n odd couple or are Nokia and Discovery Channel made for each other? Earlier this year, the duo sponsored the premier of Discovery Channel's First Time Filmmakers: China 21 Series. The project showcased five documentaries directed by young and upcoming filmmakers from China. And now, the same alliance just closed the hunt for discovering new talent in mobile filmmaking - making films using the camera on a cell phone. The contest, Mobile First Time Filmmakers, was open to participants from Singapore, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.

Participants were asked to send in a photo or a video shot for nine seconds with a brief description of the filmmaker's favourite icon - which could be anything that the filmmaker thinks is significant to him. The contest, which began on August 1, closed on September 25, 2005. An internal panel will choose the 15 most promising ideas. Once that is done, the 15 filmmakers will be invited to a workshop in Singapore where they will receive training on how to go about making mobile films. ... more