Events & Contests

YouTube, Sundance Film Festival and Moviefone announced the return of “Project:Direct,” the online international short film competition launched last year. The competition is designed to discover talent and engage the YouTube community. “Project:Direct” will offer the creator of an original short film the opportunity to attend the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and have his or her project shown at a non-theatre Festival event. The 25th Sundance Film Festival will take place January 15 to 25, 2009 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

From 12:01am EST Sunday, November 16 through 11:59 EST Sunday, December 14, filmmakers from Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States will be able to submit their original works, no more than 5 minutes long, showcasing their personal style and incorporating three props: two that have played stand-out roles in films from 25 years of the Sundance Film Festival and the classic red phone associated with Moviefone. For more details on requirements, visit this site.

At the end of the submission period, a panel of Sundance Film Festival programmers will narrow the field of entries down to 10 semifinalists. The YouTube community will then be invited to vote on the finalists from Saturday, December 27 through Saturday, January 3, with the winner and two runners-up announced on the YouTube site on Monday, January 5.

Submissions must be in English, or have English subtitles. Contestants must be 18 years or older and be a legal resident of one of the countries listed above; however, everyone around the world is welcome to submit films, and top films will be featured on the YouTube site.

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The 2008 Mobile Excellence Awards announced the MEA 08 People’s Choice Award, which will be awarded on Dec 8th, 2008 at the Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.

The MEA 08 People’s Choice Award is special recognition for industry achievement chosen by the mobile community itself. Vote for your selection from one of the following finalists below by sending a text message with the keyword “MEA” to short code “70734” or go to http://www.mobilexawards.com/vote.html

Peoples Choice Nominees:
– SportGenic (Ironman AT&T)
– GoTV Networks (Hip Hop Official)
– Sony Pictures Television (God of War, Betrayal)
– EQO (application/community)
– EA Mobile (Monopoly)
Click here to register for tickets to attend the Mobile Excellence Awards.

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The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) (www.mmaglobal.com), which globally promotes the development and sustainability of mobile marketing,announced the finalists for the MMA’s Fourth Annual Global Mobile Marketing Awards which honors the companies who are successfully utilizing and leading the adoption of the mobile channel for marketing purposes. The awards will be presented at the Annual Global Awards dinner and ceremony on November 13 in San Diego, concluding the MMA’s Mobile Marketing Forum. The MMA received submissions from companies across the globe across 12 categories.

The 2008 MMA awards finalists are:
Best Use of Mobile Marketing, Branding:
APAC
Group M Media India pvt Ltd., Nokia E66 & Nokia E 71 Launch
OgilvyOne Worldwide Hong Kong, Guinness Passport to Greatness
TigerSpike – Virgin Festival Buddy, Virgin Mobile Music Festival 2008
EMEA
BBH (Bartle Bogle Hegarty), Lynx Get In There mobile tools
BBH (Bartle Bogle Hegarty), Cippis Trump Selecta!
Mobile Dreams Factory, LA FÁBRICA DE LA FELICIDAD
LATAM
Okto Tecnologia e Serviços de Informática Ltda, Happiness Factory
Pontomobi Interactive, Center Norte Christmas
Unilever, F.biz, Nokia Interactive Advertising, Unilever Seda Teens Shampoo Mobile Marketing Campaign
NA
Anheuser-Busch, Apology Bot 3000
AT&T, AT&T and Rock the Vote Go Mobile
Golden Gekko S.L., Absolut Drinks in Your Mobile

Best Use of Mobile Marketing, Cross-Media Integration:
APAC
AURA Interactive, Paramount Pictures BlueZone® campaign
Madhouse Inc., Nike Zoom Mobile Marketing Campaign in China
The Hyperfactory, United Nations “Voices” Campaign
EMEA
Mobiento and Initiative Universal Media, Snickers Peanut Power
Mobile Dreams Factory, TIENES UN PLAN
MOBILERA Turkey & Mindshare Turkey / NIKE Football Campaign: “Take it to the next level”
LATAM
Mobext Brazil, Media Contacts Brazil and Citroën, Delivering Geo-Target Information
Pontomobi Interactive, MOVE
QuickMedia, Pasalo de dedo en dedo
NA
ABC.com, The Oscars® Mobile program
HipCricket, TXT4Dummies
The Hyperfactory, Peyton Manning’s Priceless Pep Talks

