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Apply now: Cross-Media Challenge 2008: Oct. 10 deadline!

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and the Sheffield International Documentary Festival are issuing a call for proposals for the second Cross-Media Challenge.

The Cross-Media Challenge is a co-production competition for innovative, interactive, socially engaged content with applications for mobile and broadband. It will award one producer a $10,000CAD/�5,000 co-production development deal with the NFB.

Deadline for entries is October 10, 2008. Three semi-finalists will be invited to present their projects at a panel session during the Sheffield Doc/Fest. The winner will be announced at the DigiDocs 360 program at the Sheffield Doc/Fest. Semi-finalists must finance their own travel to the festival.

The Sheffield International Documentary Festival takes place November 5 - 9, 2008, in Sheffield, England.

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE

A global leader in developing content for new platforms, the NFB wants to ensure the digital future has room for artistic innovation and social relevance. The Cross-Media Challenge is one way of reaching out to potential new production partners.

The Cross-Media Challenge offers media makers an opportunity to develop projects that:

* inspire an exchange of storytelling practices among diverse communities;
* use media creatively to foster an international dialogue on issues with local roots;
* unleash the creative talents of new and alternative voices.

The NFB is interested in projects that use the versatility, mobility and borderless nature of new platforms to enable communities to talk to each other. Projects must be documentary based. The theme for the 2008 challenge is "environment."

Eligible projects must be cross-platform and multi-platform involving the best features of each medium to ensure maximum audience participation. Projects should take full advantage of the range of new platforms, with particular emphasis on interactive, mobile and online. Projects must demonstrate direct contact and interaction with communities as part of the development plan.

The winner of the 2007 Cross-Media Challenge was My Dangerous Loverboy, an interactive Web and mobile site that will raise awareness of global sex trafficking and create a virtual community for at-risk young girls. My Dangerous Loverboy is a co-production of Vita Nova Films, Quba New Media, Screen Siren Productions and the NFB.

Proposals must be received by October 10, 2008.
For more details and how to apply, visit www.nfb.ca/crossmediachallenge.