News

New Film Festival to Share United Methodist Youth Insights

(March 2, 2007, GBOD) -- The United Methodist Church is calling on aspiring young filmmakers in its ranks to share their insights through the denomination’s first online film festival for youth.

The Insight project, sponsored by GBOD’s Young People's Ministries section, will provide an opportunity for local youth groups to tell stories related to themes of faith and spirituality.

“Insight will give young people, 12-18, the opportunity to experience faith through a medium with which they are already comfortable,” said Jay Clark, a Young People's Ministries staff member. “We are excited about this opportunity to blend the areas of technology and faith,” added Clark, who was instrumental in developing the Insight project.

The short videos (three to ten minutes) can be in any genre — documentary, fiction, animation — and must be submitted by youth groups, not individuals. Participants may upload their entries to the festival website, www.InsightFilmFest.org, where they will be posted for viewing.

A panel of judges will decide on the winning films or videos and award cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 for the top three. Winning entries will be shown during Youth 2007, the church’s largest quadrennial youth event, to be held in Greensboro, N.C., July 11-15.

“Insight is a new way for youth groups to showcase their creativity,” said the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, top executive at GBOD. “We are pleased that this avenue to telling stories that can help change the world for the better is to be an important part of Youth 2007.”

Deadline to enter the film festival is May 1. Information about specific requirements for entries, additional suggestions for help and instructions for uploading are available on the Insight website, or by e-mailing InSight@GBOD.org.

The General Board of Discipleship’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, The General Board of Discipleship is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, ext. 7017.