Aron Ping D?Souza, Executive Director of the Australian International Film Festival, calls for entries in the nation?s most prestigious film and new media competition.

The Australian International Film Festival (AIFF) www.aiff.com.au is now calling for entries and seeks any combination of inventive, bold, incisive, innovative and otherwise provocative work of any style or genre. Films exploring the limits of technology and representation are particularly encouraged to submit. The festival will be held in October 2006 in Melbourne, Australia.

The AIFF is Australia's only truly international film competition, offering Australia's most diverse and dynamic market. The competition and associated screenings are widely covered in the national and international print, television and digital media. Held at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image - ACMI - a world first, state-of-the-art facility featuring the world?s most advanced projection facilities, located at the iconic Federation Square in the cultural heart of Melbourne. The competition is judged by an international panel of distinguished film critics, producers, directors and academics. The festival culminates in a presentation of the Golden Spotlight awards ceremony and a star-studded after-party. The Festival prides itself on treating traditional and new media equally.

New Media refers to the latest form of mass communication developed by society. In years past it was radio, television, cable, satellite, digital TV and DVD. Today, the AIFF is the first international film festival to call for entries of video blogs. Additionally, the festival seeks entries in a variety of digital formats from memory chip-submitted works to flash animation. This year's New Technology and Innovation Award is for the most innovative use of SMS (text messaging) as a narrative device in filmmaking.

The Festival?s highest honour, the Golden Spotlight, is awarded to one feature and one short film or new media work which the Festival?s distinguished jury singles out for acclaim. This internationally coveted award has the power to propel an independent artist to world standing.

The jury may single out exceptional works of its choosing and offer the prestigious silver spotlight or a special citation.

The Silver Spotlight Awards
Best Australian Film
Best International Film
Best Director
Best Debut Feature
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Editing Award
Best Cinematography

Special Citations
Best Student Film
Best Documentary
Best Animation
Best Multicultural
Most Innovative
Best Ensemble Direction
Best Human Rights Award
Audience Award
Best Commercial Marketability
Most Likely to Succeed
Best Overseas Market

Jury Award for New Media
Best Mobile Phone Short Film
Best Memory-chip Submitted Work
Best Video Blog (Vblog) Short Film
Best Flash Animation
Best Film Under 100kb
Best New Technology & Innovation

Entry Deadlines
30 July 2006 (Final)
31 March 2006 (Early Bird)

Screening Formats
The festival encourages diverse and unique screening formats. Works completed on 70mm, 35mm, 16mm, High Definition Video and Standard definition video can be submitted. Entry is open to new media works that are of a linear nature (ex. Non-interactive). Digital media works must be converted to one of these formats. If this is not possible, please contact the festival directly to discuss options for screening.

More information about the festival and electronic submission may be done at www.aiff.com.au

You can contact the festival at http://www.aiff.com.au/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3

The festival can be contacted via phone on:
Melbourne, Australia Head Office +61 3 9029 1932
Beverly Hills, California Branch +1 (310) 598-8416
Toll Free in the USA and Canada +1 (888) 257-3902
London, United Kingdom Branch +44 (0)20 8002 9707