British Council is searching for a talented young Thai Entrepreneur to represent Thailand in the International Young Screen Entrepreneur (IYSE) award 2008 in the UK along with other representatives from 9 countries.  As a representative of Thailand, you will have a chance to be in London for an all-expense-paid 12-day visit and also have a chance to attend the Times BFI London Film Festival.  Prior to this, the programme will take all 10 finalists to meet leaders and innovators in the UK film and TV business in London, Bristol and Wales during October 2008.

Application deadline 15 June 2008

Screen sector definition

For the purpose of this award participants can be drawn from any of the following sectors:

			Development and production
			Creative direction and post-production
			Distribution and sales
			Exhibition: cinema/venue and/or festival/event programming and management
			Journalism (print and broadcast) and publishing
			Marketing, internet websites / web networks, public and media relations
			Promotion, education and retail
			Consultants providing specialist services in any of the areas outlined

NB: In the term ‘Screen’ we include feature film, documentary, shorts, television production, and animation

Criteria for Applicants

			Be aged between 25 and 35
			Already work in the screen sector (as defined above)
			Be entrepreneurial and have shown their ability in the promotion of screen industry in their country, particularly in a commercial context
			Through their character, drive and abilities demonstrate their potential to be a future leader of the sector in their country
			Good conversational level of English as the participant is expected to make a presentation in front of a judging panel

How to apply

From this written application we will create a shortlist of 10 finalists who will then be invited to present their case (in English) at the British Council in Siam Square before a panel of judges.

Presentation: The finalists will be interviewed and asked to make a presentation in English about their vision for Thailand’s film and/or television industry to the judging panel.  The presentation will contain written and visual material.  Broadly, the presentation should include:

			Background of national film and/or television industry & understanding of current situation/issues within it
			Description of your own work as a design entrepreneur
			How your own work sits in context in the national industry/situation
			Your wider vision for your own work and domestic film and/or television industry – demonstrating how you are a leader within it.
			How the IYSE prize would benefit you and your work
			Inherent within this should be a demonstration of how you successfully marry the commercial and creative aspects or your work – and understanding of business with the creative ability to drive your company forward – to qualify as an ‘International young creative entrepreneur’

The winner will receive help in preparing for the UK visit, particularly with preparing the presetation to the UK judges.

What will be expected of participants

We are looking for finalists who have an international outlook, who are keen to come to the UK to find out about the UK film and television industry, and to enjoy this shared experience with the rest of the finalists.  The following will be expected of the IYSE participants:

			Active participation in the UK tour, including research prior to meetings
			Preparation of materials for British Council promotion of IYSE
			20 minute presentation in front of a judging panel, followed by question & answer session
			Participation in the IYSE award ceremony and film showcase where each finalist will be given the opportunity to promote a short example of film from their country to an invited audience, who will then vote for their favourite clip
			Co-operation with British Council Thailand and in the UK throughout the planning process (including provision of required information etc) and the UK visit
			A positive, eager attitude throughout the process

Prize

1. The winner will represent Thailand, and will compete with representatives from 9 other countries in October 2008 in the UK.  He or she will be in the UK for 12-days including the chance to attend the Times BFI London Film Festival and to meet leaders and innovators in the UK film and TV business in London, Bristol and Wales.
   
2. The winner of the IYSE award be announced at an award ceremony during the UK visit.  There will be two elements to the prize:                

           •  a physical award – a special commission bowl by acclaimed glass designers Gillies Jones.

           •  a financial award (£7,500), which must be linked to the UK and tailored to the winner’s specific needs. The winner will be asked to come up with their own proposal, and both the local British Council office and the art-form experts in London will be involved in the process of agreeing how the prize money should be spent as well as in ensuing the successful delivery of the project itself. Ideas include for him/her to take a course in the UK, fund a placement in UK industry, bring over UK specialists to run workshops in-country, buy rights to UK work, or work on collaborative projects with contacts from their visit to the UK.

For more information, please contact
Laila Bunnag Tel: 02 657 5602 or e-mail: laila.bunnag@britishcouncil.or.th