Mobile Screenfest launch

Australian mobile phone film and photography contest Mobile Screenfest has confirmed that all finalist entries will be screened on the September 21, 2010, at the Factory Theatre in Sydney in partnership with The Sydney Fringe.

The festival will now give aspiring filmmakers, students, budding photographers and anyone wanting to share an interesting ‘shot-on-mobile’ moment until August 22, 2010, to shoot, upload and win a share of the over $10,000 in prizes.

Open to the public through website www.mobilescreenfest.com.au, the festival invites interested participants to submit video and photo entries in nine categories ranging from ‘Best Music Video’ and ‘Best Phone Journalism’, to the coveted ‘People’s Choice Award’, which can be voted for online. The festival will also have a ‘Best Sport Video’ category which will be judged by Australian Rugby legend John Eales.

Mobile Screenfest was conceptualised and created by Avnesh (Avi) Ratnanesan of Araya Pictures in conjunction with professor Karl Bardosh from New York University.

The key criteria for Mobile Screenfest are that entrants should be Australian residents aged 15 and over and the short films should range from 30 seconds to four minutes in duration.

Finalist entries will be evaluated by a panel of local and international judges and winners will be announced at the finalists screening in Factory Theatre on September 21, 2010.

The festival is open for entries in the following categories:

Best Drama

Best Comedy

Best Horror/Thriller

Best Actor

Best Music Video – Capture a band singing or performing to your phone

Best Phone Journalism – Capture a clip you think should make news

Best Sports Video – Get in some World Cup or other sporting action

Best Mobile Photography

People’s Choice Award – Vote for your favourite video on the website

For details on events and to upload an entry, go to www.mobilescreenfest.com.au.