OPTUS LAUNCHES 5-MINUTE VIDEO COMPETITION TO SUPPORT CONTENT INNOVATION

• Creative Australians encouraged to shoot, upload and submit 5-minute film that focuses on the theme of ‘Connecting Lives’.
• Two Australian winners will win A$5,000 and be automatically entered in the regional finals to be held in Bangkok.
• Winner of the regional finals will take home US$30,000 and get their short film viewed by millions of people across the region.
• Entries now open at optus.com.au/connect5 until 30 September.

Optus has today launched a new short film competition, ‘Connect5’, and is on the hunt for aspiring content creators and filmmakers looking for their next adventure.

Creative Australians will have until 30 September to submit a short video focused on the theme of ‘Connecting Lives’. All submissions made via the Connect5 website will be in with a chance of winning one of two A$5,000 prizes, followed by a place at the regional finals in Bangkok where other winners from Africa, India, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia will go head-to-head.

The regional final winner and runner-up, announced in November, will walk away with a further US$30,000 and US$15,000 respectively, as well as the knowledge that their films will be viewed by millions of people across the Singtel Group.

The growth of mobile devices in Australia has fuelled demand for online video content, and Connect5’s short-film concept is ideal for audiences used to viewing and capturing content on their mobiles. The competition offers a platform for everybody, from industry professionals to the everyday mobile user, to capture what ‘connecting lives’ means to them and spread a powerful message through video.

Fronting the new Connect5 competition is retired Australian actor, voiceover artist and philanthropist Samuel Johnson OAM.

“Despite geographical and language barriers, over 176 million people around the world use YouTube to view videos, most of which are viewed on mobile devices,” Samuel said.

“Video content is the ultimate depiction of how connected our lives have become. Everyone who believes great content has the power to unite people should get involved in Connect5 and submit up to 5 minutes of powerful footage.”

Megan Forster, Director of Product Innovation and Value Added Products at Optus, said, “For many people, a mobile phone is their primary way of accessing the internet and we have created Connect5 with these very people in mind.”

“It’s important the content creators of the future feel that they are getting the support they need from entertainment providers like Optus. We hope to see submissions from a wide variety of content producers – whether they’re filmmaking professionals or everyday mobile users – conveying how human connections can drive positive change,” Ms Forster said.

Filmmakers’ 5-minute video submissions will be judged by a yet-to-be-announced panel of experts with criteria including originality of content, storytelling and cinematography.

Submissions can be uploaded online at www.optus.com.au/connect5 until 30 September.

Interview opportunities are available on request, please contact Optus Corporate Affairs or Thrive PR for more information.

Gabrielle Crittenden

Optus Corporate Affairs

(02) 8082 7850

media@optus.com.au

Caroline Addy

Thrive PR

02 9310 4011 | 0451 301 019

caroline.addy@thrivepr.com.au