CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iStockphoto®, the world’s busiest image market, today announced, “Future Now!,” the first iStockvideo contest, which will run through April 30, 2007. Videographers are encouraged to submit original videos between 30 seconds and three minutes long, centered on today’s high-tech lifestyles, offering a perspective on our futuristic, gadget-driven lives. Judging of videos entered in the “Funny” or “Not Funny” categories will be done initially by the community and then narrowed to second- and first-place winners by a panel of industry judges. Winners will be announced in mid-May.

Entries must use a mix of at least one of five free iStockvideo clips and 10 free iStockphoto stills combined with original footage. All free clips and images have been donated by iStock members for use in the contest, which is sponsored by Abel CineTech. Two first-place winners will each receive a Panasonic AG-HVX200 camera, an 8GB P2 card and an accessory pack including a Kata HDV camcorder case. These first-place winners will also receive one year’s membership to Pixel Corps, a dvGarage Power Pak with $1,100 worth of dvGarage training and software, and dvGarage’s Conduit for Final Cut Pro 5.1.2.

Second-place winners will receive Sony’s DSR-PD170 DV cameras and Kata Shell camcorder cases. The top 12 entries in each of the two categories as judged by the community will receive 50 iStockphoto site credits. A panel of industry judges will choose the winners.

“We surveyed 18,000 iStockers before offering stock video. Nearly 29 percent said they purchase stock video monthly and close to another 12 percent purchase it weekly, proving to us that our million-plus members offered an eager customer base,” said Bruce Livingstone, founder and CEO of iStockphoto and iStockvideo. “Now, we hope to add to our 14,000 clip collection by attracting videographers looking for some great new equipment and a chance to profit as part of the world’s busiest imaging community.”

Contest Details

Contest participants do not have to be contributors but will have to register.
Members can submit unlimited entries in both categories but can only appear once on the two short lists combined. The most popular submissions will make the short list.
Member voting will determine the top 12 favorite entries in each category (the short list).
Industry judges will pick winners from the top 12 entries in each category.
Industry judges are; Alex Lindsay, chief architect at Pixel Corps; Charles Fulton, associate editor of Videomaker Magazine; and Alastair Upham, United Kingdom editor of Digital Video Magazine.

For complete contest details visit: www.istockphoto.com/futurenowcontest
About iStockphoto

iStockphoto, www.istockphoto.com, is the world’s busiest image market, with an image sold every three seconds. iStock pioneered the micropayment phenomenon in this industry, enabling buyers to license images for as little as a dollar. iStockphoto entered the stock video market in September of 2006, selling video for as low as $5 per 30 second clip. In partnership with its members, iStockphoto has turned community into commerce, transforming the digital imagery market by encouraging passionate dialogue and education, while making imagery affordable to businesses that may not have licensed imagery otherwise. iStockphoto is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Getty Images.

iStock™, iStockalypse™ and iStockphoto® are trademarks of iStockphoto Inc. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.