Discovery, Nokia kick off ‘Mobile FilmMakers’

Discovery Networks Asia, a division of real-world entertainment company Discovery Communications, announced its second collaboration with Nokia, the world leader in mobile communications, with the launch of the Mobile FilmMakers 2006 Awards.

With the first installment of the initiative completed in December 2005, the new contest – which kicked off last May 8 – gives consumers the opportunity to try their hand at mobile filmmaking, the chance to walk away with a grand prize of $10,000, and also a three-month stint with producers from Discovery Networks Asia.

The Mobile FilmMakers Awards initiative was launched in 2005, empowering mobile phone users everywhere with the knowledge and technology of mobile filmmaking at their fingertips and the opportunity to showcase their talent.

The initiative reinvents the way people view filmmaking and adds a new dimension to the film industry, contributing to the evolution and growth of filmmaking.

Using high-performance multimedia devices such as the Nokia N93 that comes with optics from Carl Zeiss, the world’s leading optics company, talent in the region are now able to create their own personal high-quality mobile films.

The genre of mobile filmmaking also provides those who bring to life their unique visions and pers-pective, and showcase their films on a different platform. Even seasoned professional filmmakers are experimenting with this new genre.

The Mobile FilmMakers 2006 Awards website (www.mobifilms.net) will showcase exclusive clips produced by celebrity filmmakers from Asia, as part of the mobile filmmakers’ gallery.

Among the filmmakers featured are Jeffrey Jeturian from the Philippines (director of Pila Balde and Tuhog, which won Philippine and international awards), Ekachai from Thailand (director of Beautiful Boxer, which won several international awards), Kelvin Tong from Singapore (director of horror movie The Mad), Bertrand Lee, also from Singapore, Yasmin Ahmad from Malaysia (who won Best Director at the Malaysian Film Awards for her movie Sepet), and Kaizad Gustad from India (director of hits Boom and Hyderabad Blues).

Commenting on the initiative, James Gibbons, senior vice president for programming and creative services of Discovery Networks Asia, said, "The response to the Mobile FilmMakers 2005 Awards and the quality of the entries received showed that anyone with basic knowledge of how a mobile phone works is able to shoot their own mobile film and capture the world around them. With Discovery’s expertise in documentary filmmaking, coupled with Nokia’s technology leadership in imaging, we have launched a new genre in Asia – mobile filmmaking – which is revolutionizing the way content is utilized by mobile phone users," said Urpo Karjalainen, senior vice president for customer and market operations of Nokia Asia-Pacific.

"Together with Nokia, we are committed to growing and developing the genre of mobile filmmaking. As such, we will be organizing this contest annually, to continue to uncover new talent and take mobile filmmaking to greater heights," he added.

For more information on the Mobile FilmMakers 2006 Awards and how to participate, log on to www.mobifilms.net.