The 24th interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival, taking place from 4 to 9 November 2008, plans to honor viral films for the first time at a film festival in Germany. Organizers interfilm Berlin and Berlin PR agency Zucker.Kommunikation are introducing a Virals festival category and launching the “forward – international viral video award” for the best films from the internet.
Filmmakers, bloggers, agencies and all creative professionals working with viral films can nominate videos for the award at http://www.interfilm.de until 19 September 2008. Entries may be newly produced or existing films.
“Word of mouth, viral marketing and open dialogue with users are essential elements of innovative communication on the internet,” explains Matthias Bonjer, Managing Director of Zucker.Kommunikation. “With the new festival category, we want to recognize the importance of viral films at one of Europe’s most important short-film festivals.” The organizers are not looking for films featuring smiling babies or mishaps, but videos with a message. Whether for or against brands, ideas or images, what matters, they say, is the message and the intention to spread it virally online.
According to interfilm Managing Director Alexander Stein, short film is booming on the internet. “Films that spread almost by themselves are the most striking feature of this development. As a film festival, it therefore makes perfect sense for us to bring artistically creative viral films from the web back to the cinema screen.” The award is supported by spreeblick.com, one of Germany’s most widely read weblogs and a winner of the Grimme Online Award.
After submissions close on 19 September 2008, the best films will be presented to audiences for voting at interfilm.de. In parallel and independently, a specialist jury will select the best spots. The two winning films will receive the “forward – international viral video award” at the festival. Following a keynote, visitors interested in viral media will also have the opportunity to discuss the importance and future of internet films with experts and creative professionals.
Further Links:
- 24th interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival
