Babelgum, the independent web tv platform, hosted a brunch reception in the sky lounge atop the Sutton Place Hotel yesterday, announcing plans for the second edition  of the Babelgum Online Film Festival and showcasing some of the short film winners from its first round. Babelgum is a free internet television platform that combines full-screen video quality of traditional television with the interactive capabilities of the internet, offering programming-on-demand of unique content to a global audience. Founded in 2005, Babelgum has offices in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, and now the United States, with an office recently opened in New York City. For more information, visit their website: www.babelgum.com

Prominent on the dais with Babelgum U.S. President Ethan J. Podell and filmmaker Spike Lee, who will be returning for the second year as a Honory Judge of the Festival Jury. Other Jury members announced at the press conference include Joe Bateman, Festival Director of the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival in London; Tiziana Loschi, Managing Director of the Annency International Animated Film Festival in France; and Carl Spence, Artistic Director of the Seattle International Film Festival and Programming Director of the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Babelgum premiered a trailer of its first original film production Downstream, focusing on the controversy over the development of Alberta's oil sands. The second edition of the Online Film Festival will be open to all short and medium-length content produced professioal or by enrolled film school students. Submissions of films wil be accepted until December 31st, with online voting from the Babelgum audience to begin in January 2009. For submission specifics and regulations and deadlines to submit, screen and vote for this year's participating films, visit: www.babelgum.com/online-film-festival.

This year, the Festival will be offering prizes in various categories, including The Babelgum Short Film Award (up to 20 minutes), The Babelgum Animation Award (up to 5 minutes), The Babelgum Mini Masterpiece Award (up to 5 minutes) and the Babelgum Documentary Award (up to 30 minutes). Special prizes set for this year's session include The Spike Lee Award, given to the top films in each of the four categories, as chosen by Spike Lee and the Babelgum audience, with a cash prize of $40,000; The Looking For Genius Award, given by Spike Lee and an industry jury to an emerging filmmaker who displays outstanding achievement, with a cash prize of $40,000; and the Professional Jury Award, given to the top films in each of the four categories, as chosen by members of the industry jury and the Babelgum audience.

With its ambitious program and Online Film Festival, Babelgum is providing a needed showcase for short films and documentaries for emerging filmmakers, and a programming alternative for curious audiences. Bravo, Babelgum!!

Sandy Mandelberger, Toronto FF Dailies Editor