The Tyee, BC's award-winning independent source for news, has just launched the REEL BC Video Contest. We're looking for short films that showcase British Columbia through the eyes of British Columbians. Top prize? An iPad!

The only requirements are that the films:
• have a total running time of less than five minutes
• show a local perspective of British Columbia

That “local perspective” could mean action-packed footage of mountain biking on Cypress or a documentary take on urban graffiti. It could be video of a flash mob in Prince Rupert, a canoe trip in the Broken Group Islands, an urban gardening project in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant, or a hilarious roadtrip touring the Okanagan’s vineyards. We’re not expecting big-budget flicks; this project is about authenticity.

Ready to go? Enter now: https://thetyee.wufoo.eu/forms/the-tyees-reel-bc-call-for-entries/

The contest will be open from October 3rd to 31st, 2011. There’s no fee to enter, just the requirement that the video be hosted somewhere Tyee judges can find it (easily done by uploading it to Vimeo or YouTube). You're also welcome to enter films you have already completed and used for other projects.

After all the submissions are in and have been vetted by Tyee staff, we’ll open up a shortlist to Tyee readers for a two-week voting period. From November 15th to 30th, people can visit the site and cast a vote for their favourite submission. Then, on December 1st, The Tyee will host a film screening and panel discussion at the new W2 Woodwards Media Cafe in Gastown. The panel will include Kai Nagata – former CTV bureau chief and guerrilla video guru, Tara Mahoney of Gen Why Media Project, Andrew Struthers of “Americanface,” and Sean Devlin, of “ShitHarperDid.com” – both famous in the realm of subversive filmmaking and viral videography. The panel will likely be moderated by someone from the NFB.

At the event, we’ll reveal the contest winners, screen the best films, and watch as the panel dissects the merits and pitfalls of guerrilla video.

So get cracking! Enter your video in the Tyee's REEL BC Video Contest today! There's more information at http://thetyee.ca/Tyeenews/2011/10/03/REEL-BC-Video-Contest/, or you can go directly to the entry form by visiting https://thetyee.wufoo.eu/forms/the-tyees-reel-bc-call-for-entries/

Good luck!

The fine print: By submitting your film to The Tyee's REEL BC competition, you're giving The Tyee permission to share your work on our website, with REEL BC's sponsors, and -- if your entry is selected as a winner -- to screen it at the Dec. 1, 2011 event. If you submit work that is not your own or attempt take credit for someone else's work, you will be disqualified. If you have questions or concerns, please contact The Tyee’s Marketing and Reader Engagement Coordinator, Shannon Smart, at ssmart@thetyee.ca.

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