Back we go to the modern silent, and to another competition which encourages budding filmmakers to think in a silent way. iCUBED.us is a Hong Kong-based social website for teenagers, and last year it established a one-minute silent film festival/competition. The competition returns this year, in collaboration with the relief agencies Crossroads and UNHCR. Anyone registered with the contest and aged between 13 and 21 can submit a one-minute silent video, which can include music but no speech. Contestants are encouraged to enter as teams. There are no formal judges. Entrants need to upload their videos to YouTube and send iCUBED.us the link by 1 February 2010. The two films with the highest rating (i.e. up to five stars) and the highest number of raters will be the winners. Which is an ingenious and social way of running a contest.

The video above shows the winners from the 2008/09 contest – Imagination, Rumors, and Kindness – Girl & Xmas Tree. More details of the contest, including a registration form, from the iCUBED.us site.