Best Use of Mobile Marketing, Direct Response:
APAC
AURA Interactive, Hoyts BlueZone® network
GroupM Media India Pvt Ltd, The New HSBC Premier Mobile Handset
The Hyperfactory, United Nations “Voices” Campaign
EMEA
Incentivated, Bookstart DRTV Campaign
Mobile Dreams Factory, Voice Push
YOC AG and KRAFT FOODS, Jacobs 3für1/2für1
NA
Cellfire Inc. and Kroger, Cellfire Mobile Grocery Coupons
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, MGM Grand, Mobile Data Acquisition
Walmart, Kraft Foods, AT&T, and Single Touch Systems, #MEALS

Best Use of Mobile Marketing, Product/Services Launch:
APAC
Bharti Airtel Ltd., iPhone Launch on Airtel
FarEasTone Telecommunication Co., Ltd, Mobile Advertising Campaign: The Unrestrained Spirit
The Hyperfactory, Nike T90 Kick Off Launch in 3D Augmented Reality on Mobile
EMEA
iconmobile GmbH, BMW VideoCall
Mobile Dreams Factory, INFORMATION IN YOUR PHONE
AKQA, Nike PHOTOiD
LATAM
F.biz, Seda Teens
Pontomobi Interactive, One Missed Call
Pontomobi Interactive, Reach One
NA
Edelman Mobile, Dove Fresh Takes
INCENTIVATED, Jaguar Cars NA, Jaguar XF Launch Campaign
KADOINK, Jason Mraz Mobile Album Premier

Best Use of Mobile Marketing, Promotion:
APAC
AURA Interactive, Paramount Pictures BlueZone® campaign
WOLFPAC MOBILE, Inc., Coffee-Mate Challenge
WOLFPAC MOBILE, Inc., NESCAFE 3in1 Decode Promo
EMEA
AERODEON, SHOW YOUR EMOTIONS!
Electric Agency, COCA-COLA EUROCUP 2008 – ‘WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BALL?’
Mobile Dreams Factory, IDRINKS
LATAM
HANZO SA, HANZO Online Mobile Marketing Campaigning
Mobext, ADIDAS FAIRPLAY
Pontomobi Interactive, Besni in cinemas
NA
Valassis 1-to-1 Solutions and IKEA, IKEA Catalog “Find It” Mobile Sweepstakes
Limbo, Verizon Wireless’s The Fight For Gotham City Promotion
The Weather Channel Mobile, Mobile Month

Best Use of Mobile Marketing, Relationship-Building:
APAC
AURA Interactive, Hoyts BlueZone® network
GroupM Media India Pvt Ltd, Pepsi – Youngistaan – A New Cult for Youth!
TigerSpike – Mobile Warnie, VB Summer of Spin
EMEA
Mobile Dreams Factory, IDRINKS
OMD International and Vodafone, Vodafone Mobile – Football
R/GA, Nokia Urbanista Diaries
NA
CellTrust Corp., Harlem Case Study
Edelman Mobile, Dove Fresh Takes
Obama for America, Obama for America Mobile

Innovation:
EMEA
Ad Infuse, Strongbow: Turning Virtual Pints into Reality
AKQA, Nike PHOTOiD
Praekelt Foundation, TxtAlert
NA
Cellfire Inc., Cellfire Mobile Grocery Coupons
Polo Ralph Lauren, Mobile Commerce – Two-dimensional barcodes
Rhythm NewMedia, vSNAX Videos

Innovation for Creativity in Media
Mobile Dreams Factory, APLICACION NATIVA PARA IPOD
Mobile Dreams Factory, INFORMATION IN YOUR PHONE
Mobile Dreams Factory, THE PARTY PROJECT

Innovation for Creativity in Technology
EMEA
MOBILE DREAMS FACTORY & VODAFONE, Vodafone Club2020
Mobile Dreams Factory, IDRINKS
R/GA, Nokia Urbanista Diaries
NA
Macrovision / TVGuide, Dynamic mobile ad-network for publishers
Mobile Accord, Inc., Keep a Child Alive Mobile Donation Campaign
R/GA, Nike Basketball Ballers Network
More info on the MOBILE EXCELLENCE AWARDS. See below for the finalists. You’re invited to celebrate the nominees and honor the winners, who will be announced at a cocktail reception and program on Monday, October 27th at Digital Hollywood in Santa Monica, CA. Register for tickets here.

