:: 2008 DigiSPAA Competition - Calling all aspiring filmmakers!

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

There's only two months left until entries close on Friday, September 19 for the 2008 DigiSPAA Competition and the prestigious SPAARTAN Award. All aspiring filmmakers eager for the opportunity to win amazing prizes including $15,000 cash and $20,000 worth of post production sponsored by MOVIE NETWORK, plus a guaranteed screening on the MOVIE EXTRA channel and return trip to the prestigious Rotterdam Cinemart international feature film
market, are encouraged to get the ball (and films) rolling!

Established as a filmmaking competition in 2005, DigiSPAA, is recognised as the leading showcase for low-budget filmmaking in Australia and New Zealand. It's a celebration of making a feature film at all costs, or no costs while remembering it's all about the story! Eligible films need to be feature length, with a running time of at least 70 mins, independently funded, digitally produced and completed to advanced post-production stage no earlier than August 31, 2007.

DigiSPAA annually invites filmmakers to embrace digital film on a budget. It was created to encourage young people to experiment with a more accessible and cheaper form of filmmaking technology and to display and celebrate Australian filmmaking talent. It is a pertinent snapshot of where our industry is headed.

Micro budget films have become a quintessential part of Australian cinema and this can be seen through 2007 DigiSPAA winner John L. Simpson's film, Men's Group, which was invited to screen at Rotterdam Film Festival 2008, Warsaw Festival, Copenhagen Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival amongst others (Simpson also distributed The Jammed). Kristian Moliere, who was the runner up at 2007 DigiSPAA, has also received accolades for the success of Boxing Day which has since been selected for the prestigious London Australian Film Festival at the Barbican (Patron: Toni Collette), the OzFlix Australian Film Weekend in Toronto and Vancouver, the Bradford International Film Festival (UK) and the New Zealand Film Festival's 2008 World Cinema Showcase.

Digi SPAA finalists will be screened at this year‘s SPAA Fringe conference on October 24 and 25 at the Chauvel Cinema and judged by an expert industry panel based on the quality of the films and the filmmakers’ ability to demonstrate a clear marketing plan across a range of digital platforms. While delegates and speakers of SPAA Fringe will be able to attend the screenings, tickets will also be available to the public.

The winner of the prestigious ‘SPAARTAN’ Award will be announced at the SPAA Conference in November on the Gold Coast. The winner will be introduced at the SPAA Conference to prominent international and local delegates, providing excellent exposure to the top dogs of the industry.

Applications close on Friday, September 19, 2008.

For full details, application form and guidelines click here