Yahoo Launches Online Short Film Contest for Malaysia
Celebrity judges Lisa Surihani and Sharifah Amani join ‘Yahoo-MAS Cili Padi Awards’
Kuala Lumpur, October 26, 2013 – There is a prominent demand for video content nowadays even in Malaysia. Looking at this growing consumption for video contents, Yahoo has announced a very interesting short film competition, named as, ‘Yahoo-MAS Cili Padi Awards’. Named to signify that even tiny fruits like Cili Padi, can metaphorically ‘blow your brains’, Yahoo is inviting filmmakers – amateurs and professionals – to produce movies under three minutes and be in the fray for prizes, in cash, kind and above all, fame and popularity.
Yahoo-MAS Cili Padi Awards will be running from 28th October 2013 to 11th November 2013. Malaysians who are above the age of 18 can enter the contest by uploading their short films of up to three minutes on www.cilipadiawards.com. Participants will need to place their best efforts to impress the judges, which will be including film aficionados like Lisa Surihani and Sharifah Amani, Marc Lourdes, Country Editor of Yahoo Malaysia and Khairul Syahar Khalid, Head of Advertising & Promotions Dept, Malaysia Airlines. The top 30 entries will be shortlisted and assessed by the judges on 18 November 2013.
The winners will stand a chance to bring home RM 20,000 in cash with the second and third place finishers receiving RM 12,000 and RM 8,000 respectively. In addition, the winning team will get an internship at leading Malaysian production company KRU Studios. Giving a grand platform of exposure to the winning films is TGV Cinemas who will air the winning films across their cinemas nationwide for a period of three weeks.
Marc Lourdes, Country Editor, Yahoo Malaysia says, “Watching videos online is a daily habit for millions of people. On the other hand, Internet offers a phenomenal opportunity to budding filmmakers to show their talent. This is the basis for Chili Padi. The initiative will not only to inspire and delight our users but hopefully unleash new set of creative talent in Malaysia.” He adds, “While films have become complicated, filmmaking has become more accessible with an array of technologies, smart devices and ready-to-use editing software. One is only limited by one’s creativity. We are confident that all these factors will contribute towards lots of fine entries.”
Acclaimed actress Lisa Surihani, said, “Kudos to Yahoo for coming up with a clever, catchy title like Cili Padi. I am sure that this contest is going to be a creative roller coaster. I am particularly excited to be a part of this project as it gives a big fillip to Malaysia’s film making talent and especially the winners whose entries will be shown on the big screen. It is this exposure that all artists yearn for. Wishing all the contestants good luck and I look forward to your entries.”
The top three winners will be announced at the premiere on 23 November 2013 at TGV One Utama’s Luxe Hall.
