Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants global tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Nickelodeon announces the first-ever global SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired short film competi- tion, SpongeBob SquareShorts: Original Fan Tributes. SpongeBob fans and filmmakers are invited to create original, SpongeBob-inspired shorts for a chance to win a cash prize and trip for four people to a screen- ing event in Hollywood. The call for entries started this month and will run until June 28. Entries can be submitted in two categories (under 18 years of age and 18 and over) to www.SpongeBobSquareShorts.com.

SpongeBob SquarePants is a world-renowned char- acter-driven cartoon that chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimistic and earnest sea sponge and his undersea friends. The series is seen in more than 170 countries and territories and in more than 35 lan- guages. “SpongeBob is a global icon loved by people of all ages,” said Pam Kaufman, chief marketing of- ficer of Nickelodeon Group. “We’re excited to have a competition that lets fans around the world create compelling short films that showcase the optimism that SpongeBob brings to audiences everywhere.”

Films submitted to the competition should be themed around SpongeBob, his world and/or his friends, while celebrating his endearing attributes: Humor, overflowing happiness and persistent posi- tivity. The shorts can be live action, animation, stop motion, etc. and should run no longer than three minutes. Videos will be judged on originality and creativity, incorporation of SpongeBob’s attributes and overall appeal. Following the entry period, final- ists will be selected by a panel of judges, and the Top 10 in each of the two categories will be announced on July 18 as finalists. From July 18 to Aug. 2, fans will have the chance to vote for their favorite final- ists at www.SpongeBobSquareShorts.com. The winner from each category will be announced in August. For details, visit www.SpongeBobSquareShorts.com.