YouTube and Emirates Your Film Festival competition in full swing 
  
 
Released on: March 01, 2012, 10:18 am
Author: 
  Emirates
Industry: 
Travel  
Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, and
  YouTube, partners on Your Film Festival, reported today the addition of
  acclaimed actor Michael Fassbender to the project. Fassbender will
  serve as a competition film juror in Venice and co-executive producer
  of the winner's next film along with renowned director Ridley Scott. 
Your Film Festival, a global competition
  to discover the world's best storytellers invites directors, producers and writers
  from around the world to submit a 15-minute, story-driven video of any format, style
  and genre, to youtube.com/yourfilmfestival, until 31 March 2012. Scott Free (the
  production company of famed director Ridley Scott) will narrow down the submissions
  to 50 semi-finalists in the summer of 2012. 
The 50 videos will then be available to the global YouTube community who will be
  able to cast their votes, choosing 10 finalists. These 10 finalists will travel to
  Italy on Emirates via Dubai, where their work will screen at the 69th Venice
  International Film Festival in September 2012. A grand prize winner will selected by
  a special jury which includes Ridley Scott and Michael Fassbender and awarded a
  $500,000 YouTube original production grant to work with Scott Free, to create a
  brand new work. 
"I was delighted to join this partnership alongside Ridley, YouTube, Venice, and
  Emirates," said Fassbender. "I've worked with incredible storytellers before and
  am excited to help find the next great one through Your Film Festival." His
  invitation to the YouTube community can be viewed at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c19FahitJjs.
Fassbender's involvement will mark a reunion of sorts, as his next film will be
  Ridley Scott's return to the director's chair, the highly anticipated
  'Prometheus'. Fassbender will also mark his return to Venice Film Festival since
  winning Best Actor for his performance in 'Shame' which also garnered him a
  Golden-Globe nomination.
Emirates, who is defining the future of air travel with
  innovative products like its A380 On Board Lounges and On Board Shower Spas and its
  award winning in-flight entertainment system ice, is a proud partner with YouTube’s
  Your Film Festival. A renowned sponsor of sports activities around the globe,
  Emirates has broadened its scope to include the cultural connecting medium of film. 
"Through our sponsorship of Your Film Festival we are supporting the journey of
  emerging filmmakers through YouTube’s innovative entertainment platform," said Sir
  Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates airline and Group. "The
  foundation of the Emirates brand is connecting people. Teaming up with YouTube and
  acting as a cultural bridge connecting thoughts, ideas and dreams through Your Film
  Festival, is a natural extension of our brand."
More information can be found at youtube.com/yourfilmfestival. Film submissions can
  be made until 31 March 2012.
ENDS- 
About Emirates
  Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, has received more than
  500 international awards and accolades for excellence. Emirates flies to 121
  destinations in 72 countries across six continents and is the world’s largest
  airline in available seat kilometres. Operating 169 wide-body Airbus and Boeing
  aircraft, including an industry leading 20 A380s, Emirates has orders for an
  additional 236 aircraft, worth more than USD$84 billion. For more information please
  visit www.emirates.com.
About YouTube
  YouTube is the world's most popular online video community allowing millions of
  people to discover, watch and share original videos. YouTube provides a forum for
  people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a
  distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small.
  YouTube, LLC is based in San Bruno, Calif., and is a subsidiary of Google Inc.
  
  Emirates Media Contact:
  Chiara Sarzi Amadè
  Emirates Corporate Communications
  5th Floor
  New EGHQ
  Opposite DXB Airport
  P O Box 686 
  Dubai
  United Arab Emirates 
  (+971 4) 7082171
  www.emirates.com