If you fancy being a star, this could be your big chance. A new website, launched today, is giving UAE talent the chance to be seen around the world.
The PutItOn Picture Show – www.putiton.com – is co-sponsored by the New York Film Academy and is open to artists around the globe.
According to the organisers, all entries are welcome, except for those that are exclusively pornographic in content or unethical, such as films based on acts of hate. Each entrant is allowed to submit one film into the contest. Prizes will be awarded for Best Feature, Best Short and Best Achievement in Acting.
The first round of the competition for best feature film and best short film will be decided by a global Internet vote, which will narrow the entries to a list of the top 10 finalists per category. At the second and final stage of the competition, the finalists for these two categories will be judged by a panel made up of one member of The New York Film Academy, Max Fraser, and an industry professional yet to be named. The award for best achievement in acting will be decided separately by the panel of judges, with all submissions automatically entered for consideration.
The competition opens July 30 and closes for entries on November 26. Internet voting will continue until December 17. Winners will be selected and announced on January 7, 2010.
Winners in each category will receive a two-tiered prize: a free scholarship to the New York Film Academy and a cash prize of $5,000 USD. If a winner has already attended the New York Film Academy, or another film school, they can opt-out of the scholarship and choose to only receive the cash prize and an alternative award. The second place winners in the best feature film and short film categories will each receive an HD Prosumer digital video camera.
In addition to the film festival, PutItOn currently has plans to launch a U.S.-based online song competition at the end of August. The company will release additional details next month.
