Supported by BFI - British Film Institute

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LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

That’s right folks, Virgin Media Shorts 2012 is back with a bang, and it’s bigger and better than ever before. Now in its fifth year, the UK’s biggest short film competition is in full swing and it’s time to show us what you can do.

What’s it all about?

We believe that every raw talent deserves a break, whether you’re a Tarantino in training or giving film making a spin for the first time. So if you’ve got a masterpiece up your sleeve, what are you waiting for? Upload your short today and you could soon be seeing it on the big screen, as it was meant to be watched.

What’s up for grabs?

Every year, Virgin Media Shorts gives 12 up and coming film makers the chance to show their work in cinemas nationwide for a whole year, across the Picturehouse network and independent cinemas. Plus, as the only people to offer TV, broadband, phone and mobile, we’re in the perfect place to offer film makers the biggest arena to showcase their work - online, on TV (via Virgin Media’s On Demand service and our Shorts TiVo® app) and on mobile phones (on our brand new Shorts iPhone app). We can give you a leg up in the film industry and give millions of people the chance to see your work.

On top of that, the Grand Prize winner will walk away with £30,000 funding to make their next film, along with money-can’t-buy expert mentoring from the UK’s leading film body, the British Film Institute. 

But that’s not all. Check out the list of what’s up for grabs this year…

Even more reasons to enter:

  • The 12 shortlisted film makers will have their work watched by our panel of movie industry judges – X, X, X, X and X. Imagine hearing what X thought of your film!
  • One lucky winner will receive £30,000 of film funding to make their next film, hand in hand with the BFI
  • The final 12 shorts will be shown in cinemas nationwide for a year, screening before the main feature
  • The winner of the People’s Choice Award (voted for by the public) will walk away with a load of shiny new film equipment
  • One film will take away the new TiVo® Award, introduced last year, voted for by Virgin Media customers through their TiVo® boxes
  • Even if your film doesn’t make it to the shortlist, we’ll make sure all of this year’s entries get as much exposure as possible via social media (Twitter, Facebook and YouTube) and our TiVo® and iPhone apps – your short could soon be reaching an audience of millions, even if you don’t make it to the final stage
  • The 12 shortlisted film makers will attend our glitzy award ceremony at BFI Southbank in November, where they’ll meet the judges and be given the full red carpet treatment
  • Plus, we’ll reward the film school or university with the most entries with some shiny new film kit – so start rallying the troops and remember to fill in the name of your university when you enter

Our winners don’t just get their work seen by millions of movie lovers, they turn industry heads, too. Luke Snellin, who won Virgin Media Shorts 2009 with Mixtape, was nominated for a BAFTA and is now a regular on the film festival scene with his award winning short Disco. Oscar Sharp clinched a BIFA nomination for his 2010 winning film Sign Language and is working on his new film starring Olivia Coleman and Sean Dooley. 2011 winner Jason Wingard, director of the futuristic thriller 2:20, is now working on his next film with the BFI. Find out more about what our past winners are up to.

The best news is that Virgin Media Shorts is open to everyone, whether you’re a seasoned pro with all the latest gear or a new recruit to film land messing about on your Mac. All it takes to stand out is a brilliant idea, executed well. Our BFI curators (who choose the shortlist) won’t dismiss your film just because it’s a bit rough around the edges.

What’s in it for film lovers?

If you prefer watching movies to making them, we’ve got plenty in store for you this year too. As well as seeing the country’s brightest new film making talent before they hit the big time, registered film fans can:

  • Join the discussion: comment on the films and share them via Facebook and Twitter
  • Vote for your favourite film to win the People’s Choice Award when the shortlist is revealed in September
  • Win a whole heap of goodies – voting for your favourite film could bag you a massive prize, plus enter monthly competitions on the website to win the latest gadgets, V Festival tickets and more
  • See the shortlist at exclusive screenings around the country, glass of fizz in hand. Watch this space to find out if the Shorts team is coming to a cinema near you!
  • Receive our weekly e-newsletter and be the first to get the scoop on all things Shorts – the best entries, important dates, competitions, screenings and more

Ready to find out what all the fuss is about? Take a look at the showreel below summing up what made the 2011 Virgin Media Shorts award ceremony so fantastic, then start browsing this year’s entries or enter one yourself before 12th July 2012. We can’t wait to see what you’ve all come up with this year.

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