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Cannes Market is launching a new initiative within the Short Film Market:
The Short Film Digital Avenue sponsored by ADMC is a place next to the Short Film Corner where technolgy leaders will demonstrate during Cannes Festival the breakthrough avenues of new windows, new media, new delivery systems, adaptation of old media to new technology...New sources of revenues.

A NEW AVENUE FOR SHORT FILMMAKERS

Booths, displays, demos, sampling,
The Short Film Digital Avenue is a co production between CannesMarket and FILMFESTIVALS.COM.

MIPTV featuring MILIA, the world’s audiovisual and digital content market, is launching a new initiative designed to highlight the use of audiovisual content on mobile handsets. The inaugural ‘Made-for-Mobile Screenings,’ will showcase programming from companies who have produced video content destined for mobile distribution and will cover genres ranging from animation, comedy, drama, general entertainment, music, news and sports. The Screenings will take place within the conference programme in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes on April 13-14.

The ‘Made-for-Mobile Screenings’ are sponsored by Vodafone, the world’s largest mobile community, which recently launched its Vodafone live! with 3G consumer service across Europe.

“The time for Mobile TV has arrived,” says Graeme Ferguson, Executive Head of Content Development, Vodafone Group. “The role of television producers will be key in providing real entertainment to mobile customers. New formats and new ideas are needed to meet customer expectations and the programme being launched at MIPTV will be a great opportunity to showcase the potential for Mobile TV. ”

“In the past 18 months, we have seen an increasing amount of activity between traditional providers of television content and the dynamic mobile industry,” notes Paul Johnson, Reed MIDEM Television Division Director. “The new ‘Made-for-Mobile Screenings’ are the latest addition to our efforts to facilitate the business goals of both sides.”

The Screenings will be a key part of a major mobile focus at MIPTV featuring MILIA 2005 and reflect the huge potential of the emerging mobile content market. According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, the mobile content market will reach $70 billion in 2008 of which mobile video content will represent $5.7 billion. The number of video enabled mobile phones is expected to grow from 65 million in 2004 to 712 million by 2008.

The mobile focus will include the Mobile Multimedia Conferences, running April 13-15, the Mobile Content Buyers’ Programme, featuring the leading mobile operators and a dedicated area for mobile exhibitors including Ericsson, Nokia, Jet Multimedia, Mobile 365, Netsize, Opera Telecom and Materna.

The mobile conference programme will be launched with a keynote address by Nokia’s Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Multimedia. The address, ‘The Future of Mobile Multimedia and Entertainment,’ will be followed by a plenary session devoted to the impact of the recent 3G roll-outs on mobile television. Leading operators and mobile broadcasters will provide case studies and discuss emerging business opportunities.

The conference programme will also highlight such key areas as mobile marketing and the global state of mobile gaming. April 15 will see a key workshop devoted to mobile rights licensing and a digital rights management workshop, co-organised in partnership with the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF).

Orange is hoping to encourage new talent by organising its first mobile phone short film competition, the ‘Orange Short Film’ contest.
A jury of celebrities from the film industry will present awards to the best films at the next Cannes film festival.

The 5 winners will be invited to receive their awards at the Cannes film festival in May 2005. Their films will be broadcast over the Orange World Video portal. The finalist awarded first place will receive 8,000 euros towards the production of his or her next film and the runner-up will receive equipment worth 2,000 euros. Films must be submitted by 31st March 2005 in order to be shortlisted.

BRUNO CHATELIN