Film 4 teams with MySpace in hunt for £1m director

by Charlie McCathie, Brand Republic 07-Feb-07, 11:30

LONDON - Film4 has launched a search for the next big UK filmmaker, and has teamed with MySpace to organise a short film competition.

The 'My Movie Mash Up' competition is now live on social networking site MySpace, with the strapline "Shoestring budget? Want £1m to make a feature film?".

Any UK resident can take up the challenge, from established directors to camcorder enthusiasts, with the winner landing in the director's seat of a feature film scheduled for theatrical release in 2008.

The competition is expected to unearth a new raft of talented British directors, who could continue to work with Film4 in the future.

Entrants can submit their short films between now and April 27, when a shortlist of three will be drawn up by a judging panel including directors Anthony Minghella, producer Andrew Macdonald and actress Sienna Miller.

MySpace users will then vote to pick the winner from the shortlist.

The winner will work with backers Film4 and Vertigo Films to find a suitable script and an experienced writer, or work to adapt the director's own script.

MySpace users will be able to contribute to the script, audition for roles, and plan the marketing campaign for the film, which will be broadcast in cinemas and on MySpace and Film4.

Peter Carlton, Film4 executive, said: "Until you know what sort of director you're going to get, it's difficult to know if a British thriller or an improvised comedy would be more appropriate.

"We're as likely to be surprised by the audience response to the script and the actors that emerge, as by the choice of director, who may well not be an unknown."