Espanola, NM, USA: SikhNet launched it’s online short film contest on Monday (Sept. 12). Its 11th annual Youth Online Film Festival by the Sikh Net.
“The SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival has become a much anticipated event within the worldwide Sikh community. This year, the theme for the festival is “Mother Earth.” SikhNet received 16 films from young Sikh directors in India, the United States and Kenya. The majority of the films this year have come from India. These films can now be viewed through the SikhNet website”, reads a statement by the SikhNet.
To view the films in this year’s festival, visit: http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfestival/.
The SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival offers prizes for different categories. The Junior Division is for directors ages 11-17. The winner of this category will receive a $500 prize.
The Senior Division focuses on directors above age 28. The winner receives recognition and promotion, but no cash prize.
SikhNet would like to extend a special thanks to Eco-Sikh and Chardikla Time TV for partnering with us in this year’s Film Festival.
Judging for the winners will involve SikhNet staff and Eco-Sikh with audience input. The online audience can watch the films, “like” the films through various social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Google+, and then comment on the films and share the films with their friends and family. Feedback from the audience will be a factor in determining this year’s winners.
Films are open for public likes and comments between September 12 and September 23th. All winners will be announced on September 28th.
The SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival has always given Sikh youth a chance to express themselves through digital media. To tell the stories they think are important, and to find their own voices. The Festival originated in 2006 with SikhNet’s recognition of the immense popularity and creativity of video postings on Internet sites such as Google Video and YouTube.
According to SikhNet Webmaster, Gurumustuk Singh, “Tapping into the creativity of Sikh youth worldwide has been one of SikhNet’s primary goals. In 2006, when we initiated the online film festival, we could not envision what beautiful films we would receive. Nor could we have imagined the groundswell of support from the Sikh community worldwide.
“I never thought that the Film Festival would continue for 11 years. That it would catch on like it has, especially in India. It’s great to see Sikh youth finding and expressing their voices.”
“SikhNet considers every film submitted a winner in its own right”.
“The SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival is truly a Sangat event. Sikh youth create the films and Sikhs around the world watch, enjoy and share them. From all of us here at SikhNet, we hope that you enjoy this year’s SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival: Mother Earth”.