International Young Screen Entrepreneur 2007

There's a whole world of film out there, and the inaugural International Young Screen Entrepreneur of the Year (IYSEY) award champions the importance of young creative entrepreneurs (aged 25 to 35) working in the field of film and television, particularly in often untapped markets. Awards for creative talent are common but what sets this prize apart is that, like the other International Young Creative Entrepreneur awards, it recognises the importance of entrepreneurs in keeping the film business thriving and promoting the best of what's hot on the local scene.

The British Council will bring ten outstanding young people from emerging markets in the international film industry together in the UK to celebrate their creativity and enterprise for the film scene in their own country and to network with people from the UK business. Ten finalists, selected by the British Council and expert partners across the globe, are competing for the inaugural IYSEY title. Our broad definition of 'screen entrepreneur' includes candidates from across the industry - working in development, production, distribution/sales, exhibition, marketing, promotion, education, and retail - all advocates for film and television in their country.

The winner will be selected by a panel of leading UK screen entrepreneurs. Candidates are judged not only on the merits of their own career but on their own ability to represent the film culture of their countries. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony during their UK tour, and will receive a financial prize of £7,500 to be spent on a collaborative project with the British Council.

The ten finalists will travel to the UK in October 2007 to take part in a tour of the UK film/television industry, meeting with key people in London and Cardiff to forge relationships with, and an understanding of, the UK business. They will attend the BFI London Film Festival as industry delegates, attending a wide range of screenings, talks and seminars as part of the wider Festival.

The British Council will also be hosting an IYSEY Showcase Screening, where each IYSEY finalist will promote a short film or short example of film from their own country to an invited audience. This will be a celebration of the diverse film cultures inherent in the ten participating countries, and an exposure for invited UK film industry guests to film from emerging markets.