(21 July 2007 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Global online TV Network Babelgum has launched a channel dedicated to the Giffoni Film Festival, the largest film festival in Europe for the younger generation which is in its 37th year.

The collaboration also provides opportunities for young, independent producers across the globe to boost their profile.

The Giffoni Film Festival is an annual event and enables the overall promotion of young people and film. Babelgum customers not able to attend the festival in Italy can now see the best in new talent from today’s young generation of independent producers at the same time as those attending.

A selection of shorts is available from the 2006 event as well as the current film festival, running from now until 21 July. To access the content, those not already using Babelgum can register for free on www.babelgum.com.

The festival will be on air on Babelgum with a selection of twelve shorts taken from the event in 2006 as well as from the current event currently taking place. Babelgum will also carry 29 trailers participating in this year’s event in lengthier format as well a selection of trailer previews from films such as The Simpsons, Ratatouille, Persepolis, Harry Potter and Shrek.

Those viewing the content on Babelgum are also given the opportunity to participate as judges, almost voting through viewing clips. The short with the highest rating will be presented with the Babelgum Award for the Giffoni Film Festival online 2007 during the evening of general awards in this year’s ceremony on 21 July at the Giffoni Village.

Babelgum CEO Valerio Zingarelli says, "The Giffoni Film Festival is the perfect opportunity for us to launch a series of special events on Babelgum around major independent festivals such as the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival in London and the Benicassim Music Festival in Spain, giving our customers
the chance to see them first online.”