The 9th edition of Papaya Young Creators, formerly known as Papaya Young Directors, is set to again celebrate emerging filmmaking talents with a new, all-encompassing approach. The event is set to unspool in Warsaw in June, on dates to be confirmed.

This year’s competition is addressed to all those who consider themselves creatives, are observers and avid consumers of content, and who identify themselves as film, music, culture and art lovers. It is open to anyone aged 20-35 (born from 1987-2002).

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In the official press release, Papaya’s team talked through the rebranding of the initiative: "Creating a film is a joint effort of the whole team. Without the presence of the people supporting the finalists in the previous editions, the competition films would certainly look different. That is why the time has come to emphasise its multidisciplinary nature, starting with the change of its name. The initiative, under the new name Papaya Young Creators, is more than just a contest for young directors. It is about drawing attention to the need for teamwork, an inclusive approach to what each creator brings into the project, and showing that creativity and content creation require more than just skilful directing."

To participate in the initiative, log in to the participant panel (https://www.papayayoungcreators.com/login), discover the competition categories – branded stories, music stories, TikTok branded stories and TikTok unique stories – and creative starters presenting the tasks prepared by Papaya’s partners and write your idea for a film – a treatment based on the brief of a given brand or artist. Finally, submit your work via the participant panel by February 28 (branded stories, music stories) or 4 May (TikTok unique stories). A treatment template has been made available for those who are not familiar with this format. Projects are submitted anonymously and entries are free of charge. 

If they qualify for further stages, participants will be given the opportunity to join a top-notch mentoring programme and produce content under the guidance and support of established professionals, in addition to financial support (13,200 PLN/ca. €2,800 or 19,800 PLN/ca. €4,300 for content produced outside of Poland). After qualifying for the semi-finals and further on to the finals, the participants will take part in several meetings and workshops aimed at conveying specific knowledge in the field of various film-related professions, including production, editing, post-production, equipment and copyright law. The meetings will be run by professionals working in the audiovisual industry, whilst the practical workshops will be conducted by Papaya’s industry partners.

The multidisciplinary programme aims to build a comprehensive knowledge of content creation and audiovisual projects. Finalists will count on the organisational and production support of a dedicated member of the Papaya Young Creators team, as well as on the mentorship of an assigned artistic supervisor, who will provide substantial support at various stages of the work on the project, from idea to post-production.

Moreover, Papaya will provide the finalists with a database of contacts of companies and backers. These include industry players in the areas of camera and lighting equipment, editing, grading, insurance, sound and video post-production, location scouting, and casting. Despite its competitive nature, the ultimate goal of the event remains that of stimulating co-operation and networking.

The music videos, the stories and the films produced by the participants will premiere during the Warsaw event in June. A couple of days later, an award gala will be held, wherein Papaya will reveal the winners of each category. Participants will also be eligible for individual honours and partner prizes, and crew members will be eligible for individual prizes. Reaching the finals will give the contestants the opportunity to speak to a much broader audience, and Papaya’s main partners will be allowed to use the content created for them in their online channels for the next 12 months. Moreover, the films may be submitted to other festivals and contests by both Papaya’s staff and the filmmakers themselves.

Papaya Young Creators’ prestigious partners include Phillips, Porsche, TikTok, DPD and Modivo.

You can find out more about the initiative here.