PSAs on the agenda at VUKA!

MultiChoice's flagship corporate social investment programme, the VUKA! Awards encourages established and aspirant creatives to make a TV commercial for a charity or cause that is close to their hearts in the form of Public Service Announcements (PSAs).

Inspirations for creativity are available in suggested briefs on the VUKA! website and in 2005 include Celebrating democracy; Love thy Neighborhood and Environment, Act Like a First Class Citizen, Think/Live More Healthily, Living Positively with Aids, The People Who Serve South Africa, Making a Kid's Future Mean Something, Literacy For Old and Young and South Africa: Land of Heart, Soul and Beauty.

The awards have two categories, Newcomers and Professionals, with awards being presented in each of these for the following:
Best Overall PSA, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Creative Concept and/or Script, Best Use of Humour to convey a serious message, Best Soundtrack (i.e original music composed and arranged specifically for the PSA - or sound design created using library SFX and music), Best Creative Editing, Best Animation (provided at least five PSA's are received in this category), and at the sole discretion of the competition organizers, a further award (applicable only for previously disadvantaged newcomers who have not attended a film school) for "RAW Talent".

All entries are judged on merit and all judging is conducted blind. Important dates for those managing their agency's entries:
1. Entries close: 30 September 2005.
2. Judging takes place: 26 October - 9 November
3. The MultiChoice VUKA! Awards 2005: November 24

Top professional and newcomer finalist entries from last year's awards are currently being broadcast via DStv.

Those interested can access the entry form online http://vuka.multichoice.co.za
All queries can be directed to .