MUMBAI: Crackle, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, has named John Kramer the winner of its first short-film contest. Filmmakers across the country submitted their best work to the streaming entertainment network’s Shorts channel with the hope of winning a development deal with Crackle Studios and a future pitch meeting with executives at Columbia Pictures to discuss their feature film ideas.

Kramer’s short film Hit Men, which presents a unique take on the frenzy surrounding the upcoming 2008 elections, caught the eye of Crackle audiences as well as of the competition’s impressive roster of judges.

The judging panel of Columbia Pictures’ production executives includes Elizabeth Cantillon (Executive Vice President, Production), Sam Dickerman (Senior Vice President, Production), Andrea Giannetti (Executive Vice President, Production), and Jonathan Kadin (Senior Vice President, Production) among several others.

Sony Pictures senior executive vice president Sean Careys said, Hit Men showcases Kramer’s budding talent and makes clear why our relationship with Crackle works – their access to up-and-coming filmmakers helps us to discover the broadest range of creative new voices.”

Since launching in July, Crackle offers video creators a chance at fame with contests across its many entertainment channels. Any aspiring comic, musician, filmmaker or animator can find a contest and a channel to meet their passion. Contest prizes include development deals with Crackle Studios and pitch meetings with Hollywood executives. The Shorts channel offers regular competitions urging up-and-coming filmmakers to submit their short films for the shot of gaining access to two of Hollywood‘s hottest commodities – development deals and pitch meetings.

As a result of winning the Shorts contest, Kramer will meet with Crackle executives to discuss his ideas for recurring webisodes/series on the streaming network and at a later date, will head to Los Angeles to pitch his feature-length ideas to Columbia Pictures’ executives.

Kramer has been involved in both comedy and theater for much of his adult life and he has worked at Chicago‘s famed Second City Theater since graduating from college. During his tenure at Second City, he worked with then up-and-comers, and now stars, like Steven Colbert and Tina Fey.

Said Kramer, “I’ve been writing short films for over 20 years, but I could never seem to break through that barrier. It’s amazing what the Internet can do. With something like Crackle, I can upload my video and the next day, it will get millions of views. Plus, my teenage sons think this is the coolest thing their dad has done yet!”