Your Awesome Idea Could Win You $3,500
Michael D. Reid
Times Colonist
mreid@timescolonist.com
If you think you have the best idea in Victoria, you could soon become $3,500 richer.
The sky's the limit. It could be something you've always wanted to do, or twists on examples such as writing a screenplay, finding a way to feed the homeless, launching a cool product or company, or almost anything, say the challenge's creators.
A collaboration between Victoria Film Festival and two vibrant local ideas organizations - Tectoria and the Awesome Shit Club, contributing $2,500 and $1,000 respectively - the challenge is in honour of Something Ventured, a documentary about venture capitalists with vision that is already shaping up as one of the festival's hot tickets.
Anyone can participate starting now by pitching an idea or seeking to become a judge by visiting awesomeshitclub.com.
The first round of the pitching contest will take place Feb. 6 at the Fort Street Café.
Creators of the shortlisted ideas will then get a chance to pitch them to the audience at the final round after the screening of the documentary by Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Odeon.
Filmgoers will vote to determine who will take home $3,500 to invest in their idea, said festival director Kathy Kay.
"Great ideas are everywhere, and we're proud to have pulled these groups together to help a new idea get off the ground," she said.
Deadline for submissions is Jan. 30. Visit the ASC website for details.
Tickets to the pitching events and screening are $10 plus HST and availablle online at boxoffice.victoriafilmfestival.com, or at the festival office, 1215 Blanshard St., Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more info and to sign up, visit: www.awesomeshitclub.com
A little about "Something Ventured":
Thursday • February 9th • odeon Th2 • 7:00
DireCTorS: Dayna Goldfine, Dan Geller
USA • 2011 • 85 min • HDCam
Apple. Intel. Genentech. Atari. Google. Cisco. Before the term venture capitalist was born there were a handful of men who – through timing, foresight, a keen ability to size up other people, and a lot of luck – saw opportunity where others did not. They fostered a one-of-a-kind business culture that encouraged extraordinary risk and made possible unprecedented rewards. They laid the groundwork for America’s start-up economy, providing not just the working capital but also the guidance to allow seedling companies to reach their full potential.
