” Martin said. “It just goes to show how incredibly talented our audience is.”
The top five student filmmakers on the site will have their short films premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival Showcase in New York, which takes place April 25 to May 6. The top student filmmaker will receive the “Best Filmmaker on Campus” award at the MTV Movie Awards, as well as a deal with MTV Films, as mentioned earlier.
Bestfilmoncampus.com also offers a “Film of the Week” recognition. Every Friday, mtvU and mtvU.com will premiere a short film by one of the most successful and talented filmmakers on bestfilmoncampus.com. These weekly winners will be automatically entered into the “Best Filmmaker on Campus” award competition and will receive a prize pack from Maxell, which is the official semester-long sponsor of BFOC, including Maxell noise-canceling headphones, numerous Maxell blank digital media and other prizes that are essential for aspiring filmmakers.
How are the top five winners determined? Martin said they’re “determined by a series of metrics,” including student response and someone who “created a presence of themselves … and formed an audience with their peers.” The grand prize winner is chosen by mtvU, MTV Films, and, of course, student voting.
“Great work … is work that connects with the audience,” Martin said.
To register, visit bestfilmoncampus.com and begin building your profile and uploading your short, original films. For more information, visit mtvU.com.
