What does a winner think of the Vision Awards? Greg Hemmings, 2009 winner said:
"A friend of mine happens to be a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society, he encouraged me to submit for the Vision Award last year. After I checked out what the society was all about, and how wide spread the commonwealth umbrella actually was it really got me excited. It was so much fun having a reason to produce a short film with a message, a challenge worth trying! I was so honored and shocked that my short film Papikatuk won first place, there were so many other cool films in the competition. The media in Canada really pushed the story, and in the end it gained me a lot of wonderful recognition around the world. I was even invited to showcase my film at the International Polar Year Film Festival as a direct result of this award. I am still glowing!"
Read more about Greg's experiences at the RCS in 2009 on his blog and find out about what Greg's been up to since his win.
About the Vision Awards
The Commonwealth Vision Awards promote exellence in filmmaking across the Commonwealth.
Launched in May 2001 as a joint venture of the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, they were designed to encourage creative filmmaking on developmental themes, particularly relating to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), by young, actual and prospective filmmakers in the Commonwealth.
Applicants from rich and poor, large and small countries alike, submit story-board ideas in either written, picture or short film format, on a topic linked to the Commonwealth theme.
The Royal Commonwealth Society has a sum of money from which to award seed grants of up to £1,000 each to help you make your film. If you would like to submit an application for an RCS seed grant, we are open NOW and the closing date for your storyboard is 6th April. Please go to "Enter Here" section for the application form.
We will notify you shortly afterwards if you have been successful. Full details of what to include in your concept note can be found on the "Guidance for Candidates" page.
Don't worry - if you don't win a seed grant it's not the only way to enter!
To allow as many young people from all around the Commonwealth as possible to enter,your short films can also be submitted on YouTube or by post for those who will not have been successful with the seed grant.
We are also actively encouraging entrants who are under 18 years old to enter from 2010!
Hundreds of applicants from film schools, colleges and aspiring individual film-makers are received each year.
Prizes for the Vision Awards will include a 1st Prize in the 18-30 year old category of £2,000. The RCS will also endeavour to fly a selection of winners to London for a series of workshops, meetings and a Gala Awards Ceremony in October.
Winners will receive their prizes at the high-profile Gala Dinner at The Commonwealth Club in London in October.
In 2009, the prizes were presented by Academy Award-winning Director, Lord David Puttnam. The Awards Ceremony is also attended by senior diplomats, leaders of Commonwealth organisations and media figures.