IdeasTap is offering all 16-25 year olds the opportunity to make a short film without having to worry about raising the funds…There are eight prizes of £5,000 up for grabs, and the resulting film should be no longer than five minutes.

They are looking for original and engaging ideas – anything from a documentary, conceptual piece, a trailer for a feature, a music video, fashion film or an animated short to name a few possibilities.

The fund closes on 28th March 2011, to apply visit www.ideastap.com

Scottish filmmaker *Tom Chick *is one of last year’s winners, with a film about a girl who falls in love with a seal. It’s infused with the salty, hard romance of the rugged British coast.
“I was able to experiment and push myself. In all senses the film was an adventure for me. We chased seals at dawn through rock islands with a clockwork camera mounted on the prow of a 100-year-old boat”.

Film director Josh Appignanesi, one of the mentors for last year’s winners, has this advice for budding filmmakers:

“Firstly, if you don’t already have a producer, get one. It’s possible to write, direct and produce all by yourself, but it’s considerably easier if a producer comes in to allow the writer/director to concentrate on the creative process. Filmmaking is generally a collaborative process, not best tackled alone.”

You can see extracts from last years winning films on IdeasTap, and read more advice from our mentors on applying for this years fund.