Kodak Award expands for new talent

• Kodak Award announces new category
• Promotes student film-makers
• Call for entry on 29 June

Regional - The prestigious Kodak Award, designed to recognise and promote new commercial directors in Asia Pacific, is expanding this year with new categories to expand the discovery of new talent across the region.

The Kodak Award New Director of the Year honours outstanding commercial directors whose fresh thinking and creativity sets them apart from the rest. The 2009 call for entry, which launches on 29 June will now offer two categories.

The first category will be for current commercial directors who have only been in the commercial production field for a maximum of two years. Entrants are also eligible if they have been directing other material previous to commercial work.

The second category is for entrants currently enrolled in a full time film-training program and anyone who has graduated from a full time film-training program within the last 12 months of the competition closing date (31 July 2009).

"The addition of the second category highlights Kodak's ongoing commitment to student film-makers. We are dedicated to nurturing creativity and to celebrating excellence," said Johanna Gravelle, director of marketing, Kodak Entertainment Imaging, Asia Pacific Region.

"The cultural diversity that we have within this region provides us with a steady supply of unique ideas and inspiring content. With one third of the world's advertising coming from the Asia Pacific region, we are in the perfect place to look for new talent. The Kodak Award New Director Of The Year is designed to promote a new generation of commercial directors."

A panel of international directors and creative directors will judge the entries and finalists will be showcased at a special New Directors' event held on 9 September. 

The New Director of the Year winner will be awarded a prize of 10 x 400' loads of 35mm Kodak motion picture film, valued at approximately $4,000, and will also be recognised at the award presentation gala to be held in November.