MOBILE BUSINESS CATAGORIES

Best Start Up
Vringo
Zannel
EQO
Cha Cha Mobile

Best Comeback
Direct TV
Last Minute.com, FoneFood
FusionOne

BEST TECHNOLOGIES CATAGORIES

Best Mobile Innovator, Mobile Technology
Recogmission
Alcatel-Lucent
Bango
2Ergo

Best Mobile Advertising
Jentro Technologies
GoTV Networks for Crescent Heights
Macrovision/TV Guide Mobile
Verve Wireless

Best Mobile Video
Intersport/Sprint Exclusive Entertainment
MediaFlo –Qualcomm
QuickPlay Media
Zannel

Best Social Network
Mobicious, Snap My Life
Juice Wireless, JuiceCaster 6.0
Zannel
Intersport

MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORIES

Best Innovator Mobile Entertainment
GoTV Networks
Macrovision/TV Guide Mobile
Artificial Life
Transpera

Best Mobile Games
Hands On Mobile, Guitar Hero Mobile III
Sony Pictures TV International, God of War, Betrayal
EA Mobile, Monopoly
Hands On Mobile, World Poker Tournament, Texas Hold’Em 2

Best Mobile Music

GoTV Networks, Hip Hop Official
LiveWire Mobile, Integrated Storefront
eMbience
Gracenote

Best Original Programming, Mobile
Sony Pictures TV International, Afterworld
Fun Little Movies, Turbo Dates (Speed Dating Series)

Mobile Community/ Fan Content
Fox Mobile Entertainment/Jamster, The Simpsons
Bravo Media, The Real Housewives of NYC: Text Adventure Game
Vringo

Best Mobile Promotion
GoTV Networks, ES Musica “Enrique Iglesias Promotion
Sportgenic, AT&T

Best Adapted/Companion Program
Direct TV, NFL
Star Networks Alliance
G4M, Music Alley Fan Club

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MOBILE EXCELLENCE AWARDS: Sept. 18, 2008–Don’t forget the Mobile Excellence Awards, which will be held Oct 27th in Santa Monica, California at Digital Hollywood LA. Produced by Mobile Monday LA, the Mobile Excellence Awards will celebrate the best in mobile media, marketing and technology. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Darren Eng, CEO/founder of The Sponsorship Group at 800-798-3874 x101 or by email.

SONY ERICSSON CONTENT AWARDS: September 18, 2008–Sony Ericsson announced the call for submissions for its second annual Sony Ericsson Content Awards. The 2008 Awards, which celebrate creativity and innovation from third-party mobile content creators, are open to all mobile developers who have created content, applications or services for Sony Ericsson mobile phones. The ending submission date is November 30, 2008. Finalists will be selected in December and the 2008 winners will be announced in an official online ceremony on February 5, 2009.

To submit your content for consideration, click here.

Sony Ericsson Developer World provides SDKs and helpful resources at no cost for any developer to build applications for Sony Ericsson phones. This year, Sony Ericsson is challenging mobile developers to deliver the best responses to some big questions: How can mobile phones help us monitor our carbon footprint? How can the next generation of mobile phone make our lives less frantic? In what ways can we make our phones personal?

This year’s winners will be selected on ease of use, entertainment factor, innovation, look and feel, and audio performance from seven categories: Being Productive, Going Green, In-Car applications, Mobile Entertainment, Lifestyle Experiences, Themes & Graphics and XPERIA X1 Panels.

Winners of the 2008 Sony Ericsson Content Awards will be treated to a trip to Lund, Sweden, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes, two-day mobile content workshop and for the opportunity to network and share resources with their peers and executives from Sony Ericsson.

To see last year’s winners, click here.