MySpace launches £1m film quest

If you've ever harboured dreams of becoming the next Steven Spielberg, here's your chance.

From tomorrow, budding film-makers can post their shorts at MySpace Movie MashUp, a competition organised by MySpace, the social networking website, and two UK production companies, Film 4.

In the first competition of its kind, the winner will get to direct a feature-length film with a £1m budget, which will be released in cinemas in 2008. Any British resident, regardless of past film experience, can participate. The deadline for submission is April 27.

Five finalists will be picked by a jury that includes, among others, actor Sienna Miller, director Anthony Minghella, Andrew MacDonald, the producer of Trainspotting, and Kevin Macdonald, the director of The Last King of Scotland. The great MySpace public will then decide the overall winner by online vote.

Then, the project's backers will work with the director to pick a project - either choosing from scripts in development, starting a new collaboration with an experienced writer, or considering a project brought by the director.

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Tags: feature film competition myspace vertigo+films film+4 film-makers