Judges selected for Cinemark 2014 Young Lions competition, now open

They are Jason Apaliski from the US, Mihnea Gheorghiu from Romania, Yordan Zhechev from Bulgaria and locals Justin Gomes, Ross Chowles and Kirk Gainsford.

The local competition, where the judges will be evaluating the talent, launched yesterday, 17 February 2014. Open to all creative professionals under the age of 28, teams must register before 10 March on the Cinemark website. A brief will be emailed to registered competitors on 11 March at noon. Creatives then have 48 hours to submit their piece by 13 March at noon, before the judging begins.

Entry into International competition

Winners, announced on 25 March, will represent South Africa in the Young Lions Competition at the 61st Cannes Lions Festival, being held 15 - 21 June, including return flights to Nice, France, a full week's Young Lion Registration, accommodation for the team and an entry to into the International Cannes Young Lions Competition.

Cinemark's marketing manager Yvonne Diogo says, "We have leading South African creatives, who have judged at international awards shows and festivals, with international jurors to establish an even more elevated judging perspective. After all, in Cannes, the jury will be of an international make up. The bar has been raised and now it is for the Young Lions Team who is most worthy to prove themselves and be the victor."

For more information, go to http://cinemark.co.za/cannes-lions/.