US site Filmaka have opened entries for their “Hard Times” Competition  for 1-3 minute films.

The theme is ‘Hard Times’ and you could win funding to direct your feature film. The competition will be judged by filmmaking heavyweights including Werner Herzog, Zak Penn, Colin Firth, Paul Schrader, so the standard has been set high.

Each month on Filmaka there is a new theme and 15-20 filmmakers will receive $1,500-$4,500. Three of them then go on to compete for feature funding at the end of the year. Last year’s final winner, Nuru Rimington-Mkali, got $5 MILLION!

Submissions are due 19 April 2009. So go here for more details.

(via Chew TV)