reported by Sam Kirkman, CyberScreenwriter.com

Got a minute? Make a movie! The 2006 New York Minute Film Festival wants your 60-second masterpiece.

Almost overnight, the mobile video and advertising category has emerged as the next step in the evolution of personal consumer media options. For major advertisers and entertainment interests, the race has already begun to figure out how to use video iPods, online video space and cell phones to get effective messages where the next generation of consumers will see them.

One of the pioneers in this video revolution, The New York Minute Film Festival (www.nymff.com), launched the first major online film competition to showcase the 60-second works of amateur and professional filmmakers last year. Now, the second annual competition is set to open in late May, with entries accepted until early October and award winners announced in November 2006.

?We welcomed entries from filmmakers in 16 countries last year and are already fielding calls from around the globe as we prepare to launch the 2006 competition,? said Jeff Cahn, a partner/editor at Convergence and one of the festival founders.

KEY POINTS ABOUT THE NEW YORK MINUTE FILM FESTIVAL COMPETITION

? Prizes - In addition to finding a new outlet for their stories and talents, entrants will vie for prizes that include software and hardware donated by festival sponsors and a chance to attend a New York City screening celebrating the art of rapid-fire storytelling.

? Categories - Films of exactly one minute will compete in four categories ? drama, comedy, experimental and animation.

? Judges - A panel of celebrity and industry experts, as well as the public, will judge the videos to determine the winners. They will be announced at a celebratory screening in New York City.

? Entrance Fee - The cost to enter one submission is $20. There is no limit to the number of one-minute films a contestant may enter.

"The filmmaker's challenge is to tell a compelling story in 60 seconds. In this noisy world, where people are assaulted by a barrage of content, visual artists and advertisers have to find a way to break through. Our festival provides a forum where the minute masterpieces of creative communicators can be seen by millions," said Chip Smith, partner/editor of Convergence, the visual media company that launched the festival last year and is donating the infrastructure to support it.

Visit www.newyorkminutefilmfestival.com for complete information on rules and submission guidelines.

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3) How to Write a Selling Screenplay by Christopher Keane