The GSMA, the global trade group for the mobile industry, and Mofilm, a pioneer of short films for mobile and on-line distribution today announced the first Global Mobile Film Festival at the Mobile World Congress in 2009, with an official ‘call for films’ to international film-makers today.
The Global Mobile Festival follows the success of the GSMA’s previous collaborations with the Sundance Film Festival to create the Global Short Film Project, which debuted at the Mobile World Congress in 2007 and this year, showcasing with Mofilm, the work of short film directors representing the Cannes, Locarno, Shanghai and Sundance Festivals supported by actor, director and film maker Robert Redford and Isabella Rosselini.
“We have found there is avid interest and appeal in the idea of showcasing short films on the mobile screen, not just in terms of the ability to reach audiences in a very personal and direct way, but also in the potential scale and the viral nature of the medium,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer of the GSMA. “There are already more than three billion screens in the hands of users, and with increasing sophistication of mobile broadband networks and rapidly evolving device capabilities, the time is right to create a festival devoted to small screen movies and to invite international film makers to participate for the first time.”
Andy Baker, the Managing Director of Mofilm said “I’m delighted that what started as an experimental project with leading film makers in 2007 will now become a key part of the mobile and film industry calendar. Mobile represents a huge opportunity for content and we
are proud to be working within both industries to showcase the very best talent, globally, for mobile.”
Martin Keatman, Mofilm Producer said “Mobile is no longer a device, it's a story telling channel, presenting incredible opportunities to the global creative community.”
The GSMA and Mofilm are seeking films up to 5 minutes in length, made both using traditional film making techniques by established and upcoming film directors, as well as films made using mobile devices themselves. Submission forms and films can be uploaded on-line at the Mofilm website www.mofilm.com from today until the deadline of November 28th 2008.
Films will be judged by an international jury of film, festival and mobile content experts, with the best films showcased at the GSMA’s Mobile World Congress www.mobileworldcongress.com, the world’s largest communications industry event that attracts more than 55,000 visitors from the mobile, entertainment and many other industry sectors to Barcelona each February.
Mofilm with present Awards for the Best Film at the Congress, selected by a special jury of film directors and film festival executives.
Find out more at www.mofilm.com.