The ninth annual TCM (Turner Classic Movies) Classic Shorts competition launches this May with a truly international flavour to its judging panel which this year includes South Africa’s Darrell Roodt, Wolfgang Petersen, Istvan Szabo, Agnieszka Holland, Mikael Hafstrom, Rutger Hauer, James Franco and Nick Goldsmith.

This is the second year that the competition has been open to entries from Africa, Europe and the Middle East. As in previous years, the winner and runners up will be screened at an award ceremony held in October. The competition rewards the top three film makers with £10,000 (approx R150,000) of prize money -- 1st prize £5,000 (R75,000); 2nd prize £3,000 (R45,000); 3rd prize £2,000 (R30,000) -- with all six finalists getting exposure across all the TCM EMEA territories, making it one of the most valuable competitions of its kind.

In addition, the six short listed films are aired during a special weekend of programming on TCM celebrating the best new film making talent from the competition. Once again, TCM Classic Shorts has been lucky enough to attract some of the most distinguished names from the international film industry who have agreed to give up their time to help nurture future film makers.

The competition prides itself on having discovered some great new film making talent in recent years; last year’s winner A Bout de Truffe by Tom Tagholm, which also won first prize at The Raindance Film Festival, was shot entirely in French and enjoyed plaudits from the judges. Simon Pegg described the film as ‘thoughtfully directed and beautifully composed. Funny, tragic and wonderfully sly’ whilst Cillian Murphy thought it ‘Wonderfully original, beautifully acted and shot. Very hard to fault’. Many of the short-listed films from previous years have also gone on to receive further acclaim including 2006 winner Jane Lloyd, which was used by David Gray as the video for his single, Alibi; 2005 finalist Cubs directed by Tom Harper and 2004 winner Nits directed by Harry Wootliff were BAFTA nominated whilst 2002 entry Brown Paper Bag directed by Michael Baig Clifford and 2001 winner About A Girl directed by Brian Percival, won Best Short Film BAFTAs. 2002 winner Gerald McMorrow is now directing a feature film, Franklyn, with Hanway Films.

TCM Classic Shorts is open to all short films from EMEA, if they have not been made in English they will require English subtitles. The opening date is 1 May 2008 and all films must be received by 1 August 2008 at the very latest.

Further information and entry forms are available at:
www.tcmclassicshorts.com