Production News South Africa

Animated competition seeks effective HIV/AIDS message

A competition, open to all non-professional animators, seeks an innovative 30-second public service announcement (PSA) to drive SABC1's Siyayinqoba Beat It! viewers towards testing for HIV, being informed and correctly and consistently using condoms. Entrants may use any form of animation and the deadline for entries is 31 August 2010.

The competition carries prize money of R10 000 for the winner, R5 000 for the runner-up and R2 500 for the third-placed entry. The best animated-ads will be featured on the programme and the team will provide entrants with feedback and assistance on concept and content until 15 October.

Topic choices

Competition entries must raise awareness about one of the following four topics:

  • HIV counselling and testing (HCT) campaign
  • Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)
  • Correct and consistent condom use
  • Circumcision

Siyayinqoba Beat It! is a collaboration between the Community Media Trust (CMT), SABC Education and SABC1.

"The 2009 National Communication Survey on HIV/AIDS showed conclusively that the more communications to which people are exposed, the more effective they are and what better way to catch people's attention than with an innovative, eye-catching animated PSA?" says CMT director Jack Lewis.

"We therefore call on all amateur animators to put their thinking caps on and come up with a PSA that will knock people's socks off. Not only can they walk away with a tidy cash prize, they have the opportunity to make a substantial - and very visible - difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS," he concludes.

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